ROLE OF HOST COMMUNITY IN PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN

The aim (if this study was to see the role ofhost community in the promotion of Eco-tourists in upper Hunza,District Gilgit (Northern Areas of Pakistan) during November 2006. For this purpose all the 12 tour operators and 48tour guides ope rating in the study area were selected purposively and interviewed with a well design pre -testedinterview schedule. Moreo ver 10 ofthe tourists were also interviewed who recently visited the area. The study revealsthat 49% of the sample respondents had enough knowledge about Eco-tourism. Furth erm ore, 52% of the samplerespondents think Eco-tourism is ve, ) important . Maj ority (83%) ofthe sample respondents thought that the staffis welltrained, 93% of the sample respondents argued the need/or trainin g. It was f ound during the study that 90% samplerespondents were ofthe view that the host community has a role to play in the promotion of Eco-tourism. Ninetypercent ofthe sample respondents were of the view that the attitude ofhost community is positive towards Eco-tourism.The study as a whole concludes that host communities have a positive and key role in the development ofecotourism inthe area. The study recommends that a participative approach should be adopted where the local community should betaken in confidence at eve,) step in development of Eco-tourism as; after all, it is they who can make a move successfulor otherwise.