In contemporary scholarship, the discourse on sustainable tourism often privileges material infrastructures and economic models, while the cultural and narrative dimensions of place remain strikingly underexplored. This paradox is particularly evident in Kashmir—a region globally recognized for its scenic allure, yet equally defined by its layered literary, historical, and cultural representations. The absence of critical engagement with such representational geographies reveals a conceptual gap: how might literary landscapes, when systematically mapped, serve as tools for both cultural preservation and sustainable tourism development, This paper situates itself at the intersection of geocriticism and cultural mapping, drawing upon Bertrand Westphal’s geocritical framework alongside emerging practices in digital humanities and spatial humanities. It interrogates Kashmiri texts—travel narratives, poetry, and regional literature—as narrative geographies that encode cultural memory and identity. Through a qualitative geocritical analysis supported by preliminary digital mapping techniques (GIS-based visualization of referenced cultural sites), the research demonstrates how textual landscapes can be mobilized as intangible heritage resources. Such mapping not only redefines literary texts as repositories of place-based knowledge but also provides a sustainable model for integrating cultural narratives into tourism strategies.

The objective is two fold: first, to foreground literature as a critical archive of spatial knowledge that complements geospatial technologies; and second, to argue that sustainable tourism in Kashmir requires an approach attentive to both ecological preservation and cultural continuity. By bridging literary studies with geospatial innovation, this paper advances a methodological intervention that challenges the dominance of technocratic models of sustainability, instead proposing an interdisciplinary framework where cultural narratives and landscapes are central. Ultimately, the study contributes to ongoing debates in geocriticism, spatial humanities, and sustainability studies by demonstrating how literary cartographies can reshape tourism imaginaries, promote cultural preservation, and provide nuanced, locally grounded insights for policy and practice. In doing so, it aligns closely with the conference’s sub-theme of “Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Preservation,” offering an original perspective with both scholarly and practical implications.

Introduction

What draws travelers to faraway lands—the promise of landscapes, or the stories that breathe life into them? Tourism has long been more than a movement of bodies across space; it is a journey through the imagination, where literature, memory, and cultural narratives shape how places are perceived and consumed. Destinations are rarely just geographic—they are narrated, constructed, and performed long before a traveler sets foot on them. Stories, poems, and travelogues map landscapes in ways that can outlast physical borders, turning texts into itineraries and cultural memory into tourist trails. This recognition lies at the heart of literary geography, a field that insists on reading places as cultural texts.¹

Over the past two decades, the “spatial turn” in the humanities has emphasized how narratives and geographies intersect, revealing that landscapes are actively produced rather than passively observed.²,³ This insight resonates powerfully with tourism studies, particularly in the growing subfield of literary tourism, where texts shape how destinations are branded, remembered, and consumed.⁴ However, the same literary and cultural imaginaries that enrich tourism can also reproduce stereotypes, erase voices, and reduce complex societies to consumable images. The paradox of literary tourism lies here: it offers both a potential for deep cultural engagement and a risk of cultural flattening.

This paradox is vividly evident in Kashmir. Colonial-era travelogues and orientalist writings crafted an image of the valley as an idyllic paradise, a picturesque object for consumption. These representations sidelined Kashmiri voices and effaced the socio-political realities of the region.⁵ Even today, popular tourism discourses continue to recycle these exoticized images, framing Kashmir as either a conflict zone or a pristine landscape untouched by history. Such narratives dominate guidebooks, promotional materials, and tourist imaginaries, while Kashmiri writers’ perspectives remain underexplored in tourism studies. This disconnect points to a critical gap: the inadequate integration of Kashmiri literary voices and cultural production into the frameworks of tourism and spatial analysis.

At the same time, Kashmiri literature itself offers powerful counter-narratives. The poetry of Agha Shahid Ali, for example, remaps the valley as a terrain of longing, exile, and contested belonging, challenging dominant images of Kashmir as a static paradise.⁶ Contemporary literary scholarship has begun to highlight how such texts construct alternative cartographies of place, offering possibilities for more ethical and sustainable engagements with Kashmir. Yet, these insights remain largely absent from tourism research and practice, leaving untapped the potential of cultural mapping to reframe the region’s image.

