Tourism in the Himalayas is not uniform; its impacts though are detrimental

General Studies Paper 4

Context: 

Over the last year, the Union government has laid emphasis on promoting sustainable tourism  in the Himalayan region.

Background:

• The Indian Himalayan region, with its rich biodiversity, offers conditions suitable for several activities(recreation/adventure/religious pilgrimages) and attracts a large number of visitors from all over the world.
• As tourism is an important source of income and livelihood for people living in this region, it must be ensured that these activities take place in a sustainable manner.

Recent efforts:

• National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Traveller Campaign Launched in 2022 by the Union Ministry of Tourism, it focuses on
  • Promotion of environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability;
  • Protection of biodiversity;
  • Capacity-building and governance;
  • Greater investment in green infrastructure with more efficient transport facilities reduced air pollution, and conservation of heritage sites and open spaces.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0: It is a centrally sponsored scheme for the development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country, including a vision to set up sustainable and responsible tourism in the Himalayan region.

Some challenges need greater focus:

• Mass tourism:Seasons play a role as a major tourist activity is confined to just a few months in a year – during the peak summer season.
• Greater anthropogenic pressure on existing infrastructure and local resources during the summer months.
• More generation of solid waste, ambient air pollution, water pollution and deforestation.
• Shift is seen in snowfall and melting patterns due to climate change -related impacts.

Way ahead:

• Reduce mass tourism and inculcate a spirit of conservation among locals and tourists.
• Promoting ecotourism (which involves responsible travel and safeguarding of local environment and ecosystems), alternative or green tourism.
• Decentralisation of tourism activities based on the available resources in any place. Tourists would also be able to access the benefits of the largely untouched environment.
• Developing tourist systems in northeastern states that have great potential for ecotourism activities.
• Assessing the carrying capacity of municipal infrastructure prior to development works.

Combat pollution:

• By practising microbial bio composting: the best way of natural disintegration and decomposition of waste under aerobic process.
• To combat air pollution,  planting locally available (like broad-leaved banj oak), introducing electric vehicles , using non-conventional energy sources like solar, etc.
• Pine forests, which often witness fires, can be used to make bio-briquettes (used as a substitute for  biofuel ) and purify water resources.

Involve all stakeholders:

• Any sustainable approach undertaken should involve the local communities, visitors, etc. Encourage skill and capacity-building programmes to spread awareness among different stakeholders.
• Visitors should learn the rules and good practices to be adopted while travelling through these areas.