Zakir Hussain
The architect of resilience theory is none other than the renowned ecological economist C.F Buzz Holling ,a Canadian born academician. He put forth the theory of Resilience in 1973, and since then, it has been applied to various sectors. The theory is based on closely interwoven interdependent social – ecological systems ( SES).The theory is aimed at underpinning the correlations between society, economics and environment.
Applying resilience theory to the tourism sector in GB holds the promise of positive outcomes, particularly given the fragile ecosystem in the region. This application not only could pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry in GB, but also instill a sense of hope and optimism for the future.
The phenomenon of resilience works in the form of cyclic processes known as the Holling loop in the shape of Figure eight. Resilience comes into operation when an event (s)( disaster) happens (s), with the beginning of the first stage of the event followed by the second stage of the reorganization. In the reorganization stage, the affected sector reviews the situation after the occurrence of the event and gears up to carry on its function within its specific domain. As soon as the affected sectors consolidate themselves in the emerging scenario, the third phase of the resilience cycle, i.e., the exploitation phase, kicks start and makes maximum profits. After reaching an optimum level of the exploitation stage, the sector inclines towards the most important and fourth phase, called conservation.
In the conservation phase the sector makes choices and prioritize to maintain the ideal situation. Meanwhile, either through rigid conservation regimes or some man made or natural disasters cause release ( event) and the circumstances again demand for reorganization thus the resilience cycle goes on.
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The motive behind this piece is how the resilience theory can be applied in the case of GB. As stated in the strat, GB has a very fragile ecosystem as it boasts the largest glacial deposits outside of polar regions. Then GB has three mountain ranges, namely Hindukush, Himalaya, and Karakoram, with unique seismic activity, making the region prone to natural disasters.
Besides, thanks to climate change and carbon emissions globally, the phenomenon of Glof is on the rise in the region. The application of resilience theory is imperative to sustain life in the event of natural and man-made disasters.
Despite facing significant challenges such as 9/11, COVID-19, terrorist attacks on foreign tourists, the Atabad Lake disaster, and the reconstruction/ repair of KKH, the GB government and private sector have demonstrated remarkable Resilience. Their successful coping strategies in the face of these events serve as a testament to the potential of resilience theory in the tourism sector, inspiring confidence in its application.
To ensure the sustainability and Resilience of the tourism sector in GB, it is crucial to establish a closely interdependent forum. This forum, comprising sectors like tourism, agriculture, c & w, water & power, IT, information, disaster management police department authority, and relevant organizations from the private sector, can foster collaboration and shared responsibility.
The writer is a civil servant from Gilgit-Baltistan
