RuhaniAIR 5 · CSE 2023 · 81 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
Tourism in hilly states has increased substantially, especially in hill stations like Mussoorie, Ooty. However, these regions have not been planned to accommodate the high amount of tourists. Thus, tourism is exceeding the ecological carrying capacity of the region.
Body · points and prose
[FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS TREND]
- Global warming necessitates tourists to visit cooler regions
- Release of pent-up demand for tourism after Covid-19
- Rising population
- Massive promotion of tourism by hill states as their revenue and livelihoods depend mainly on tourism
- More activities like trekking, hiking, ropeways attract tourists
[POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TOURISM]
- Plastic pollution leading to soil and land degradation
- Noise pollution adversely affecting biodiversity
- Water pollution
- Air pollution
- High traffic jam
- Land subsidence (Eg: Joshimath)
- More hotel construction which will lead to deforestation
Thus, due to adverse environmental impact, we need to promote sustainable tourism which benefits the society, economy as well as environment.
[Venn diagram of three overlapping circles labeled 'Economy', 'Society', and 'Environment' with the intersection shaded]
- Sustainable Tourism points to the intersection
[MEASURES TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM]
- Make tourist circuits at different places in the state, to divert the traffic away from one main tourist site
- Tourist management and monitoring through an online portal
- Promoting public transport to reduce pollution (instead of private cabs)
- Fines on tourists spreading plastic pollution
- Environmental clearances for Hotel construction, green buildings
- Eg: Make malls (selling handlooms or GI tagged products), artificial gardens, parks
Close · a summary
Thus, we must make efforts towards greening our tourism. For this, we must take the above measures for sustainable tourism practices.