The document discusses heritage and tourism in South Asia. It notes that the region has a rich cultural heritage shaped by religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as colonial influences. However, South Asia receives only 1% of international tourists due to issues like political conflicts and a lack of priority on heritage conservation. The tourism industries of various South Asian countries are outlined, noting how they have been impacted by events like civil wars. Opportunities for heritage tourism to provide economic benefits are also discussed if issues can be properly addressed.

1. South Asian Heritage
Tourism
Conflict, colonialism & Cooperation
Nayeem Uddin
Id – 17
9th Batch

2. Introduction
• Indian subcontinent, also known as Greater India.
• More accepted nomenclature among other south Asian countries.
• No clear geographical boundary between South Asia and other Asian
regions.
• Second poorest region according to UNDP 2006 in terms of GNP.
• Combined gross national income (GNI) is 2.14% and population
growth rate is 1.7% Annually.
• The region is mainly shaped by religion and politics.
• Hinduism and Buddhism are rooted here.
• Hinduism is worlds oldest & third largest religion which history can
be traced back to approximately 5000 BCE, was first practiced here.
• Buddhism, founded more than 2500 years ago and exported to
other parts of the world.

3. • Shaped by colonialism. British, French and Dutch colonial rule
left behind a cultural and historical legacy.
• Rich and varied cultural heritage includes temples,
monasteries, monuments, forts. Tombs, palace and a thriving
and ever changing living culture.
• South Asian association for Regional Cooperation's (SAARC)
encompasses Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India,
Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka.
• 49 UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (WHS), 27 in India, 7 in Sri
Lanka, 6 in Pakistan, 4 in Nepal 3 in Bangladesh, 2 in
Afghanistan and no WHS in Bhutan or Maldives. 36 are
cultural and rest are natural.
Introduction(Cont.)

4. Religious and Political
Legacies
Religion
• Hinduism dominates mostly in India and Nepal.
• Buddhism is major religion in Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
• Islam is dominant in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives & Afghanistan.
• Christianity introduced by European merchants and traders.
Regional Politics
• India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were under British rule.
• In 1947, British India divided in Hindustan & Pakistan.
• In 1971, east Pakistan separated from Pakistan as Bangladesh.
Colonization
• British, Portuguese and French rule.
• Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh were colonized by great Britain.
• Nepal & Bhutan were never colonized by Europeans.

5. Heritage & Tourism in South
Asian Countries
Afghanistan
• Tourism industry suffered the most because of civil wars and external
invasions.
• In 1919, won independence from the British. In 1996, civil war erupted &
Afghanistan fell under the extremist Taliban leaders.
• Have been able to draw tourist since the day of the Silk Road.
• Tourism begun a slow recovery since 2001, with adventure tour from
Europe.
Pakistan
• Has been unsuccessful in tourism despite of natural & cultural resource
potential.
• Mount K2, The Indus Valley ruins, Arabian sea beaches, historic forts.
• Traveling to Pakistan from neighboring country has been difficult.
• Most of the tourist are from India, Visiting friends and family.
• In 2007, faces a 606 percent decrease in tourist from previous year.

6. Bangladesh
• Home the world largest mangrove forest & Royal Bengal Tiger.
• Holds tremendous potential for ecotourism and beach.
• Natural calamity affects international arrivals.
• Established national tourism policy in 1992.
• In early 1990s, international tourist arrival begun to increase.
• Planned development of tourism depended on socioeconomic
conditions of the country.
Sri Lanka
• In 1970s, economic reforms & tourism strategy by government make
it attractive to international tourist.
• By 1992, tourism increased at an average rate of 22% annually.
• In 2004, a large tsunami devastated Sri Lanka’s tourism
infrastructures and many tourist and locals lost their lives.
Heritage & Tourism in South Asian
Countries (cont.)

7. Maldives
• Till 1972, Maldives was not a popular destination among
international tourist.
• Regions smallest country, economically dependent on tourism.
• 30 percent of countries GDP & 40% of total tax revenue comes
from tourism industry.
India
• Largest & most populous country in the region.
• Diverse history, geography and cultural landscapes.
• In 1958, ministry of tourism was created.
• Declared 2000 as the Explore India Millennium & launch
Incredible India campaign in 2002.
• Impacted by sporadic religious, political violence, Poor image.
Heritage & Tourism in South Asian
Countries (cont.)

8. Nepal
• Was ruled by an autocratic regime till 1951.
• 4% of country's GDP generates for tourism sector.
• Most tourist vising Nepal are from Asia, about 51.9%.
• Growth of tourism was interrupted in the early 2000s.
• Nepal's tourism is going through a fast recovery.
Bhutan
• Unique tourism industry with high yield and low impact.
• Tourism is the largest foreign exchange earner and the largest
revenue generator.
• Travellers can only undertake package tour, for which
government charges a minimum $200 day tariff for a person.
• Gross National Happiness (GNP)
Heritage & Tourism in South Asian
Countries (cont.)

9. More Information
• South Asia is experiencing one of the highest average annual
growth rates of arrivals in recent years.
• Indians do not require travel documents to visit Nepal, Bhutan
or Bangladesh and vice versa.
• Domestic and intraregional tourism in south Asia is still
predominantly for pilgrimage rather than for leisure.
• Other forms of heritage attractions that are even more varied
and unique to the region are living cultures.
• Participation in religious events and heritage sites is increasing
in South Asia.
Heritage & Tourism in South Asian
Countries (cont.)

10. Heritage & Tourism Issues
• South Asia only receives 1% of the 846 million international
trips from the worlds international tourist market.
• Fro people struggling to survive, heritage conservation is not a
high priority.
• South Asia is one of the most fragile regions because of
domestic political unrest and conflicts with neighbouring
countries.
• Many heritage sites are surrounded by those for home these
sites have little meaning.
• As of 24 June 2008. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal & Sri Lanka
were in the US state departments travel warning list.
• Internationalization of heritage through external forces such
as globalization.

11. • Conversion of local and national heritage into global heritage.
• Sometimes, tourism products ignore the unique
characteristics of the destination & replace them with the
image as conceived by Western tourist.
• Heritage belongings to several groups results in congested
meanings and conflicts.
• Important heritage sites are ignore by the locals.
• Major issue faced by South Asian countries is the lack of local
community involvement in heritage conservation.
Heritage & Tourism Issues
(cont.)

12. Opportunities
Economic Opportunities
• Cultural heritage tourism market is one of the fastest growing
sectors within the tourism industry.
• Tourism is consumed at the point of production.
• Visits to heritage & cultural settings generate employment &
income for communities.
• Tourism provide flexible & par time job opportunities.
• Unique source of employment in the countries that have high
populations & low levels of literacy.
• The infrastructures required by tourism benefits all all sectors
of the society.

13. Other Opportunities
• Increase cross border and cultural understanding among
tourist and destination communities.
• India & Pakistan launched a train service between two
countries allowing the first people-to-people contact.
• SAARC established with seven countries and includes
Afghanistan in 2001.
• SAARC declared the year 2005 “South Asia Tourism Year.”
Opportunities (cont.)

14. Conclusions
• Heritage tourism is an important economic development tool
for South Asia.
• Some of the cultural heritage of South Asia were destroyed for
different reasons.
• South Asia in inherently very rich in cultural & ethnic diversity,
which has unfortunately been a source of religious and ethnic
conflict.
• The region needs to upgrade its tourism amenities to draw
more attention of the international tourist.
• The government and the tourism industry of this region must
work together to plan and promote sustainable cultural &
heritage tourism.