Impact of Tourism on the Socio-Economic Well-Being of Families in Skardu, Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan being a developing country depends upon the tourism industry to increase its economy and GDP. People living in the tourism generating regions faces both negative and positive socio cultural impacts on the families and their wellbeing. There are various opportunities and challenges that different socio-economic classes faces living in the tourism generating regions. However, the tourism is also known as the generator for income for most of the developed and developing countries of the world. Tourism is the world's fastest-growing business, a major source of foreign exchange, and a source of employment for people of all generations in many nations. However, this ethnographic study aims to explore the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the families living in Skardu, Pakistan and how it effect their socioeconomic wellbeing using purposive sampling technique. This current study was conducted in Skardu, Pakistan. Participant observation and in-depth interviews were involved in this research. The total number of participants is 20 where, men and women from diverse age groups, marital status and socio-economic backgrounds are selected. The findings of the study reveal that tourism is the most incredible social and economic phenomenon ever witnessed and it impacts clear the image that it effects the socioeconomic wellbeing of the families living in Skardu Pakistan. Keyword: Tourism, phenomenon, enclave tourism, infrastructure, indigenous culture.