MD. Irfan Amin

The Khasia communities living in the Moulvibazar district, which have a matriarchal family structure, famous for betel leaf farming and unique cultural heritage, has been impacted by tourism. This study explores the impacts of tourism on their cultural practices, economic conditions, and social dynamics from different aspects and identifies long-term strategies for cultural preservation. Fieldwork was conducted in four Khasia villages in Moulvibazar to collect essential data and observe the participants’ reactions. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and Focus group discussions with thematic analysis using Quirkos software. Expert secondary data were used to back up the conclusions. Tourism has provided several economic opportunities like improved infrastructure and new sources of revenue; some villages are planning to use tourism to show and promote their true cultural heritage via eco-tourism and social media platforms. However, there are several challenges, and cultural commodification, environmental pollution, and social conflicts are the main concerns. Deforestation is creating a disturbance in their livelihood as they are highly dependent on nature. Some tourists also demand commercialization which is harming their cultural authenticity. Tourism presents both benefits and threats for the Khasia community. Sustainable tourism practices and community-led policies are important to strike a balance between economic benefits and cultural preservation. Long-term development can be ensured while safeguarding heritage and the environment if the Khasia people are given the power to manage their cultural representation.