British-Period Heritage and Its Role in Eco-Tourism Development: A Case Study of the Galiyat Region, Abbottabad, Pakistan

Abstract

The Galiyat region of northern Pakistan preserves one of South Asia’s most intact ensembles of British-period hill-station architecture, including churches, rest houses, and civic buildings embedded within Himalayan forests. Despite its exceptional cultural and ecological value, this heritage remains largely absent from formal tourism and conservation planning. This study investigates how Galiyat’s colonial-era architecture can serve as a catalyst for eco-tourism that integrates cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and community participation. Extensive fieldwork was conducted across thirty-two British-period heritage sites, incorporating interviews with 150 stakeholders, including tourists, residents, and tour operators. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic framework, revealing that Galiyat’s heritage functions as a living landscape where architectural authenticity, adaptive reuse, community identity, and ecological interdependence converge. However, governance fragmentation and weak interpretation continue to constrain its sustainable development. In response, the research proposes the Eco-Heritage Development Model for the Galiyat Region (EHDM-G) a four-stage cyclical framework encompassing resource identification, community capacity building, eco-heritage product development, and policy integration. Anchored in environmental, cultural, and socio-economic dimensions, the model aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 15 (Life on Land). The study contributes a replicable framework for heritage-based eco-tourism planning in mountain regions, demonstrating how postcolonial landscapes can evolve into models of sustainable identity, community empowerment, and integrated heritage governance.