Designing Research for Himalayan Tourism: Travelogue-Based Approach to Fieldwork for Pilot Study

Abstract

Mountain tourism ecosystems are becoming increasingly climate-vulnerable in Nepal, with local residents facing growing risks from glacial retreat, permafrost thaw, shifting precipitation, and more frequent extreme events. This paper presents a travelogue-based approach of a pilot study related to the Tribhuvan University national priority research project, "Developing an Integrated Framework for Climate Resilient Tourism Planning in the Himalayan Regions of Nepal" (TU-NPAR-081/82-IRG-03). It identifies key lessons, challenges, and methodological considerations to guide future researchers undertaking large-scale, multidisciplinary research in climate-vulnerable mountain tourism regions. The six-day pilot (15–20 June 2026) was conducted in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, Gorkha district, Manaslu region, as the initial phase of the broader project. The study used a qualitative, narrative-driven research design using travelogue-based approach.Participants were selected purposively and randomly, while narrative data were collected from elected representatives, tourism development committee members, and local stakeholders. Thematic analysis and travelogue-based place writing were used to analyze the researchers’ experiences. Although the off-season offered the pilot team greater flexibility, low visitor numbers and closed businesses reduced respondent intercepts, reinforcing the need for peak-season fieldwork. The instruments showed reliability, though the pilot highlighted the need to cluster respondents across settlements. These lessons directly inform full-fledged survey design of the research project proposed in the Khumbu, Langtang National Park, and Annapurna Conservation Area regions. The seven reflections presented offer a blueprint for this project and transferable lessons for similar large-scale research.