Community responses to mountain tourism: A case in Bhyundar Valley, Indian Himalaya |
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| Authors: | Ram Babu Singh Suraj Mal Chandra Prakash Kala |
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| Institution: | (1) School of Earth Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130061, China;(2) Department of RS and GIS, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130012, China; |
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| Abstract: | Tourism industry has become an important part of Indian economy, and tourism development has been, however, concentrated to
a few areas. Accumulation of tourism activities has reached the critical stage in most of the tourism centers, which pose
serious threats to the natural environment. The Bhyundar Valley of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) in Uttarakhand State
of the Indian Himalaya is a burning example of such problems. Land use/cover changes, deforestation and accumulation of garbage
are some of the negative impacts of unregulated tourism in the valley. Unsustainable activities of tourists and villagers
in the valley make such problems very severe. To deal with the ongoing problems and ensure community involvement in tourism
management and environmental conservation, the Biosphere Reserve Authority introduced ecotourism in the form of Eco Development
Committees (EDCs) in the Bhyundar Valley. Study reveals that many problems associated with tourism have been minimized to
some extent with the help of EDCs but few are still prevailing in valley. However, the existing attempts to conserve the valley
from the negative effects of tourism are inadequate and modifications are needed in the current initiatives. |
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| Keywords: | Mountain tourism Land use change Community response Eco development committee Environmental management |
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