United Nations World Tourism Organization: Himalayan Tourism Background Guide Table of Contents

Letter from the Chair Letter from the Crisis Director Committee Logistics Introduction to the Committee Introduction to Topic One History of the Problem Past Actions Taken Current Events Questions to Consider Resources to Use Introduction to Topic Two History of the Problem Past Actions Taken Current Events Questions to Consider Resources to Use Bibliography

Staff of the Committee

Co-Chair Jeena Patel Co-Chair Bruno Auriemo Miglorancia

Under Secretary General Jessie Hsu

Taylor Cowser, Secretary General Neha Iyer, Director General

Letter from the Chair

Hello Delegates!

I’m Jeena Patel and I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I am a Sophomore at BU majoring in Political Science and minoring in music. I am on the pre-law track and hope to go into either music or environmental law. I was in my high school’s Model United Nations team since my freshman year and have since continued my involvement in college. As someone who is still a delegate I love getting to meet people at conferences and learning about important global issues in-depth. When it comes to music, my interests include going to concerts (I’ve been to 27), playing guitar and cello, songwriting, and learning music production. I also make art, love to read, and meditate daily. MUN is the club that helped me the most with my confidence and public speaking skills, and I really hope that you all can gain the amazing benefits that come with being a delegate.

Greetings delegates!

My name is Bruno Miglorancia, I am originally from São Paulo, Brazil, and I am a Junior at BU, majoring in International Relations and minoring in Business Management and Economics. I am really interested in using what I learn here in BU to help solve many of the problems that people face back in my home country, and this is actually one of the reasons I joined MUN in my freshman year in high school. I was a delegate for all four years, and even got to act as Ambassador and Secretary General for my high school program. I loved looking for realistic solutions to many of the super complex problems that all of these countries faced, and I loved how MUN taught me to always look at things from many different points of view. I'm also really grateful for how MUN helped me improve my public speaking and my argumentative skills. In a less formal note, I am a huge sports fan (I may be from Brazil, but I like basketball more than soccer) and I enjoy almost all comic book or sci-fi movies. MUN debates have kept on teaching me new things every single year, and I look forward to learning a lot from all of you!

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us via the emails listed below!

All the best,

Jeena Patel ([email protected])

Bruno Miglorancia ([email protected])

Committee Logistics

In this committee, the chairs will be accepting resolutions only. We will not be accepting directives, because those are usually more useful in crises, and this is not the case in our committee, which already has two topics that delegates will hopefully discuss a lot about. We will also allow voting procedures to occur so delegates decide which of the two topics (Human Rights in Himalayan tourism & Environmental Impact of Himalayan Tourism) to debate first.

We expect all delegates to bring their country's final resolutions about each topic to the debate, and then, in unmoderated caucus, join with other block members to decide what points are best for a block resolution. We encourage delegates to do their own research, since these two topics are relevant not only to the Himalayan countries or the world powers, but also to smaller and poorer countries, who we are sure will contribute with meaningful points in the debates. Feel free to interpret your own country's stance on each topic; just because your biggest allies position themselves one way, it does not mean that for the topic of tourism you have to be completely aligned with them. Resolutions are expected to have six signatories each, and as many sponsors as they want. All countries must either sponsor or sign one resolution, and all countries have to be associated with one of the presented resolutions - no country may abstain.

We expect all delegates to treat one another with respect, and refrain from making unnecessary noises or whispers during the sessions. While the chairs or delegates are speaking, during moderated caucus, delegates may communicate with one another through note papers or online, but remember that whispers may be disruptive to delegates who might be debating for the first time. Do not be afraid to ask the chairs formally in debate (through points of inquiry or clarification) , or informally during breaks or once the debate is over - we are here to help!

In terms of "Best Delegate" awards, we will be looking for delegates whose research and debating skills stand out from the rest. Delegates who defend their positions against unceasing opposition, who use statistics, data, and logic to argue for their points, and who are able to truly tap into their country's beliefs and convince others of their points. We look forward to a fruitful and fun debate!

Introduction to the Committee

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) formed on November 1st, 1974 as a UNited NAtions specialized committee and was founded because of the rapidly growing worldwide tourism industry. The WTO Secretary-General Mr. Francesco Frangiali said during its founding that increased visibility for tourism will help it “be considered on an equal footing with other major activities of human society.” Tourism has become an important sector and main source of income for many developing countries’ economies. Tourism has played a large role in industrializing developing countries by growing their infrastructure, telecommunications, agricultural, and service industries. UNWTO works with countries to expand their tourism industries as a means of economic development. Through advising countries on building their tourism industry, UNWTO prioritizes sustainable development.

