Darjeeling Himalayas as a Tourist Spot, Development of Ecotourism & Ecological Protection.

The backdrop of Darjeeling Tourism:- 

Darjeeling owes its origin, as a health resort, since 1835. The colonial rulers were so much attracted by the strategic location, scenic beauty, and invigorating climate of Darjeeling that they annexed this territory and recommended the establishment of a sanatorium for the white soldiers. Subsequently, the establishment of tea gardens and successful completion of the Hill Cart Road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways in 1868 connected the inaccessible hills with plains. The cool climate and serene atmosphere encouraged the foreigners to start English medium residential schools for the affluent children in the solitude of the hills. The rich people gradually came here and build up their second homes for a visit during the summer and autumn holidays. 

In the initial stage, the visitors were very few and came for either curative reasons or for sheer fun, pleasure, and simple relaxation from boredom. But in the post-independence era, the scenario was totally changed due to the mass participation of visitors through democratization, socialization, and commercialization of tourism on a global basis. The recent statistics reveal that on average nearly a million visitors (95% domestic and 5% foreigners) come here annually. Recently, the insecurity, political unrest, harassment by the touts, lack of basic facilities of good food, accommodation, and transport has become the main deterrents to tourist flow in Darjeeling hills. 

The swelling numbers of visitors, who folk during the summer and autumnal peak seasons, are actually much more than the real carrying capacity of the area thus creating unending environmental, socio-economic, and cultural problems. A detailed survey in the area revealed dismal pictures that are summarized below in the following tables. 

Impact of Tourism on Mountain Ecosystem:-

A	1. Driving to the countryside by bicycles, mopeds, cars, buses, etc.  2. Trekking through nature trails.  3. Pond riding	Mountain slopes, trails, roadside flora and fauna, air pollution, human wastes pollution in hills, streams, forests, and slopes, Trampling of roadside vegetation.
B	Sightseeing from cable cars and ropeways, observation posts, watchtowers, etc.	Mountain slopes, forests, change in the biotic community.
C	Accommodation in hotels, lodges, log cabins, camps, etc.	Mountain slopes, water bodies, firewood.
D	Explorations (Geology, ecology, wildlife, etc.)	Wilderness and forest areas.
E	Picnicking camping, rafting, angling, biking.	Forests, fields, parks, rivers, and lakesides.
F	Sewage disposal, solid wastes, etc.	Pollution of slopes, rivulets, changes in water quality.

 

Eco-tourism:-

According to World Wildlife Fund (W.W.F.) Eco-Tourism is ‘environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas to enjoy and appreciate nature, promote conservation, low visitor impact, and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of the local population”.

Alternative suggestion:- 

Though the hill areas of Darjeeling are more or less unique in scenic beauty yet there are some areas which because of certain advantages, are overcrowded than others such as Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik (Darjeeling hills). Tourists flock around these destinations while other centers remain desolate because of less publicity and shortage of accommodation. To relieve the over congestion of these centers: --

1. New holiday destinations along with better tourist facilities are to be opened up.

2. Tourism should be promoted as a year-round activity instead of a seasonal one.

3. Instead of the traditional tourism-oriented products (scenic beauty, climate, cuisine, etc.) newer avenues are to be provided (other means of recreation) to make them stay longer, more enjoyable, and worthy.

4. Diversification of recreational facilities (nature tourism, adventure tourism, wilderness tourism, wildlife tourism, plantation tourism, etc.) will have to be provided through public and private enterprises.

5. A well-laid-out long-term perspective plan should be formulated making emphasis on the monitoring of the status of the environment and development of eco-friendly and eco-compatible tourist activities. 

Towards Eco-tourism:-

This mountainous area is a fragile area that can afford to have only this type of tourism where the benefits of tourism can percolate down to the village level and local communities. Environments and biodiversity are critical in this area so the awareness and involvement of local people in the tourism sector with economic incentives can be the only long-term strategy for the conservation of resources.  

Tourism promotion through eco-friendly and ecologically compatible schemes reached very late in this past and Environment Impact Assessment studies have revealed that unregulated tourism has robbed the exotic holiday destinations much of their beauty and are gradually being dilapidated natures is the main ingredient for tourism promotions careful monitoring of the status of the environment at regular interval is a must. Nature-oriented and ecologically based tourism should be encouraged in the far-flung areas to attain regional growth and economic development. 

This new concept was launched in 1992 to bring the traveler in close contact with the wealth of biodiversity and local cultural heritage of the places he visits. Its main purpose is to conserve the environment and protect the ecology through the spreading tourism in far-flung remote areas. Various forms of ecotourism are clearly discernible in this part of the Himalayas. 

(a) Nature Tourism (b) Wildlife and Forest Tourism. (c) Wilderness Tourism (d) Adventure Tourism (e) Religious Tourism (f) Plantation Agriculture Tourism (g) Alternative Tourism.