India's overtourism catastrophe: A looming crisis that calls for urgent action

Damaging impact of overtourism looms large over global travel, with India standing at critical juncture. Amidst a 166 per cent surge in arrivals, the impact on locals and natur concerning. Amidst India's uphill battles portraying the complex facets of overtourism analyse the current scenario, road to be taken and strategies to be formulated on the damage control. While the world is rejoicing the travel growth that is firing up the economies, triggered by the obvious climate shift, the voices speaking up to check overtourism appear to be growing stronger. Europe is already up in arms. With residents of top destinations, including Venice, Greece and Belgium announcing limiting the tourist numbers at their heritage sites and key attractions, this could well be a strategy to check the massive tourist influx and the damage caused in effect. Closer home, Bhutan has a special “tax” for all visitors that the country utilises to push sustainability related development and in effect, focus on entertaining only a certain quality of travellers who are conscious and seek a certain quality of travel that reflects the ethos of the Kingdom nation. Lesson to learn for India It was in the 90s that, Mandip Singh Soin, Founder President of Responsible Tourism Society of India and Founder of Ibex Expeditions, raised concerns to the local government about the impending impact of overtourism and suggested capping of tourist numbers during a Zanskar river-walking expedition. “Sadly, nothing moved. Fast forward to today, the problem is more widespread,” laments Soin. “The surge in post-pandemic travel and useless terms like revenge tourism have indeed led to a surge in overcrowding, which is a pressing concern,” he added. In India, the travel and tourism sector has grown into a USD 194.3 billion market, contributing 6.8 per cent to the GDP and providing employment to 40 million individuals in 2019. Yet, this growth carries consequences as overtourism's impact spans social, economic, and environmental realms. Data graph by Ministry of Tourism The Ministry of Tourism's recent data reveals that foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in April 2023 reached 6,03,985, showing a 53.7 per cent surge compared to April 2022 and a 22 per cent decline relative to April 2019. For January-April 2023, FTAs escalated to 31,33,751, marking a 166 per cent increase from the same period in 2022. Domestically, Indian tourists accounted for 89 per cent of overall tourism spending, with their numbers surging from 270 million to 2.32 billion in 2019. According to ICRA, March 2023 saw domestic passenger air traffic at 130 lakhs, surpassing March 2019 by 12 per cent. This influx, while significant for the centre and tourism stakeholders, often leaves a wake of negative impact, notably evident in the traffic gridlocks afflicting roads leading to hill-stations each year. A study also underscores the challenges of tourist overcrowding, including strained local relations, diminished visitor experiences, overloaded infrastructure, ecological harm, and cultural and heritage risks. These, according to the tourism experts, have combined to create a perfect disaster for the future of tourism. Crumbling hill stations bearing the brunt In its 135th report tabled in the Rajya Sabha on August 10, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment Forest and Climate Change called upon the government to take urgent action to avert Joshimath-like disasters. Citing the tremendous increase in tourism and illegal construction of hotels and resorts as straining on natural resources in the Himalayan region, the parliamentary panel stressed the need for a thorough examination of the illegal structures in the ecologically fragile region in coordination with local authorities. It called for strict action against illegal construction to prevent tragedies akin to the ones experienced in Kedarnath in 2013 and Joshimath earlier this year. It also asked the ministry to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed in the event of any unfortunate disaster in the region and apprise it of the efforts being made to monitor and check the "unbridled" growth in physical infrastructure and developmental projects in the Himalayas . Visibly, unplanned urbanisation, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient waste management systems are causing the Indian destinations, especially the hill stations, to buckle under the strain of overtourism. Spurred by rebound tourism in 2023, hill stations like Nainital, Kasauli, Manali, and Shimla experienced a massive influx of tourists this summer season, compelling the local authorities to restrict entry for a significant number of tourists. This surge led to mounting frustrations among visitors who grappled with sudden hotel cancellations despite having pre-booked accommodations. The state of Himachal Pradesh witnessed an influx of over 72 lakh tourists between January and May, a development that undoubtedly bolstered the state's revenue. Yet, it simultaneously triggered traffic congestion, worsened by the preference for road trips in private vehicles during peak seasons. In Shimla, for instance, the occupancy rates surged to nearly 70 per cent, and weekends witnessed a complete 100 per cent occupancy in HPTDC hotels and those in Manali, as per local reports. Calling out the elephant in the room According to Soin, addressing the issue of overtourism requires a multifaceted approach. “For instance, managing numbers based on peak seasons, weekends, and developing satellite destinations nearby can alleviate the pressure. Also, the tour operators need to promote lesserknown places alongside popular ones to distribute the influx,” Soin stated . A collaborative effort is called for both at the industry level as well as the visitors to ensure the preservation and sustainability of the destinations, he added. Impact on the business However, the scenario has taken a dire turn for Himachal's hotels and tourism industry due to recent flooding, a blow that follows the disruptions caused by the pandemic. According to Manish Goyal, Founder of Stotrak Hospitality, the overtourism undeniably poses challenges to hill stations but the crux of 12/08/2023, 11:00 India's overtourism catastrophe: . He added that it demands a strategic shift towards managing vehicular traffic and embracing alternative arrangements. “We need to make the tourism stakeholders take due steps to make sure we focus on reviving our surroundings during these times.” “Landslides and their consequences have been recurring issues due to the challenging terrain here. No doubt, the expansion of roads and infrastructure has brought about changes in nature,” stated Ajay Bakaya, MD, Sarovar Hotels, who is also a resident of Shimla. “This is a trade-off that often accompanies progress. However, environmental concerns are a global phenomenon, not just confined to Himachal . The world is grappling with extreme weather patterns, floods, and more. Our planet is witnessing the consequences of long-term environmental neglect,” he said. Bakaya has five operational hotels in Himachal that have faced a setback, especially in areas beyond Chandigarh due to apprehension. The floods have disrupted business for around 15-20 days or even up to a month, he added. “Manali, on the other hand, has suffered majorly, with a loss of nearly 15 days of business in August. Shimla, too, has borne the brunt, with a similar period of business decline. Property in Dalhousie that we reopened experienced no disruption, and it's business as usual,” said Bakaya.