Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Mountain Tourism in the Himalayan Region

More specifically, the economic diversification from agro-pastoralism to tourism-based activities has enormously benefitted the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Bhutan. This chapter outlines the impacts of tourism in the Himalayan region along with a response strategy, namely Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), to promote sustainable mountain tourism in this part of the world. In reality, the focus and actions of tourism companies that practice CSR have made tourism more sustainable, which is sorely needed in the Himalayan region. This chapter attempts to fill a gap in the literature on our understanding of CSR in the countries of the region: Bhutan, Pakistan, China, India, and Nepal. CSR actions can play a crucial role in sustainable mountain tourism in the Himalayan region. Sustainable mountain tourism emphasizes local ecological, social, and economic conditions to achieve a balanced use of natural resources, preservation and promotion of socio-culture, and long-term economic gains.