Why J&K wants tourism regulated

How much is too much? For Jammu and Kashmir, it’s a question loaded with irony. From the days of yearning for the revival of tourism, the stakeholders are now dealing with a situation where the all-season tourism boom is testing the infrastructure capacity, and an ecological crisis looms. The Union Territory, the Kashmir valley in particular, has been among the top domestic tourist destinations during the past few years. Now, the perils of prosperity are coming home to haunt.

Last month, during the Budget Session of the Assembly, the Omar Abdullah government informed the House that the number of tourists visiting the state would be regulated, if needed. The written response by the Chief Minister, who holds charge of the tourism ministry, came as a Congress legislator from the Valley wanted to know if the government had introduced any mechanism to regulate the inflow of tourists.

The questions raised by the legislator stemmed from the concerns of all tourism stakeholders — operators and residents alike — on how massive tourist inflows could do more harm than good in the times to come in the absence of effective regulations.

Post the abrogation of Article 370, there’s been a record number of tourists visiting the UT. Not just traditional areas, even unexplored destinations and trekking spots in Kashmir have witnessed a massive rush.

“Beyond doubt, our tourism graph has gone up. Unexpectedly, there has been a huge influx of tourists in the last three-four years,” says Rauf Tramboo, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir. Last year, 2.36 crore tourists visited the UT — the highest ever, including foreign tourists, and Amarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims.

However, experts are raising red flags. Tramboo says traditional destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Doodhpathri have become overcrowded. “If we have a carrying capacity of say 3,000 tourists a day, we are instead catering to three or four times the number,” he says. “Tell me, what is going to happen to tourism in future? How is it sustainable?” he asks.

Tramboo also points to the environmental concerns: “People are worried about the lack of waste disposal mechanisms, especially at the new tourist destinations, which is adding to pollution in the hugely fragile ecosystem.”

Till 2019, the tourism circuit revolved around Gulmarg, Pahalgam or the glaciers of Sonamarg. However, over the past few years, a major shift has taken place and tourists are moving to the unexplored and newly opened areas like Gurez and Bangus in north Kashmir. Famous lakes, too, are becoming a major destination for visitors and locals alike. The new tourist destinations are now facing complex problems. Gurez, a virgin valley until a few years ago, is filled with local and domestic tourists. Such was the rush recently that the authorities had to invoke measures after an escalating garbage crisis.

In 2023, the Gulmarg Development Authority issued an advisory for schools in the Valley to avoid planning trips on weekends in order to manage the “heavy footfall”.

Farooq Kuthoo, a tourism expert associated with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says unlike Delhi or Mumbai, Kashmir is a place which is popular for its “serenity and scenery”. Improper planning and allowing tourists in an unregulated manner is adversely impacting resources, he adds.

“It is impacting the ecosystem and very soon we are going to see an ecological disaster if it continues,” he says, adding that “our voices have fallen on deaf ears”.

Kuthoo points out that with rampant construction in the mountain areas, things are becoming worse. “I am all for promoting offbeat tourism destinations, but it has to be done on eco-friendly lines. We can’t promote these destinations at the cost of our environment and ecology,” he says.

The rush of trekkers has emerged as another huge area of concern. Last year, in the absence of snowfall in Kashmir, Sinthan Top became a hotspot for tourists. However, soon, the area was littered with plastic waste.

Tramboo, who leads a trekking group every year, is witness to how things are changing quickly on the ground. “Areas which are popular for trekking, like Great Lakes Trek or River Valley Trek, are in a bad shape because they are unregulated. As compared to earlier years, there are a large number of toilet holes on the ground, and you see more garbage.”

It was decided at one time to allow only five groups of 15 persons each day, he says, but implementation of such restrictions is a big challenge. “Each day, 200-300 trekkers are going to one particular camping area. If you see the condition of those areas, there is litter accumulating all around,” says Tramboo, adding that locals and tourists have a responsibility to ensure cleanliness.

In 2023, he found 200-250 people walking in a group and informed the department. Tramboo says the need of the hour is to save the fragile ecosystem. “We are selling nature here. Nature is very fragile. We have to take care of it. This is not a desert. There is climate change too, so we have to be extra careful.”

What is the biggest fear? “I fear if this is not properly managed, the tourism boom might turn into a doomsday scenario for the locals one day,” he says.

According to a 2020 study, Kolahoi glacier — the largest in Kashmir — has rapidly receded due to climatic changes. The glacier has lost 23 per cent area since 1962 and has fragmented into smaller parts.

Faiz Ahmad Bakshi from the Environmental Policy Group, a Kashmir-based environment group, says there’s a need and a demand for development of new tourist destinations. “But the first thing that is needed is to have a tourism master plan in place. What we do is develop a place first. We let people construct, and what happens is that concrete jungle-like situations emerge,” he says.

He calls for steps like environmental impact assessment of a particular tourist destination, and carrying capacity research. “The research work and surveys have to be done before allowing tourist or trekking activity, not later,” he says.

Seized of the problem, the Omar Abdullah government says it has already issued an advisory to adventure tour operators and trekkers, restricting the number of tourists visiting Kashmir division. The Chief Minister told the Assembly that assessment is underway according to the J&K Tourism Policy, 2020, wherein one of the “mandates is to assess and regulate the annual number of tourists according to the carrying capacity and eco-sensitivity of destinations”.

Will it be enough?

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