Tourism has grown rapidly over the last 10 years in this region of north India. As a result, issues that affect local people — such as income opportunities, water, pollution and access to services — have shifted. Students will be investigating what new development issues have arisen in this region alongside the growth of tourism, so the partner nongovernmental organization can adjust its programs accordingly.
Participants in the Mercer On Mission program in Nainital, India, will design and conduct research on how tourism has impacted the lives of their partner nongovernmental organization’s beneficiaries, analyze the results, and present them to the organization. To develop appropriate research instruments, students will learn about the context of development in India, the growth of middle-class tourism, and the work of our partner organization. Research methods will be discussed in class, but prior knowledge through a course on research methods in the social sciences is a plus.
Students will have the chance to learn elementary Hindi, practice research methods, and interact with development workers and villagers to contribute to efforts to improve lives in a relatively remote region. Living conditions in the foothills will be basic and students will sometimes be expected to hike through steep terrain.
The team also will visit New Delhi, the capital of India, to understand some of the differences between urban and rural India. In addition, students will visit local tourist sites in Uttarakhand, the state where the team will spend most of its time.
Students will take both of the following courses:
