Managing the impacts of Tourist and Pilgrim Mobility in the Indian Himalayas / Nouvelles pratiques de tourisme et de pélerinage dans l'Himalaya indien : impacts et modes de gestion

Abstract

Abstract: Traditionally, travel in the Indian Himalayas was regulated by codes of ethics or conduct and principles set down by ancient Indian sages. Such codes governed in particular the means of travel, abstention from non-vegetarian diets, and teetotalism. Thus, the problem of keeping sacred sites clean and the regulation of behaviour stemming from drunkenness were largely taken care of. With the development of roads and the increase in the frequency of vehicles for transporting travellers, there has been a huge influx of visitors to the Indian Himalayas since the 1960s. The number of pilgrims and tourists visiting sacred sites and areas of outstanding natural beauty in the Himalayas rose at a tremendous rate in the 1990s. To counter this huge increase in visitors, efforts have been made to manage tourist flows. However, generally they have not been very successful in diverting tourists/pilgrims from problem-prone areas. The new laissez-faire approach of the government has led to conflict at the local and regional level. Increases in the number of tourists have also led to an increase in congestion, overcrowding and pollution, a fact which may dissuade affluent ecotourists from repeat visits. This is significant because, on the one hand, the state governments are keen to promote ecotourism and the hill states are highly dependent on income from tourists, and, on the other, administrators find it difficult to manage visitor rates. It is suggested that the problem of managing tourist flows in the Indian Himalayas could be alleviated if lesser known places were promoted for mass tourism, and ecotourists were encouraged to visit pristine remote areas, but with certain restrictions. Combined with targeted marketing and a wide dissemination of the codes of conduct suitable for such mountain areas, this approach would provide a means of sustaining tourism in the long term.