In recent years, the allure of travel has led to unprecedented global tourism, propelling destinations into the limelight. Underneath the surface of wanderlust, there is an urgent issue: how over-tourism is changing the places that we want to explore. The effects of overcrowding, depleted resources, and cultural deterioration have started to throw a shadow on once-thriving tourist destinations. in this blog We will explore the complexity of how the unrelenting pursuit of wanderlust can, regretfully, have a negative impact on beloved vacation places, asking us to think about sustainable travel practices for a more peaceful future.
- Floods in Manali: Once considered the mountain heaven of India, in recent years Kullu and Manali have become tourist hot spots. The surge in tourism has resulted in some adverse effects. On 15th of July 2023 regions of Kullu and Manali experienced devastating and unpredictable rain and floods. The tourist spots that were once famous for scenic mountains and valleys have now become like the outskirts of a metropolitan city on weekends. The excessive footfall and littering have polluted the pristine rivers and fragile ecosystems, threatening biodiversity. Unchecked tourist activities such as trekking, skiing, and off-road driving have caused erosion and soil degradation, jeopardizing the region’s natural beauty. The rainfall pattern is becoming unpredictable and the flooding of the areas is alarming climate concerns. The burst in tourism has impacted several places, for instance, Rohtang Pass has been turned into a garbage yard for tourist vehicles and Mall Road losing its local essence and becoming a consumerist hub.
- Floods in Kedarnath: In 2013 the holy pilgrimage site Kedarnath faced wrath of nature when the entire place flooded due to cloud burst, causing loss of life. One of the major concerns in 2023 is yet again over tourism in Kedarnath. The social media content creation has forced people to interact with destinations in a new way, in 2023 shocking visuals revealed extensive crowd in Kedarnath. The influx of visitors leads to increased waste generation, pollution, and disturbance to the local flora and fauna. The construction of makeshift accommodations and other infrastructure to accommodate the large number of tourists further adds to the environmental impact.
- Flood in Uttarakhand: In 2021 Uttarakhand suffered from severe floods casuing massive damage. The same story is somehow is being repeated in 2023, the visible change in state’s climate is evident. The state has experienced heavy rainfall, landslides and floods in different regions. Being a tourist hot spot, Uttarakhand tourist industry has gone in a parallel tangent in 2023. Many tourists have cancelled their plan for the month of July, August and September. This shows some of the adverse effects of over tourism in the region.
- Vaishno Devi Overcrowding and Floods: Holy pilgrimage site of Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu was caught in unending rainfall causing floods in the region. Following the tragedy, Indian government in 2022 released new laws to restrict the flow of pilgrims. According to the new rules, 50,000 were allowed for the 14km trek of the temple. However, the rules seem to be getting blurred amidst the monsoon. In July 2023, the temple is yet again in the middle of heavy rainfall. The holy yatra has been stopped for a while. From 2014-2023 the climate seems to be getting more unpredictable creating anxiety in the minds of locals and pilgrims.
- Shimla Water Shortage:Shimla shares a similar story to Manali when it comes to the climate impact of over-tourism. You know that a tourist destination is on the verge of destruction when the snow-melting pattern itself changes. Considered an ideal location for a mountain gateway with family, the over-tourism has shown cracks in Shimla’s climate even before, but the results are visible now. Excessive construction, traffic congestion, and waste generation have adversely affected the local environment. After Covid, Shimla has regularly faced water shortages in tourist accommodations due to changes in snow-melting and unpredictable water depletion.
- Yamuna river touches Taj Mahal: Congestion and waste around the Taj Mahal and surrounding areas have resulted in increased air pollution agra, damage to historical architecture due to acidic rain and excessive waste in the area. For the first time in 45 years, the Yamuna River flood has touched the walls of the Taj Mahal due to the unpredictable flooding. The unethical tourism practices have shown that symbols of love can fight over everything but not over tourism.
- Mussoorie Overcrowded: An attractive hill town in Uttarakhand Mussoorie has been struggling with the detrimental effects of over tourism. Unsustainable pressure on the local infrastructure and resources has been brought on by the growing number of tourists. For the first time in history recently Mussoorie had 100 per cent occupancy in its hotels. If we look at the number then it appears to be an achievement and that is only if your head is lost in the clouds of hill station. One of the major concerns is the degradation of the natural environment. Unregulated construction, rampant commercialization, and improper waste management have taken a toll on the scenic beauty of Mussoorie.
- Rain Problem in Alleppey: The coastal town in Kerala is feeling the winds of climate change and habitat disruption. Home to luxurious boathouses and calming experience of Kerala blackwater. Overtourism however has stretched the muscles of gods own country with an increase in numbers, the normal temperature of the region has increased by 1-2 degree Celsius. The paradox of delayed monsoon one year and floods the next year has pushed Alleppey to its limits. In 2021 alleppey was almost on the verge of potential drought when it experienced below average rainfall, the only saving grace was rainfall in other regions near to alleppey, which provided a stable climate for tourism,
- Darjeeling Tea in Danger: The quality of the tea garden of India and Queen of Hills has seen a massive depletion due to unpredictable tourist activities. In 2022 alone hundreds of new hotels were built to accommodate the needs of tourists. The extension of roads has negatively impacted the hill slides and climate change has ruined the tea qualities of Darjeeling. New findings in 2023 suggested that Darjeeling tea is losing its high yield and is an alarming concern.
- Landslides in Kurumbalakotta: Over tourism and unregulated tourism aren’t mere debating topics but crisis. In 2019 a Kurumbalakotta experienced landslides due to unregulated vehicle movement and tourism in the area. The monsoon rain further deepened the misery of the locals. In 2020 the place saw fall in tourist numbers due to fear of rainfall and repetition of previous years disaster.
The over tourism-related visible changes in the climate serve as a sobering reminder of the critical need for sustainable and ethical travel habits. These environmental effects, which range from drier lakes in Nainital to deforestation in Mussoorie and beach degradation in Goa, eloquently show the costs of unrestrained tourism growth. As tourists, it is necessary for us to exercise caution, respect the environment, and help travel destinations maintain a healthy balance between tourism and environmental protection. We can promote peaceful coexistence between tourism and the natural environment by adopting sustainable travel, which will help these locations maintain their beauty and resilience for future generations.