Effects of Tourism on Natural Environment of the Hilly Region of Darjeeling

EFFECTS OF TOURISM ON NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE HILLY REGION OF DARJEELING

Saheli Banu Ex-pg student Department of Geography, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Today, tourism is a much faster growing industry in the world. This paper focuses on effects of tourism on natural environment of the hilly region of Darjeeling. The study area, Darjeeling located in the Himalayan region in eastern part of India. Many domestic and international tourist visits in Darjeeling for its unique local natural scenario. There are no restrictions imposed on the number of tourist visits. As a result, primary and secondary activities of tourism not only destroying sustainability of environment but also creating pressure on local resources. If the unscientific tourism activities are not controlled then its atrocious impacts on natural environment, where forest, wildlife, water and land and so on natural resources may be destroyed. So, sustainable development program must be needed, which favour to natural environment. Local people, government and tourists should be aware of eco-friendly behaviour of the tourism concerned in this area.

Key words: Tourism industry, activity of tourism industry, over tourism, effects of tourism, natural environment, deforestation.

I. INTRODUCTION

Tourism is much fastest growing industry all over the world. Mountain tourism is one of the segments of them. The WTO's definition of tourism is now the one that is most widely accepted around the world. The definition, provided of the international conference on travel and tourism statistics in Ottawa in 1991, is the activities of a person outside his or her usual environment for less than a specified period of time and whose main purpose of travel is other than exercise of an activity remunerated from the place visited (Pender and Sharpley, 2005).Each year, the influence of tourism is increasingly felt across the globe. The beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas have always attracted visitors. In 2012 there were 702.6 million international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide. Tourism is not only about leisure holidays but also includes business, conference and education as purposes of visit (Karki, 2014). Darjeeling is one of the best hill stations in West Bengal known for tourism and the main reason of Darjeeling tourism is nature. It is considered as one of the most attractive Hill station of the country (Forest Survey of India, 1997). Nature tourism is an aspect of adventure tourism where the focus is upon the study and observations of flora, fauna and landscape (France, 1997). Darjeeling the queen of the hills and popularly known as the jewel in the crown of the eastern Himalayas where nature has kept her doors wide open. It is well known tourist attraction for the international tourist communities. It has been destination for the nature lovers and the adventure seekers.

Darjeeling is the third most googled travel destination among all the tourist spots in India. Darjeeling hills showing highly positive tourist inflow picture (times of India-economic times, Dec 30, 2015).The beauties of Darjeeling sometimes attract danger. Over tourism create problem on physical environment such as deforestation, landslide, scarcity of food and water, over pressure on local resources are the causes of tourist to their primary and secondary activities. It damages the ecological system and the life styles of the host communities living in Darjeeling. Proper planning, action may be beneficial for the proper management for the betterment of tourist, tourism industry and overall development.

II. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDIES

The major objectives of this research work as follows-

 To know the recent trend of tourism in Darjeeling region.  To study the relation between tourism and environment in Darjeeling hilly region.  To know the activities of tourism industries and its impact of natural environment.

III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

According to C. R. Kothai, research methods may be understood as well those method or techniques that the used for conduction of research.

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 369

This research paper is based on secondary sources.The secondary sources are books, journals, research report and web source which have been used to make the report. Data analysis presented through simple percentage method. Collected information are quantified, analyzed and represented with the help of Microsoft world and Microsoft excel.

IV. STUDY AREA

The study area Darjeeling is a hilly region and it is a part of the lesser Himalaya. The latitudinal and longitudinal extension of the study area is from 26°27'N to 27°23'N and 87°59'E to 88°53'E. Total area is 3149 square kilometer and altitude 6710 feet. Annual mean maximum temperature is 14.9° Celsius and annual mean minimum temperature 8.9° Celsius and average annual rainfall is 3092 mm(Source: darjeeling.gov.in).Population in 2011 is 1,846,823(Darjeeling census data). The forests in and around Darjeeling have delightful Flora and fauna. Darjeeling has Four thousand species of flowering plants, three hundred varieties of ferns, including tree fern and countless types of flowerless plants and it is the home of six hundred varieties of beautiful birds (darjeeling.gov.in).

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Darjeeling had become an important tourist destination as early as 1860. It is reported to be the only location in eastern India that witnesses large numbers of foreign tourist (Mandal D. K., October 2014).

