 "Tourism ministry eyes hill travel, to tap Himalayan potential")
Tourism might have been pegged as a big ticket item for economic growth, but tourism minister K Chiranjeevi’s latest attempt to fully realise the potential of the Himalayas could come at a cost. The minister is planning to launch a campaign '777 days in Himalayas' in September, to make summer travel attractive for foreign tourists.
The announcement comes at a time when when two hill states - Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh - have borne the brunt of nature’s fury, and restricting tourism in eco-sensitive zones is being seen as a step forward. To maintain ecological balance, countries such as Bhutan have kept tourism in check. Tourism in Australia is restricted in ecologically fragile zones like the Great Barrier Reef.
"Tourism is an important activity, but if it is not regulated, it will lead to disasters. Houses, hotels have all come up so close to rivers, flouting all rules," said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment.
Tourism destinations like Kerala have recently started putting a rider on all tourism-related projects that make it compulsory for companies to give "sustainable practices" assurances. These include proper waste disposal mechanisms, environment-friendly measures.
The Himalayas, attracting thousands of religious and leisure travellers, span across eco-fragile zones. The government plans to use the Himalayas as a getaway option for foreign tourists during the summer months. The peak season for inbound travellers in India starts in October and goes on till March. Currently, the summer months remain unutilized in terms of foreign travellers.
"Foreign tourists are just a handful; it is a drop in the ocean and can be managed. But the overall religious tourism is very tricky to track and monitor," said Belinda Wright, wildlife conservationist.
Furthermore, very little benefit is passed on to the local community when tourism infrastructure is built in such areas. "If the local population is involved, it will take up the responsibility of maintaining the place and keeping it environmentally secure," Narain added.
The announcement comes at a time when when two hill states - Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh - have borne the brunt of nature’s fury, and restricting tourism in eco-sensitive zones is being seen as a step forward. To maintain ecological balance, countries such as Bhutan have kept tourism in check. Tourism in Australia is restricted in ecologically fragile zones like the Great Barrier Reef.
"Tourism is an important activity, but if it is not regulated, it will lead to disasters. Houses, hotels have all come up so close to rivers, flouting all rules," said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment.
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Even as the Uttarakhand floods are being referred to as ‘manmade disasters’, experts say places like Ooty and Munnar are just waiting to explode. "People go to these places for greenery and quiet. With increased demand, so many buildings and hotels have come up that it is bound to take a toll on the ecological balance at some point," a senior travel industry expert said.
Tourism destinations like Kerala have recently started putting a rider on all tourism-related projects that make it compulsory for companies to give "sustainable practices" assurances. These include proper waste disposal mechanisms, environment-friendly measures.
The Himalayas, attracting thousands of religious and leisure travellers, span across eco-fragile zones. The government plans to use the Himalayas as a getaway option for foreign tourists during the summer months. The peak season for inbound travellers in India starts in October and goes on till March. Currently, the summer months remain unutilized in terms of foreign travellers.
"Foreign tourists are just a handful; it is a drop in the ocean and can be managed. But the overall religious tourism is very tricky to track and monitor," said Belinda Wright, wildlife conservationist.
Furthermore, very little benefit is passed on to the local community when tourism infrastructure is built in such areas. "If the local population is involved, it will take up the responsibility of maintaining the place and keeping it environmentally secure," Narain added.