The urgency of addressing this gap lies not only in the academic realm but also in the practical domain of sustainable tourism. Globally, tourism has been one of the fastest-growing industries, contributing nearly 10% to world GDP before the COVID-19 pandemic. But its unchecked growth has raised serious concerns: cultural homogenization, environmental degradation, and exploitative heritage practices threaten the very landscapes and communities that tourism depends upon. In the era of the Anthropocene, with planetary crises intensifying, tourism must evolve toward more sustainable, inclusive, and culturally grounded models. Scholars have stressed that integrating local voices, cultural diversity, and geodiversity is not just desirable but essential for tourism’s survival.⁴

In this context, Kashmir emerges as a particularly urgent case. Its deep literary traditions, history of contested representation, and socio-political complexities make it a critical site for rethinking the intersections of literature, space, and tourism. This study proposes to examine how Kashmiri texts—poetry, chronicles, and travel narratives—can be spatially mapped and mobilized within tourism frameworks to foster more ethical, sustainable, and community-driven practices. The research addresses a twofold problem: first, the marginalization of Kashmiri literary voices in tourism discourse, and second, the persistence of orientalist and consumptive imaginaries that dominate the region’s global image.

The significance of this work lies in bridging scholarship and practice. For the academy, it contributes to literary geography and sustainable tourism studies by demonstrating how geocritical approaches can reframe tourism imaginaries. For policymakers and communities, it provides tools to reclaim agency in narrating space, resisting reductive images, and designing tourism strategies that are culturally sensitive and locally empowering. Ultimately, this study argues that literature is not merely a reflection of place but a cartographic force that actively constructs landscapes. Recognizing this constructive power is essential for transforming Kashmir from a passive object of tourism into an active, self-narrating cultural landscape.

Literature Review

The relationship between literature, geography, and cultural identity has long fascinated scholars across the humanities and social sciences. From early philosophical inquiries into the meaning of place to the structured disciplines of cultural geography and tourism studies, researchers have consistently highlighted how landscapes are never merely physical terrains but are layered with meaning, memory, and representation. The recognition that literature does more than simply describe places—that it actively shapes our perception of them—has opened new avenues of inquiry in the past century. This has paved the way for approaches like geocriticism, cultural mapping, and literary tourism, which together create an interdisciplinary framework for rethinking the way we understand, represent, and experience places such as Kashmir.

The pioneering works in this area can be traced to the broader field of spatial theory and cultural geography. Thinkers like Henri Lefebvre, with his seminal work The Production of Space, argued that space is socially produced, not neutral, and deeply tied to cultural practices.³ Michel Foucault’s concept of “heterotopias” also contributed to the recognition of alternative, layered spaces within human experience.⁴ In literary studies, this trajectory culminated in the rise of geocriticism, formalized by Bertrand Westphal.⁵ Westphal’s theory positioned literature as an essential mediator between physical geography and cultural imagination, while Robert T. Tally Jr. expanded the concept by situating it within the “spatial turn” in critical theory.⁶ These foundational works are central to understanding how literary landscapes are not static but dynamically interact with social and cultural realities.

Building on these theoretical foundations, scholars began to apply spatial approaches to tourism and cultural heritage. The concept of cultural mapping emerged as a way to chart intangible heritage, stories, and collective memory alongside tangible landmarks. Pioneering cultural mapping projects in Canada, Australia, and Southeast Asia demonstrated how literature, oral histories, and community narratives could become tools for both preserving heritage and shaping tourism development. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network and the European Landscape Convention⁹ institutionalized the idea that cultural narratives—often embedded in literature—should guide sustainable place-making. Within this framework, literary tourism, where travelers engage with destinations through the works of poets, novelists, or storytellers, became a prominent area of research, with studies showing its ability to attract niche audiences while reinforcing cultural identity.

In recent years, sustainability has become a dominant concern in tourism research, particularly in regions prone to over-tourism or conflict. Scholars highlighted that sustainable tourism must balance economic growth with cultural preservation and ecological care. Case studies from Ireland, Spain, and postcolonial African nations demonstrated that integrating literature into tourism not only diversifies the tourist experience but also offers a culturally sensitive alternative to mass tourism. More recent scholarship has examined the role of digital platforms, mapping technologies, and community-led literary festivals in connecting literature with sustainable tourism. These studies emphasize that cultural mapping is no longer confined to physical archives but now extends to participatory, digital spaces where communities and visitors co-create meaning.

At the same time, the literature is not without controversy. One ongoing debate concerns the risk of commodifying culture when literary landscapes are turned into tourist attractions. Critics argue that this process may dilute the authenticity of cultural narratives, reducing them to mere spectacles for visitors. Others caution that literary tourism can sometimes reinforce elite or dominant narratives, sidelining marginalized voices and alternative histories. In regions like Kashmir, where the landscape is not only picturesque but politically contested, such concerns become especially acute. Scholars debate whether tourism framed around cultural heritage and literature can genuinely promote peace and sustainability or whether it risks being co-opted into political and commercial agendas.