There are currently 158 member states in UNWTO and 6 territories being represented. Travel companies, airlines, and local governments, and hotel groups are also affiliate members of the WTO. As a UN body, the WTO works to provide research on tourism, sustainability, and markets. The WTO also advocates for indiscriminate policies in member states that will grow sustainable tourism and foster education. WTO leads technical assistance projects. The WTO encourages for the meeting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to implement the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

The committee will discuss two topics. Topic 1 is Human Rights and Himalayan Tourism. Topic 2 is Environmental Impacts of Himalayan Tourism. The Himalayas is home to a population of 52.7 million people. The Himalayas are home to the birthplace of Buddha and have many sacred sites. The growing popularity of tourism and its effects on the region have led policymakers in Nepal with several courses of action to take. As a committee, the impact of tourism in the Himalayas must be assessed not merely from an economic standpoint, but with considerations to the environmental sustainability and human rights.

Introduction to Topic One: Human Rights and Himalayan Tourism

Tourism is one of the fastest growing business industries on the planet, and for good reason - countries and regions filled with unique natural wonders need only to open their doors and allow interested adventurers and their families in. For developing countries, especially those who are lucky enough to have preserved their natural wonders (be they beaches, forests, mountains, or anything else that might generate an interest to go there) tourism is an excellent way to make easy money while being proud of what your native land has to offer. However, irresponsible tourism can be extremely detrimental on two fronts - the social (human) side, and the environmental (natural) side. Topic 1 of this UNWTO debate is centered on the human rights issues that must be acknowledged, examined, and resolved in the Himalayan region.

When discussing truly sustainable tourism, it is important to understand how human rights can be positively affected by it. How are indigenous people of the region treated? Are their holy sites respected, and do the tourists truly respect their customs and way of living? Are other locals treated with dignity and respect? Are any children disrespected and taken advantage of by foreigners? Do we really care about the local street vendors, and the families working hard to provide you with the best service and experience, or do we leave that to the side and pour money into the gigantic tourism industry, in enormous resorts and hotels? These are a few of the human rights issues that delegates must understand and develop creative long-term solutions to.

Human rights in tourism are often an overlooked topic, because the impact of our actions as tourists is not seen immediately. In the Himalayas, a tourist would be more likely to notice a piece of plastic litter on the side of a trail and ponder about how sustainable tourism is, than to look at people suffering from poverty or hunger, or indigenous people losing their century-old land to industries that aim to build a hotel. What can governing bodies and nations do to help the situation in the Himalayas improve? Several countries have admirable sustainable tourism policies, with methods and techniques that respect the local populations and help guide them to a life where tourists willingly bring more income directly into their hands. There are multitudes of human rights violations that require creative, personalized solutions in the Himalayan region.

History of the Problem

The Himalayas have always been one of the most remote regions of the planet. Not only were they extremely hard to reach, but the living conditions in its settlements were even tougher, making life difficult for all the native tribes and monks who lived there for generations. The region, consisting of Nepal and the southwestern part of Tibetan China, is home to one of the most formidable mountain ranges in the world, and their world-famous peaks; Mount Everest, K2, and Lhotse. This region is prone to high winds, freezing temperatures, low oxygen, avalanches and snowstorms, which at first glance might convince people that it is not the best travel destination. However, after the first ascent of Mount Everest, in 1953, this mountain range has captivated the world, becoming the ultimate challenge for any explorer or mountaineer. The reasons for people's visits to the Himalayan region have changed through the decades since its opening, but the impact on the Himalayan environment and people has only gotten worse.

The people who reside on this mountain range have, over generations, learned how to deal with the harsh conditions. At that altitude, it is difficult to have access to a lot of the resources that we westerners take for granted, and these people therefore have had to make do with what they had. Infrastructure takes longer to be built, technology takes longer to be implemented, and regions like Nepal get caught in similar problems that plague other developing countries. What they do have on their side is the appeal that comes from their nature, which is the main reason for an eco-tourism boom in the late 20th century in that region. However, tourism is a double edged sword in most developing countries. While it can bring about a lot of revenue, jobs, and even foreign interest in the economy, it can also bring damage to the environment, damage to century-old culture, and unsustainable economic growth. Of all of these consequences, the most worrying for the long term health and prosperity of the country is the unsustainable economic growth. This is because tourism many times does not allow the native population to develop its infrastructure and its businesses by itself, instead relying on large multinational corporations to do so, leaving local merchants to struggle by whatever means necessary to sell trinkets and low-quality services to tourists. This is just one of many problems that have only gotten worse with the passing of the years in the Himalayan region.