Table no. 1: Tourist arrivals in the Darjeeling hills in 2001 to 2010

Tourist arrivals in the Darjeeling hills Year Foreign Domestic Total

2001 11100 242986 254086

2002 12350 249032 261382

2003 18700 284315 303015

2004 18090 261596 280496

2005 27218 415901 443119

2006 30394 460769 491158

2007 29669 444253 473922

2008 26346 359258 385604

2009 23819 342813 366632

2010 27218 372741 399959

(Source: tourist bureau, Darjeeling; foreigner’s registration office, DIB, Darjeeling)

In Darjeeling tourism industry is rapidly growth. In 2001 to 2011 total arrival foreign tourist are increases 11100 to 27210. On the other hand domestic tourist also increase from 2001 to 2011 the number of tourist is 242986 to 372741. Total number of tourist increase in 2001 to 2011 is 254086 to 399959. Numbers of tourist are change every year and every month. Due to seasonal change, numbers of arrivals tourist are also changing it maybe foreign or domestic tourist.

Table no. 2: Month wise foreign tourist arrivals in Darjeeling hills in 2005 to 2010

Month Foreign tourist arrivals

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

January 1006 1938 1970 1805 1675 1694

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 370

February 1494 2160 1780 1013 2156 2193

March 3272 3338 3114 3362 3326 3366

April 1609 3109 3029 3777 4397 4437

May 855 3116 2486 2928 2142 2164

June 2308 1336 1219 799 1533 1551

July 1079 1325 1345 994 746 756

August 1614 1561 1222 1814 1264 1300

September 3075 2140 2019 1518 1522 1557

October 3077 4902 5519 3970 2695 2720

November 4863 3530 3201 2704 676 687

December 2967 1939 2765 1662 1686 1700

Total 27219 30394 29669 26346 23819 27218

(Source: Foreigners registration office, DIB, Darjeeling)

Table no. 3: month wise domestic tourist arrivals in Darjeeling hills in 2012 to 2014

Month Domestic tourist arrivals

Year 2012 2013 2014 January 24737 25081 32694 February 18362 18269 28719 March 34050 39518 55728 April 49923 49041 64480 May 81684 72988 94857 June 66630 65433 79787 July 17511 13405 29972 August 14492 448 19221 September 15151 5967 35175 October 45741 30334 61617 November 41474 23510 65728 December 39289 34908 41477 Total 447954 378902 609455 (Source; Gorkhaland territorial administration, department of tourism)

Darjeeling town now has well over 125000 residents and there is a large influx of tourist population (some 30000) that gets added at any point of time during the high season (Darjeeling Tourism, 2016).

5.1 Activity of tourism industry and its impact on natural environment

The activities of tourism industry include the continued cutting of the vegetation due to construction of the multi-storeyed building, roads for communication. A tourist place develops through the creation of infrastructure such as hotels and roads. Tourist growth continues in an uncontrolled and unregulated form. Hotel and road are rapidly increased with the increasing number of tourist.

According to the district Gazetter of Darjeeling District (1980) the road length in the district are- national highway 100 km, state highway 80 km, major district road 37 km and ordinary district road 516 km (Darjeeling.gov.in). Today, the town are covered with concrete jungle, where large numbers of multi-storied buildings have been built (Sharma, Prasad R., 2012, P-65).The settlements at Darjeeling have been increased and continue increase of multi-storeyed building (Biswas and Pal, 2016). Due to ever increasing and over exploitation of natural resources, the environment of Darjeeling Himalaya gets degraded (Sarma, Prasad

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 371

R., 2012).There are many direct influence of tourism of the mountain nature, e.g. picking up nice plants, disturbing of wild animals through noise, soil erosion due to trampling of vegetation by short cutting ways, air pollution from the dance traffic etc. Secondary impacts of tourism are developments which are much serious. They are connected with inadequate landscape infrastructure development and with step by step increasing of accommodation capacity, density of roads and traffic load, the water consumption, total amount of visitors etc. (Stursa, 2002). The activities of tourism industry are unscientific over construction are hotel and road, use more vehicles by tourist and host people and energy, food, waters are worst by tourist.

Negative impact of tourism occurs when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment's agility to cope with this one within the acceptable limits of change. Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as soil erosion, increase air pollution, national habitat losses, and increased pressure on endangered species (Sivakkolundu, 2015).

5.1.1 Deforestation

Forest is the most precious gift of nature to the human society. Forest often suffers negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing for construction. Deforestation is the most significant environmental component adversely affected by tourism.

By examine the land use pattern and changing characteristics since the last 150 years, it may be commented that cover is in a precarious condition due to the rapid increase in cultivated land, expansion of settlement, construction of roads (darjeeling.gov.in).

Percentage of forest in Darjeeling comparison to total land area

60 50 40 30 20 % of forest % of forest of % 10 0 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 Year

Figure no.1: Percentage of forests in Darjeeling comparison to total land area (Source: Data are collected from Basu, Rajan S., 2006)

Per capita forest and jungle area in Darjeeling

0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 per capita 0.2 forest and

0.1 jungle area (hectares) 0 (hectates) 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

Year Percapita and forest jungle area

Figure no.2: Per capita forest and jungle area in Darjeeling

(Source: Data are collected from Basu, Rajan S., 2006)

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 372

It has been vast change in forests cover and rhododendron which are the main attraction for tourists in the past and present are on the verge of extinction (Sharma, Prasad R., 2012, P-66). Construction of resort accommodation and facilities frequently requires clearing forest land. The major species of trees that exploited indiscriminately for overuse timber in building of houses and hotels over the year.

