Tourism, Persistence, and Change: Sherpa Spirituality and Place in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal

Tourism in Sagarmatha National Park, home to Mount Everest, has significantly influenced the spiritual values of the Khumbu Sherpa people. The study found that while principles of kindness and compassion towards animals remained stable, market integration through tourism led to a decline in ecological knowledge among more integrated individuals and younger generations. Additionally, knowledge of mountain protector deities was reinforced but also remade by tourism. The research used stratified random sampling of 100 individuals and 12 monks, employing both quantitative and qualitative ethnographic methods to assess place-based spiritual values across demographics. These findings highlight the complex interplay between tourism, spirituality, and ecological understanding in indigenous communities.

Spoon, J. (2012). Tourism, Persistence, and Change: Sherpa Spirituality and Place in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal. Journal of Ecological Anthropology, 15(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.5038/2162-4593.15.1.3