History of the Problem An interesting reason why some people would travel into this remote and dangerous region of the world is to achieve spiritual or religious enlightenment, since Sagamartha (Nepali for "the roof of the world") has long represented an attractive destination for people who wish to better understand their own limits, or to get into contact with whatever religious deity they believe in. This appeal transcends any particular religion, and it has been this way for millenia. Spiritual and religious tourism complements ecotourism as the most popular in the region. A negative effect of this is that certain tourists expect to have an authentic spiritual experience with religious members of Nepali or Tibetan society, and this may not comply with the traditions that are sacred and respected in that region. Sadly, there is a lot of disrespect and disregard for religious artefacts, buildings, and people in the Himalayan region, and it is safe to say that most of this is due to tourists who either do not care or who aren't taught the true value of these things.

The majority of the Himalayan region is within the country of Nepal, and this nation's tourism history starts in 1925. Up until then, only 55 Europeans had ever been allowed into the nation, as official guests of the state. The country was almost completely isolated from external affair during a time of great international conflict and cooperation. Many of the advances that were made in technology, health, transportation and infrastructure were not readily available to the Nepali people immediately, but this may have actually added to its' appeal to foreigners as a remote region that was isolated and frozen in time. It was only 26 years later, in 1951, that Nepal officially opened its borders to the rest of the world. There were very few foreign arrivals, and they were bewildered by the primitive way of life, natural wonders, and cultural heritage of the country. Three years later, in 1953, perhaps the most important turning point in Nepali history happened - the first ascent of Mount Everest. New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary was able to ascend to the summit of Everest with the help of a local Sherpa called Tenzing Norgay. This marked the Western world's introduction to the Sherpa - a member of himalayan society that is usually known for his knowledge and skill in climbing. From that very first attempt, it became clear that any foreigners needed to work in unison with local people if they were to survive the treacherous climbs.

History of the Problem

From the 1960s onwards, the Himalayas began ridding itself of the mysterious aura that kept wary tourists and adventurers away. Edmund Hillary proved it was possible to get to the top of the world, which led to other ambitious climbers believing they were good enough to scale Everest too. In 1962, a Peace Corp volunteer group arrived, followed by 6,000 tourists. This was the first wave in a series of seasons where tourists began romanticizing the Himalayas as the ideal adventure travel destination.

In the 1970s, the UN Development Program collaborated with the International Labor Organization to make better conditions for international tourist flow into the country. The total number of tourists was estimated to have surpassed 70,000 in that decade. Nepal even established a Hotel Management and Tourism Training Center to educate its people about the hospitality industry, as a means of preparing for an expected boom in tourism. However, the lack of governmental regulation led to many locals attempting to become overnight entrepreneurs, to use their own capital, land, or real estate to help accommodate tourists. The impacts on society were clear: already, locals were suffering from lack of preparation and regulation regarding how to deal with an influx of tourists who innately behaved very differently from traditional Nepali culture. By the 1990's, the number of tourists skyrocketed to 300,000, largely due to good travel infrastructure finally reaching Nepal and seeing it as a viable destination. The Nepali people had to brace for impact, because the boom in foreign tourists brought with it a whole new set of problems, including international companies coming in and driving locals out of business.

History of the Problem

By the 2000's , the social problems that came from irresponsible tourism rose to a boiling point. Never before had they affected such a large part of the population, and the predictions were that the number of tourists would only increase. Workers were exploited by large multinational companies due to lack of regulations. Local companies committed even worse worker rights violations, sometimes even employing children at wages that were inhumane. Poverty and unemployment rose, and slums and ghettos began to form around the main cities and especially in the capital Kathmandu. The increased demand for trinkets and souvenirs led to an increase in the amount of unsustainable businesses, like shops and shacks set up in a day, which left uneducated salespeople with debt and no regard for their impact on the environment. The over-commercialization of their own culture also disrespected sacred religious symbols and brought more foreign visitors to temples that simply could not handle an influx of that many people. Sherpas were overworked, and more expeditions up the mountain meant that the trails and climbing routes eroded faster, leading to greater risk overall. The Sherpa's health deteriorated, which in turn affected their ability to provide revenue for their homes.

Near the 2010's , Nepal began to feel the social impact of increased globalization and the democratization of technology. Obviously, better technology led to numerous benefits, and globalization brought services that were much needed by the locals. However, these factors led to an increase in crimes like human trafficking, child and sex trafficking, and illegal immigration. Because Nepal became a tourism hotspot, criminals may have seen this as an opportunity to bring in more workers for a cheaper price, which is obviously a violation of even the most basic human rights charters. Advances in technology surprisingly led to an increase in human rights issues as well. One example is the improvement in climbing gear and clothing, which gave tourists the impression that trekking through the Himalayas got easier. The actual result was an increase in the number of deaths while climbing, as well as a further increase in the deterioration of health of the Sherpas, sometimes leading to younger Sherpas having to help out in the most dangerous and technical climbs.

