Tourism in the hilly states is threatening to exceed the ecological carrying capacity of the region. Analyze the factors contributing to this trend and evaluate the potential Environmental impacts of this phenomenon. What measures can be taken to ensure sustainable tourism in these states? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

Factors contributing to mass tourism:

Supply side:

1. State govts promoting tourism to boost local economics

2. Ease of tourism infrastructure, such as all-weather roads

3. Relaxed infrastructure such as hotels, dams, and improved transport

Demand side:

1. Rising disposable incomes

2. Laying middle class

3. Rising population of cities such as Delhi; more tourists want to travel

Factors for limited ecological capacity:

1. Himalayas are young mountains

3. Building loads not followed

4. Land use pattern changing without environment impact assessment

5. Illegal cord uninformed by criminals

Potential environmental impacts:

1. Increasing [illegible] (eg) Pilgrims killed

2. Land subsistence (eg) Joshimath

3. Ecosystems disrupted permanently; Himalayas to a Biodiversity Hotspot with reverent natural faunal

(eg) damage to Valley of Flowers, Narkanda

4. Floods due to illegal mining, construction on flood plans

Measures for sustainable tourism:

MITIGATION:

1. MIT policy: urgent recommendations

2. Concentrated tourism in Himalayas

3. Limit ban on illegal mining

4. Highway parameters or perpetrators

5. Lifestyle ban on illegal mining (eg) Joshimath

6. Follow management of ecosystem - Local bodies empowered to carry out, ensure land use is prescribed

7. [Broad] of all buildings - periodic ceiling

8. Land use zoning

9. Early warning systems for disasters

10. CMAI 10-point agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (involvement of women, disaster resilience into building code, community-based disaster)

11. CODE [reactivation] of Disaster Assistant built onto management and hazard mapping built into plans

Water coming in semi-arid zones of Himalayas (eg) Toduli - [Illegible] consume major water

Contraggarises due to changing land use (Himalayas are in Zone V)

Measures for sustainable tourism - MITIGATION:

1. Urgent recommendations

2. Consolidated tourism in Himalayas

3. Limit ban on illegal mining; Highway parameters or perpetrators

4. Lifestyle ban on illegal mining (eg) Joshimath

5. Better management of ecosystem - Local bodies empowered to ensure land use is prescribed

6. [Broad] of all buildings - periodic ceiling

7. Land use zoning

8. Early warning systems for disasters

9. CMAI's 10-point agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (involvement of women, disaster resilience into building codes)

10. CMAI/CORE reactivation of Disaster Assisted with plans, hazard mapping built into land use protection