5.1.2 Water scarcity

Water is the most important natural resource. Tourism industry use water much more for hotel and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water crisis. The Himalayan region faces by water scarcity. Darjeeling is one of them. Darjeeling is previously suffered of water shortage. This problem comes to more when tourism is over increase.

The total demand for water in the Darjeeling town is 75 lakh litters per day while total supply is 24 lakh litters per day with a deficit of 50 lakh litres per day (Jana and Tamang, 2017).The demands of water are increase with the tourist influx. Tashi Pencho, owner of hotel Seven Seventeen, one of the Prestigious hotels in Darjeeling says, -'' During the tourist season, we buy around 2-3 tankers of water every day'' (Merinews, 2013).

5.1.3 Pollution

Tourism industry can cause the same forms of pollution like any other industry. Due to deforestation, increase use of more vehicle, construction of hotel and road, population pressure(both host and tourist) on local resource are create more polluted environment.

During the last 50 years, the length or pattern of the roads of the hill subdivision did not change significantly though there have been at least 5 to 7 times increase in the number of vehicles (darjeeling.gov.in). Water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, solid waste and littering, sewage is major of them. In Darjeeling, air and noise pollution are increase due to more use of tourist transportation, especially from CO2 emissions related to transportation energy use and can lead to severe local air pollution.

Construction of hotels, recreation, and other facilities often leads to increased sewage pollution. Waste water has polluted area surrounding tourist attractions, damaging the flora and fauna. And sewage pollution can threaten the health of human and animals. In mountain areas of the Darjeeling, trekking tourist generate a great deal of waste. The main source of solid waste is coming from hotel tourist activity.

About 50 tons of solid wastes are generated daily, out of which only 62% is disposed of daily (Limbu D., 2014). The major type of solid waste are given below

Table no. 4: The major type of solid waste in Darjeeling region

Types of waste In% Vegetable 20 to 65 Paper and carton 15 to 40 Plastic 2 to 13 Metal 1 to 5 Glass 1 to 10 Rubber, misc 1 to 5 Fines (sand, ash, broken glass) 15 to 40 (Source: Limbu D., June 2014)

5.1.4 Pressure on local resource

Tourism development can put pressure on natural resources when it increases consumption in areas where resources are already scarce (Sunlu, 2003).Natural resource depletion and environmental degradation associate with tourism activities pose severe problems to many tourism rich regions (Negi, 2007, page-148). Local resources can be damaged by tourist infrastructure, tourist activities. Tourist wasted food, water and energy (electricity). They use more water, although Darjeeling belongs to water scarcity. Renewable and non renewable local resources are over use by tourism activity.

In addition to pressure on the availability and prices of resources consumed by local residents such as food, energy and basic raw material the main natural resources at risk from tourism development are land, fresh water and mountain resources.

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 373

5.1.5 Impact on wildlife

Uncontrolled tourism activities can also cause several disruptions of wildlife habitats and increased pressure on endangered species. Over use of vehicle create air and noise pollution and as a result wild life face a problem.

5.1.6 Soil and land degradation

The Removal of forest, reduce the cohesiveness of the soils and parent body. Thus, it has enchanted the vulnerability of landslides with due to heavy rainfall in the surroundings of Darjeeling Hills. Continues construction of the multi-storeyed building, hotels and roads have accelerated the vulnerability of the landslides at Darjeeling.

Rapid expansion of settlements and towns especially along the roads is one of the important causes of frequent landslide hazards in the hills. Multi storied buildings without proper planning along the roads and on the steeper slope increases the load on the already deteriorated slopes (Darjeeling.gov.in). As a result, the strength of slope comes to weaken.

Geological Surgery of India mapping landslide prone areas in the country. According to Pankaj Jaiswal scientist in charge of the this project, ''We have also studied the history of Darjeeling landslide while doing the mapping and found that at least 70 percent of the landslide have happened in the zones of Darjeeling that have been marked as high risk in this study''(TOI, 2017). Due to the increase of tourism industry and as wells urbanization in Darjeeling Himalayas, the use of non biodegradable matter is increased that further prevent the movement of the natural percolation of water through the soil pore space and parent body.

5.1.7 Impact on climate

Climate change includes the long term change. Over the past few years, the hill has undergone a tremendous change in climate, rainfall and temperature (TOI, March 22, 2002).Temperature record for the past 116 years reveals the alarming rise of temperature in Darjeeling accounting to 4 degrees C i.e., more than double in comparison to the global figures. A decrease of 7% relative humidity and 300 mm precipitation is recorded during the past hundred years (Sharma, Prasad R., 2012, P-72-73).