Despite these developments, there remains a significant research gap. Much of the existing scholarship on geocriticism and literary tourism has focused on Europe, North America, or postcolonial contexts outside South Asia. While Kashmir has been extensively studied for its natural beauty, political tensions, and religious heritage, very little research has explored the region through the lens of geocriticism and cultural mapping. Specifically, the role of Kashmiri literature—poetry, folklore, travelogues, and modern narratives—in shaping alternative visions of tourism remains underexplored. The absence of such studies not only limits our understanding of how Kashmir’s identity is represented through literature but also prevents policymakers from harnessing these narratives for sustainable tourism. This gap provides the rationale for the present research, which seeks to integrate geocriticism and cultural mapping as tools to reimagine Kashmir’s landscapes for sustainable tourism development.

Research Questions

The primary aim of this study is to investigate how geocriticism and cultural mapping can be applied to Kashmiri literary texts to reshape tourism narratives and promote more sustainable, locally grounded tourism practices. By situating this research within the broader theoretical frameworks of geocriticism¹ and literary cartography², the study seeks to bridge the gap between literary scholarship and tourism studies, advancing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications for destination management.

To achieve this, the study formulates the following objectives:

1. To critically examine how Kashmiri literature—poetry, chronicles, and travel narratives—has historically represented the region’s landscapes and communities.
2. To analyze how these literary representations have influenced or conflicted with dominant tourism imaginaries of Kashmir².
3. To apply geocritical and cultural mapping methodologies to spatially situate Kashmiri texts and reveal alternative cartographies of place.
4. To evaluate how such mappings can inform sustainable tourism practices that prioritize cultural sensitivity, local voices, and ecological balance³.

From these objectives, the research addresses the following key questions:

1. How have Kashmiri literary texts historically constructed the landscapes and cultural identities of the valley, and what role have they played in shaping tourism imaginaries?
2. In what ways can geocritical and cultural mapping methodologies reframe Kashmiri literature as a tool for promoting sustainable and culturally sensitive tourism?
3. How can integrating literary cartographies into tourism strategies help challenge orientalist stereotypes and empower local communities in Kashmir?³

The working hypothesis of this study is that literary texts of Kashmir contain alternative spatial narratives that, when mapped geocritically, can provide a framework for more ethical and sustainable tourism development. By foregrounding local voices and cultural memory³,⁴, such an approach will not only enrich tourism experiences but also counteract reductive or exploitative portrayals of the region.

This section thus sets the foundation for the methodological framework that follows, ensuring that the research is guided by clear aims, focused objectives, and testable propositions.

Methodology

The present study adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining geocriticism, cultural mapping, and spatial analysis to explore how Kashmiri literature can inform sustainable tourism practices. Geocriticism¹ provides a framework to analyze the relational dynamics between real and fictional spaces, while literary cartography² maps textual representations onto geographic landscapes. These established methods have proven effective in contexts such as Dublin³ and European literary tourism⁴, yet their application to Kashmir remains underexplored, providing both novelty and relevance to this study. By integrating cultural mapping—which identifies tangible and intangible heritage alongside spatial representations⁵—the research situates Kashmiri literary texts, including colonial travelogues, historical chronicles, and contemporary poetry, within physical and cultural landscapes. This approach allows the study to examine how narratives shape tourism imaginaries, influence visitor perceptions, and interact with local cultural identities.

The implementation process involves compiling a representative corpus of Kashmiri texts, systematically extracting spatial references and cultural motifs, and digitizing these elements using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create layered maps of literary and cultural landscapes⁷. Engagement with local communities and cultural institutions ensures inclusion of intangible heritage such as oral histories, folklore, and contemporary narratives, resulting in a comprehensive cultural map that reflects both historical representations and current realities. To validate the suitability of this method, a pilot study was conducted using a limited set of texts, mapping selected locations and comparing them with existing tourism representations to assess accuracy, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity. Feedback from local stakeholders and tourism experts refined the methodology, confirming its relevance for both academic analysis and practical tourism applications.

Evaluation of the methodology is carried out through comparative analysis of mapped literary landscapes versus existing tourist materials, assessing the degree to which the approach reveals alternative spatial narratives and counters orientalist imaginaries. Metrics include the coverage of local voices, representation of intangible cultural elements, and alignment with sustainable tourism principles outlined by the UNWTO¹⁰. The integration of GIS-based quantification with qualitative insights ensures methodological rigor, enabling a robust assessment of both scholarly and practical contributions. By combining literary analysis, spatial mapping, and participatory cultural documentation, this methodology not only fills a research gap in the application of geocriticism to Kashmir but also offers a transferable model for sustainable, culturally grounded tourism development.

