Hotels, Bhattis and Porters: Dimensions and Dynamism of Power in Tourism of Khumbu

Abstract

Tourism development in Khumbu region of Nepal created multiple opportunities to the local Sherpa and other in-migrants in one hand and at the same time it created different segments and layers among various tourism stakeholders. As the tourism began in Khumbu, some people operated hotels, bhattis, shops whereas others were employed as trekking staffs and porters. This article deals with the various dimensions and dynamism of power relationship among hotels, bhattis and porters. Based on the field work, I applied participant and non-participant observation, unstructured interviews and kuragrphy as the major techniques for the primary data collection. The data reveals that hotels, bhattis and porters are indispensable parts of tourism in Khumbu. Each component is essential for the continuation of tourism in Khumbu. However, they exercise various forms of power over others. Judging through the laymen’s eyes, their roles and relationships seem to be normal and natural, but it is not the reality. The reality is that they are framed within a certain stamp of everyday power relationships. The hotels, bhattis and porters are intertwined in different power dimensions. They each exercise various forms of power to control the resources. Hotel owner Sherpas are powerful because of their economic prosperity and higher social status. Being local/insiders and their legacy in tourism and mountaineering are the additional indicators to rank them higher than other two components. They use different forms of power to influence and adjust each other. The power they exercise is not constant; it is a dynamic.