Culture and Policies for Sustainable Tourism: A South Asian Comparison

International tourism has become a core economic growth strategy for many countries of the Global South. While this holds much promise, it also brings heightened potential for environmental degradation, cultural clashes and social problems. Tourism policy that navigates economic growth in a manner that is sustainable for ecological and social systems is therefore critical. This study explores the role of cultural norms in shaping sustainable tourism policy. Through a comparative analysis of tourism policies in Nepal and Bhutan and their impacts on open access commons like trekking lands and cultural sites, it argues that cultural norms can account for differences in tourism policies and their resulting influence on sustainable development.