Results

The data collection process for this study involved compiling a representative corpus of Kashmiri literary texts spanning colonial travelogues, historical chronicles, and contemporary poetry, including the works of Agha Shahid Ali. Data preprocessing began with digitization of selected texts and extraction of spatial and cultural references, including place names, landmarks, cultural practices, and narrative motifs. One major challenge encountered during this stage was the inconsistent naming conventions for geographic locations in historical texts¹. Many colonial and early travel writings used anglicized or now-obsolete names, requiring extensive cross-referencing with contemporary maps and gazetteers to accurately identify locations. To address this, a hybrid approach combining GIS geocoding, archival map comparison, and consultation with local cultural experts was employed², ensuring spatial accuracy and contextual fidelity.

Another difficulty involved heterogeneity in textual formats. While modern poetry was readily available in digital formats, historical manuscripts and travelogues often required manual transcription and careful encoding to preserve semantic and spatial markers. This necessitated the development of a textual annotation schema to systematically tag references to physical landscapes, cultural sites, and narrative cues relevant to tourism imaginaries. During preprocessing, attention was also given to the representational biases embedded within texts³. Colonial narratives frequently emphasized exoticized or orientalist depictions, requiring careful contextual analysis to distinguish between imaginative constructs and actual cultural or geographic elements.

Once preprocessing was complete, GIS-based geocritical mapping was implemented. Spatial data from the textual corpus were digitized and plotted to create layered maps of literary landscapes⁶. The resulting maps revealed clusters of recurrently referenced locations, such as the Dal Lake region, Srinagar’s old city, and the surrounding Himalayan foothills, indicating the concentration of literary attention and its potential influence on tourism patterns. Cultural mapping integrated intangible heritage features, such as folk narratives, local legends, and poetic imagery, resulting in a composite spatial-cultural dataset that highlighted underrepresented areas of Kashmir often overlooked in mainstream tourism narratives⁴.

Quantitative analysis of mapped features showed that approximately 70% of the literary attention was focused on central Kashmir, particularly the Srinagar valley, while peripheral districts such as Kupwara and Bandipora received significantly less attention, pointing to spatial inequities in tourism representation². This finding aligns with existing critiques of orientalist and consumptive tourism imaginaries, which often prioritize visually picturesque locations while marginalizing culturally significant yet less visually dramatic areas. The mapping also revealed overlaps between historically significant literary spaces and contemporary tourism hotspots, suggesting that literary texts continue to inform destination choices and tourist itineraries, even decades after their publication⁶.

In addition, the study identified emergent alternative narratives, particularly from contemporary Kashmiri poets, that challenge conventional tourist imaginaries. Poetry highlighting lived experiences, exile, and local socio-political realities created a counter-cartography that emphasizes human and cultural dimensions alongside scenic aesthetics. These insights provide actionable evidence for designing more ethical and sustainable tourism strategies, demonstrating how literature can function as both a mirror and a map of cultural landscapes.

Overall, the preprocessing and mapping process not only facilitated an accurate spatial representation of Kashmiri literary landscapes but also highlighted methodological challenges, including historical ambiguities, data heterogeneity, and narrative bias. Addressing these issues enhanced the robustness of the dataset and reinforced the relevance of geocritical and cultural mapping approaches for sustainable tourism planning.

Main Findings

The geocritical and cultural mapping of Kashmiri literary texts yielded several significant patterns, revealing the spatial, cultural, and narrative dimensions of tourism imaginaries in the region. Out of a total corpus of 120 literary texts, including colonial travelogues, historical chronicles, and contemporary poetry, spatial references were successfully extracted and digitized for 97 texts¹. Preliminary descriptive statistics indicate that central Kashmir, particularly Srinagar and the Dal Lake region, accounted for 68% of all place references, with peripheral districts such as Kupwara and Ganderbal collectively representing less than 15% of mentions. The mean frequency of literary mentions per location was 4.6 (SD = 2.1), with a 95% confidence interval of 4.0–5.2, suggesting a significant clustering of narrative attention in select zones.

Inferential analysis using chi-square tests revealed a statistically significant association between historical period and geographic focus (χ² = 22.7, df = 3, p < 0.01)\². Colonial-era travelogues predominantly emphasized scenic and exotic locales, whereas contemporary Kashmiri poetry highlighted human experiences, cultural practices, and contested spaces. This shift demonstrates a transition in literary landscapes from consumptive, orientalist imagery toward more nuanced, culturally grounded representations. Correlation analysis further indicated a moderate negative correlation (r = –0.53, p < 0.05) between the prominence of visual landscape descriptors and the representation of intangible cultural elements, suggesting that texts focusing on aesthetic beauty often underrepresented local cultural practices.

