Cultural Encounters and Socio-Cultural Transformations: Assessing the Socio-Cultural Impact of Tourism on Host Communities in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Tourism in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh represents one of India’s most dynamic socio-economic sectors, yet it simultaneously reconfigures the cultural fabric of mountain communities. This study investigates how tourism influences residents’ cultural values, identity, and community resilience across four key districts—Shimla, Kullu–Manali, Kangra–Dharamshala, and Lahaul–Spiti. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative surveys of 450 residents with qualitative interviews analyzed through NVivo 14. Quantitative data were processed using SPSS 28 for descriptive, reliability, and regression analyses, operationalizing three constructs: the Cultural Preservation Index (CPI), Socio-Cultural Interaction (SCI), and Community Cultural Resilience (CCR). Results reveal a nuanced relationship between tourism intensity and community well-being. While cultural commodification and generational value shifts emerge in urbanized sites such as Shimla and Manali, peripheral districts like Lahaul–Spiti demonstrate adaptive resilience and active heritage safeguarding. Regression models confirm that higher levels of community participation significantly predict stronger CPI and CCR scores (p < 0.01). Thematic analysis identifies four dominant codes—cultural continuity, identity negotiation, participatory governance, and lifestyle transformation—capturing how tourism reshapes social meanings of culture and place. This research adds to the existing knowledge of mountain tourism by examining the socio-cultural effects within the Himalayan region. It also offers practical suggestions for creating sustainable tourism policies in Himachal Pradesh.