Table no. 4: Average annual rainfall in different decades in Darjeeling hills

year/decades rainfall in mm

1911-1920 3422

1931-1940 2864

1971-1981 2135

(Source: Basu, Rajan S., 2006)

VI. RECOMMENDATIONS

 Nature based tourism can have long lasting benefits only if the environmental lost are controlled. If we not focus on increase of tourism when it imprint negative on environment, then it firstly devour to environment and not only effect on Darjeeling also all over the world.  Planning is important in tourism industry but it must be need eco-friendly at national, regional and local level.  Measure the carrying capacity of tourism area.  Change tourist behavior: Tourist behaviors are the length of stay, number of visitors, food habits, and type of tourist activity.  Launching of environment awareness programs in hill area for local population and tourist.  Tourism management must be needed to favor of destination of conservation area, protection of Flora and fauna, regulations of air quality.  Government provided facilities for training in hotel management, tourism and environment.  Environment awareness provided for tourist and host people.  Tourism development program must be sustainable and eco-friendly.

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 374

VII. CONCLUSION

It appears from the foreign discussion that over tourism is not favor of nature especially hilly nature. Tourism has positive and negative impact. The positive impact is always economic but physical environment always affected by tourism negative impact. Ecosystems are damage by unscientific and uncontrollable tourism. Nature and economic development are not going same way. If only focus on economic development then nature damage. But development must be needed to favor of nature protection.Tourism has the potential to contribute in a positive impact on economic achievement but, at the same time, its fisted growth and sometimes uncontrolled growth create a major problem for environment. Environmental degradation and loss of local identity and traditional culture are the major issue of them.

Irresponsible activities of insensitive over tourism create a problem on physical environment. Recently Darjeeling political activities create problem which is not good for nature and tourism industry also. Although economy and nature both are important for society, nature preservation is important more than economy because nature is the head of ecosystem. So development must be favor to sustainable. That's good around the world.

REFERENCES

1. Pender L. and Sharpley R. (2005). The Management of Tourism. SAGE publication. 2. Karki M. (14 April, 2014). Integrated water and tourism management for a resilient Himalayan region.Tourism in mountain regions, hopes, fears and realities. Page-64. 3. Report on forest resources of Darjeeling District. Forest Survey of India, Eastern Zone, Calcutta. (1997). 4. France L. (1997). The earth scan reader in sustainable tourism. Earth scan publication ltd. Page -16. 5. The official website of Darjeeling (darjeeling.gov.in). 6. Mandal D.K. (October 2014). Environmental protection in the light of rio-declaration in the hill station of Darjeeling West Bengal; The journal of social environment, volume III, Number IV, ISSN 2454-3063. 7. Tourist bureau, Darjeeling; foreigner’s registration office, DIB, Darjeeling. 8. Gorkhaland territorial administration. Department of tourism. 9. Sarma, Prasad R. (2012). Comparative study of past and present environment. A study in environmental degradation in the Darjeeling Hill areas. Page- 65, 66, 72-73 (shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in). 10. Biswas S. S. and Pal R. (2016). Cause of landslides in Darjeeling Himalays during June-July, 2015. Journal of Geography and natural disasters. Volume 6, Issuez.1000173. 11. Stursa J. (2002). Impacts of tourism load on the mountains environment. Monitoring and management of visitor flows in recreational and protected areas. Page 364-370. 12. Sivakkolundu C. (May 2015). Impact of tourism on environment. A development monthly tourism: sunrise industry. Yojona, ISSN- 0971-8400. 13. Basu, Rajan S. (2006). Depletion of forest in the Darjeeling hill areas. A comparative study of land slide and related phenomena in the Darjeeling hills and their control (shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in). 14. Jana S. K. and Tamang P. (July 29, 2017). Water scarcity in the hill town of Darjeeling: Effects on women's health. International Journal of Human resource research review. ISSN: 2320-9704. Volume 5, Issue 7. 15. Merinews. Power to people. (March 29, 2013). Darjeeling and its daily struggle for water. 16. Limbu D., June 2014; Solid waste management in the town of Darjeeling: Environmental concern. International Journal of Humanistics and social science invention. Volume 3, Issue 6. Page 22-34. 17. Sunlu U. (2003). Environmental impacts of tourism. Local resources and global trades: Environments and agriculture in the Mediterranean region. 18. Negi J. S. (2007). Rural tourism and economic growth. Cyber tech publication. Page -148. 19. Times of India. (December 8, 2017). A six of Darjeeling Hills in high risk landslide zone. 20. TOI, March 22, 2002, Major climate changes in Darjeeling hills.

JETIR1901B47 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 375