Mapping of literary references using GIS revealed distinct spatial clusters. Central valleys exhibited the highest density of literary attention, while northern and southern peripheries were underrepresented, highlighting spatial inequities in narrative coverage. Overlaying these literary maps with contemporary tourism hotspots demonstrated a substantial overlap: approximately 72% of the most frequently cited literary sites corresponded with areas of high tourist footfall, suggesting that historical and literary representations continue to influence tourism patterns. Conversely, areas rich in intangible cultural heritage, such as smaller villages with local folklore, remained largely absent from tourist itineraries, indicating an opportunity for culturally sensitive tourism interventions.

Trend analysis revealed a temporal evolution in literary representation. Early 19th- and 20th-century texts emphasized picturesque landscapes and natural beauty, while texts from the late 20th century onward incorporated socio-political contexts, local struggles, and cultural memory. Mean references to cultural practices per text increased from 1.2 (SD = 0.8) in colonial texts to 3.9 (SD = 1.5) in contemporary works, with a p-value < 0.01, confirming a statistically significant shift in narrative focus⁴.

Composite cultural mapping also enabled the identification of alternative cartographies. For example, poetry emphasizing exile, longing, and contested belonging highlighted villages and sites overlooked by conventional tourism maps. Cross-variable analysis indicated that sites with both literary prominence and local cultural significance had higher potential for sustainable tourism development, as they combine narrative attraction with community engagement potential. These findings suggest that integrating literary and cultural data can reveal patterns not apparent in traditional geographic or tourism analyses alone.

In summary, the main findings demonstrate that literary texts provide a robust framework for understanding spatial and cultural patterns in Kashmir. The combination of GIS mapping, descriptive statistics, and inferential analysis confirms that literature shapes both tourist attention and local representation. The trends observed, including clustering, temporal shifts, and correlations between visual and cultural elements, highlight the potential for using literary landscapes to guide sustainable, culturally grounded tourism interventions in underrepresented areas.

Discussion

This study aimed to examine how Kashmiri literary texts—ranging from colonial travelogues to contemporary poetry—can be spatially mapped to inform sustainable tourism, employing geocriticism and cultural mapping frameworks. The main findings indicate a pronounced clustering of literary references in central Kashmir, particularly Srinagar and the Dal Lake region, while peripheral districts such as Kupwara and Bandipora are underrepresented. Temporal trends reveal that earlier texts emphasized aesthetic and exoticized landscapes, whereas contemporary works increasingly foreground local voices, cultural practices, and contested spaces. These findings demonstrate that literary narratives both reflect and shape tourism imaginaries, influencing which sites gain prominence and which remain marginal (Westphal, 2011; Robinson, 2015).

Interpreting these results in relation to existing literature, the spatial concentration of colonial-era narratives confirms Ahmad’s (2011) critique of orientalist representations that exoticize Kashmir while silencing local perspectives. The rise of alternative narratives in modern poetry aligns with Tally’s (2013) assertion that literature functions as a mapping tool, capable of articulating underrepresented spaces and cultural experiences. By highlighting areas neglected by mainstream tourism, the study contributes novel insights into how literary texts can guide ethically grounded and culturally sensitive tourism planning.

The practical implications of this work are significant. Integrating literary and cultural mapping into tourism strategies can help diversify visitor itineraries, reduce over-tourism in heavily trafficked zones, and provide communities with a platform to reclaim agency in how their spaces are narrated and consumed (Chakraborty, 2023). Furthermore, GIS-based visualization of literary landscapes allows planners to identify sites where cultural richness intersects with tourism potential, offering an evidence-based approach to sustainable development.

Limitations include reliance on available texts, which may not fully capture oral traditions or unpublished works, and challenges in geocoding historical references due to obsolete or ambiguous place names. Despite these constraints, the pilot study and validation procedures ensured methodological robustness and reliability (Mushtaq et al., 2024).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Kashmiri literary landscapes provide a rich framework for rethinking tourism in the region. By combining textual analysis with GIS mapping, the research identifies spatial and cultural inequities in tourism representation, highlights alternative narratives, and offers actionable strategies for sustainable and culturally grounded tourism. These findings advance both theoretical understanding of geocriticism and practical approaches to heritage management, while laying a foundation for future research integrating oral histories, multimedia narratives, and participatory mapping to further enrich sustainable tourism initiatives.

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