Past Actions Taken

When looking at effective measures to counteract unsustainable and irresponsible tourism, there are a few examples within the Himalayan region that show how it is possible to strike a balance between tourism and preservation of culture and environment. Tourism, as mentioned before, can bring employment, economic prosperity, more resources to help preserve cultural and natural heritage sites, and can open up the local population to all new cultures from around the world.

One way the Nepalese people managed to deal with these issues was by educating their people about jobs in the hospitality industry. By diverting resources towards that in the 1980s, the government found that their own people do work as lodge and restaurant owners, porters, guides, and staff. It is estimated that during peak tourist season, the 65,000 tourists in one of the Nepali provinces provide seasonal jobs to over 50,000 people. By diverting resources to the education of people, they at least gain a basic understanding of how to work in already-existing companies, and this helps them make ends meet.

An exemplar program of how to promote sustainable tourism is the Amatoli group, present in the region of Annapurna in Nepal. This is a program that teaches women how to raise funds from tourists and locals, so that the money can be used in community activities that are beneficial to society and the environment. This program has many positives; it helps promote entrepreneurship in small poor villages, it teaches women valuable skills about how to handle money, and it provides an influx of cash to programs that repair hiking trails, help clean up villages, and fund literacy programs. It also breaks gender stereotypes which are unfortunately still present in the region, by raising women's profile from a housewife to a powerful difference maker in village activities. It also encourages cultural celebrations, which helps preserve the traditions of the people and show tourists how to respect them. Programs like these are even better than short-term solutions, because they work by educating people with several useful skills that they can teach to their families. Furthermore, these programs do not require a lot of funding, so they were able to be successfully implemented in remote villages in several different regions of Nepal.

Past Actions Taken Another interesting case study of successful practices with tourism was that of Bhutan over the last 30 years. Bhutan officially opened its doors to visitors in 1974, and one of the first measures it introduced was an adjustable individual daily tariff to all foreigners inside the country. Bhutan's department of tourism recognized that if they were to charge an expensive daily rate, they would need to provide good enough services, so that the rich tourists would be satisfied by the amount they were paying. In 1991, for example, the daily tariff was priced at US$200, which is an expensive cost to pay every day you are there. The department of tourism then worked hard to make sure that all hotels and accommodations were fit for their standards, so that no tourists would feel cheated by receiving services of subpar quality. They even made sure that all hotels had English-speaking guides. In 1974, Bhutan only had 287 tourists, but this number has only steadily increased over the following decades. Tourism then grew at a sustainable rate, with the government using these rich tourists as another source of income, then using the income to fund government maintenance of trails and cultural heritage sites. Tourism remains as Bhutan's third highest generator of foreign exchange.

The government of Bhutan heavily monitors tourist activities, making sure that the only people in contact with tourists are the ones who are certified by the department of tourism. This prevents the citizens of rural Bhutan from contacting any foreigners, which can be interpreted as a drawback of their tourism policy. The government alleges that exposure to western culture has negative consequences, especially on the youth. They mention the use of drugs, the disrespect for elders, disrespect for the value of labor, and the loss of respect for other social values as consequences of increased exposure to foreigners, and the department of tourism uses this as a justification for the relative isolation of most of the country.

Current Events

In Nepal, the situation is almost chaotic. Tourism still stands as a significant source of income for many people living in and around popular mountain destinations, such as Everest or Annapurna regions. The government has not been able to divert resources towards the development of tourism in these areas, but this is not entirely due to bad governmental practices. The number of tourists visiting per year has increased at a rate at which it would be difficult for any country to adequately set up a system for taking care of them all in a sustainable manner.

The challenge lies in setting up long-term solutions for the problems that tourism can bring about, while keeping Nepal a destination that tourists long for, and using the benefits that come from an influx of rich foreigners to the country's advantage. In Nepal, the government's attitude towards tourism would be best described by explaining it as a supply-driven industry - the government responds to the demands of foreign tourists, instead of developing its own products and services and having them ready when the tourists come.

Nepal's Himalayas are characterized with development that clearly was not planned, regulated, or guided in any way. There was a lack of regulation regarding environmental protection, which allowed for an abundance of adventure tourism, which in turn negatively affected several social issues in the region. One of these is the alienation of local residents, which only happens because the number of foreign visitors is actually higher than the number of locals within a given area. This could lead to locals believing that their culture is not advanced enough, or that they are worth less because of their traditions.

