The picturesque states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, renowned for their breathtaking landscapes and cultural diversity, have found themselves at a critical juncture as they grapple with the burgeoning challenges posed by tourism. These regions, once known for their pristine beauty, are now witnessing the strain on their ecological carrying capacity due to the ever-increasing influx of tourists. While tourism undoubtedly brings economic benefits, the unchecked growth has led to environmental degradation, overcrowding, and an alarming depletion of natural resources. The delicate balance between preservation and promotion is now in jeopardy as the states navigate the fine line between harnessing the economic potential of tourism and safeguarding their fragile ecosystems. This evaluation necessitates a comprehensive analysis of the impact of tourism on the region’s biodiversity, water resources, and local communities. Additionally, the assessment must delve into the effectiveness of existing conservation measures and the implementation of sustainable tourism practices. As these states reach the precipice of ecological sustainability, a critical examination of the current scenario becomes imperative to formulate informed policies that strike a harmonious balance between tourism-driven economic growth and the preservation of the region’s ecological integrity.
Tag: Distribution of key natural resources across the world.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, begin your answer with some data and background of tourism.
- In Body, write about the ecological impacts of tourism.
- Conclude the answer with SDG & some positive way-outs.
Answer:
Covering around 27% of the earth’s land surface, mountains play a critical role in moving the world toward sustainable economic growth. They not only provide sustenance and well-being to 720 million inhabitants around the world but also indirectly benefit billions more living downstream economically as well. The hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are endowed with beautiful natural landscapes. Thus, they have the potential to attract tourists from all over the world. Mountains have become a magnet for tourism, which is the most rapidly growing industry in the world.
As one of the world’s largest industries, tourism is responsible for more than one in ten jobs globally and constitutes over 8% of domestic economic activity- as per the data of NITI AAYOG.
The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of ecological carrying capacity due to tourism due to:
- The impacts of tourism on mountain ecosystems and biological resources are of great concern, both at the local and global scales, because of the high degree of biodiversity and environmental sensitivity of mountain areas. Tourism creates pressure on local resources.
- Due to this, there are apprehensions that they might be reaching the limits of their ecological carrying capacity. The carrying capacity implies the maximum population size that the ecosystem could sustain indefinitely.
- For instance, to handle the growing tourist industry, the Dal Lake in Srinagar has been encroached, upon through haphazard urbanization. Similarly, the case of Uttarakhand, which has places of religious significance and attracts lots of followers annually, led to the development of roads and bridges which has disturbed the ecological balance.
- But we may not say that these regions as a whole are reaching their ecological carrying capacity as the tourist activities in these areas are limited to very small regions as compared to their state area.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, it is confined to Ladakh, Srinagar, and Jammu districts. In Uttarakhand, it is mostly confined to the Western part which is full of religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Haridwar, Rishikesh, etc. In Himachal, the tourist areas are located mainly in three districts – Kullu, Dharamsala, and Shimla, whereas the rest of the areas get less than 5% of the total tourists arriving in the state.
While tourism is one of the main development sectors for the Himalayas and can be the engine that drives future development in the region, this will only be possible if it is developed and implemented following principles of sustainability. To overcome this challenge maximizing tourism’s positive and creative contribution to IHR(Indian Himalayan region), local economies, the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, and the quality of life of hosts and visitors and harnessing opportunities and innovative actions to make tourism sustainable are essential features.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
