Context: There is a need to pre-empt the disastrous effects of unregulated tourism and learn lessons from the over-exploited tourist destinations in the Himalayan region.
Policy of Himalayan state is governed by the perception that the tourism industry is the key to prosperity.

Tourism is Central to Himalayan policy

• Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh had stated that the people should protect the mother nature, as tourism will grow manifold in the coming years.

• Himachal Pradesh will stop illegal mining and deforestation, but nothing is yet decided about the highways that now crisscross the state, inviting more tourists.

• Landslides on highways and washed-out bridges have made little impact on economic planning in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

• They have underestimated the cost of unbridled tourism for the fragile Himalayan ecology.

Effect of tourism in Himalayas

Overexploitation of the ecosystem (tourism, increased consumerism)

• Exploitative development projects: The indiscriminate exploitation of the fragile Himalayan region in the name of development projects has extracted a heavy price in terms of environmental damage. 

• Fragmentation of natural resources: String of hydroelectric and road projects in the Himalayan States have already resulted in the fragmentation of natural systems. 

Mountain highways

• Mountain highways connecting Kalka with Shimla was widened to provide four-lane driving.

• The sharply sliced slopes keep tumbling down on the highway and labors and their contractors have to return back to clear the debris.

Rivers are the ultimate drainage

• In Delhi, the Yamuna must cope with the human settlements on its bed.

• In the hills, the Yamuna’s tributaries must deal with the debris of landslides, which are cleared to relieve traffic jams on the highway.

• The flood in the region has deposited whole chunks of debris on a four-lane highway near Manali into the Beas River.

• The government prioritizes rebuilding the broken chunks of highways and bridges.

Other key facts

• One big cruise ship emits the same amount of nitrogen oxide in a day as 30,000 trucks. 

• Thus, cruise ship to promote tourism is more viable option than other modes of transportation as adopted by many other countries.

• Loo is the hot wind that blows in the parts of northern India in the summer.

Sustainable tourism in Himalayas: Recommendations

• Regulated tourism practice: There is need to establish regulated tourism practices with promotion of sustainable agendas for the Indian Himalayan region (IHR).

• Also, there is need of maintenance of proper tourist capacity in every tourist place.

• Vigilance and patrolling: Protected areas require vigilance and regular patrolling to reduce unwanted wildlife-tourist interaction as well as habitat destruction due to off-road driving and encroachment.

• Early Warning System: It is important to have early warning and better weather forecast systems in order to forecast the disaster and alert the local population and tourists.

• Regional Cooperation: There is a need for a trans-boundary coalition of Himalayan countries to share and disseminate knowledge about the mountains and preservation of the ecology there.

• Area Specific Sustainable Plan: What is most critical is to review the area’s present status and draw up a sustainable plan that respects the specific requirements of this fragile region and the impact of the climate crisis.

• Promote Ecotourism: Initiating a dialogue on adverse impacts of commercial tourism and promoting ecotourism.

Road Ahead

• Tourism is all about enjoying the gifts of nature and people and appreciating beautiful sights responsibly. However, it goes against the nature where it poses more negative than positive effects on the tourist sites, local communities, and the economy. There is a need to scrutinize the disastrous effects of unregulated tourism and learn lessons from the over-exploited tourist destinations in the Himalayan region. Therefore, there is need of ‘responsible tourism’, that respects the tourism destination's environment, community, and culture and also correct the adverse effects caused by irresponsible mass tourism.