Trouble in Paradise: Evaluating the Effects of Unorganized Tourism on the Himalayan Ecology

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has drawn visitors and pilgrims from all over the world due to its towering peaks, majestic landscapes, rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. Tourism not only provides valuable economic and business opportunities and jobs for local mountain people, but also generates revenue and profits for state governments and private entrepreneurs. The modern tourism industry is closely linked to development, and frequently includes a strategy aimed at covering as many new destinations as possible. Tourism in the IHR has grown steadily and diversified over the last few decades to become one of India's fastest growing economic sectors. Tourism in the IHR range is currently viewed as a source of environmental damage and pollution, a threat to socio-cultural heritage, a heavy user of scarce resources, and a potential source of negative externalities in society. The uncontrolled growth of tourism resulted in a construction boom in hazardous areas such as river valleys, floodplains, and landslide-prone slopes, exacerbating the disaster. Erratic rainfall and environmental degradation caused by land use change for infrastructure development are already having an impact on mountain aquifer systems. These internal tourism development dynamics, including the effects of climate change, are significant change agents influencing sustainable tourism development in the IHR. In this review we analyze the current trend of environmental impacts associated with rampant tourism and consequent infrastructure, we conclude the discussion with possible mitigation measures.