Sadly, many locals have never had other encounters with foreigners, so they do not know any better, and being outnumbered by tourists in your own hometown does not help the locals understand the mutualistic relationship that should come from a healthy type of tourism. The lack of regulation has also led to sharp increases in prices of land and real estate, as well as small scale inflation of prices of goods and services in villages and towns.

Current Events

In 2017, more than 940,000 tourists came to Nepal. This has maintained a trend of consistent growth through the years, and represents an almost 25% growth in tourist arrival compared to 2016. This ever increasing number of tourists brings with it many challenges, and Nepal is in no means ready to sustainably house and entertain all of them. This creates the human rights issues that were previously discussed in this guide, and the lack of cohesion in organizing a plan, in the part of the Nepali government, makes it even harder for the international community to inspire itself in Nepal.

Nepal implemented a new tourist policy in 2008, with the goal of distributing benefits accruing from tourism services to local community and people. In other words, the government recognized tourism's potential as a significant source of income for the country, and decided to show the public that, as any responsible government should, they are using the revenue from tourism to help out smaller communities that need some type of funding or government aid. These programs could also help convince locals that tourism does have its benefits. The new tourism policy also aimed to recognize new sites throughout the country, by looking for unique landscapes or adventures that tourists would enjoy seeing. By doing this, the government is helping diversify the range of activities that tourists can do, which will spread them out across the country, and potentially bring a more diverse group of tourists to the country (families, instead of only single adventurous climbers, for example). This policy also aimed to enhance the quality of services provided to tourists, increasing accessibility, and giving the tourists more reasons to stay for longer and spend more money. By improving the quality of the services, the Nepali government also makes sure that tourists can go back to their respective countries and say good things about their travel to Nepal, which improves Nepal's image too.

Sadly, this tourist policy, implemented more than ten years ago, did not have much of an effect, as Nepal remains a very disorganized and chaotic destination for tourists. Nepal does not have transportation facilities to main destinations like Mount Everest's base camp (some would argue that this is a good thing, because it keeps the challenge of climbing alive). The country is also not an example of ecologically sustainable tourism, as will be explained later in the guide.

1. D. Questions to Consider

Because of the complexity of the problem of human rights, delegates are encouraged to split their research up into three pillars regarding human rights:

i) respecting cultures, religions, and traditions; ii) employability of local population and local commerce; iii) preventing exploitation of underprivileged groups.

By tackling these three pillars, delegates should be able to look at the problem with a more critical scope, but solutions must be broad enough to tackle these three in some way.

1. How strong should the regulations be, to protect holy sites and temples? 2. Should there be bans on tourists from entering certain areas, if the tourists are not going to be bringing any money into the area? 3. Should there be stricter guidelines on private tourism companies, with requirements such as the hiring of x% locals as guides and cooks and maids? 4. How can locals be trained to respond to disrespectful or even criminal tourists?

1. E. Resources to Use

1. Economic Dynamics of Tourism in Nepal, A VECM Approach 2. Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal - Impacts of Tourism on Himalayan Women 3. Tourism and the politics of cultural preservation : a case study of Bhutan

4. Mountain Tourism and Tourism Policy of Nepal 5. Tourism as a key to sustainable mountain development 6. CIA World Factbook - Nepal 7. Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region

Introduction to Topic Two: Environmental Impacts of Himalayan Tourism

With the rise of international flying and guided tours, tourism in the Himalayas has grown rapidly. While a key source of income for Nepal, tourism has blighted the fragile ecosystems and threatened indigenous populations. Little regulations, planning, and infrastructure are in place and/or enforced to ensure that tourism is sustainable. Thus, a middle ground between economic and environmental concerns must be met.

According to the UN World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism is defined as, “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities." In order for tourism to be considered sustainable it must adhere to the following guidelines from the UNTWO:

“1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.

2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.

3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation1.”

Ecotourism, where tourists come to appreciate wildlife, culture, and scenery is a way to ensure that sustainable practices are exercised and tourists are educated about the habitats they visit. Irresponsible tourism has caused immense environmental and cultural problems, such as deforestation, trail erosion, resource depletion, and waste mismanagement. The burgeoning of these issues is due to a lack of regulations from Nepal and a lack of international environmental regulations and/or standards and protocol. Given that Nepal is a developing country, political instability can hinder the implementation of such regulations. Furthermore, given the widespread poverty and low literacy rates in the region, managing resources is difficult task for locals to handle by themselves. This ECOSOC encourages delegates to address what the scale of this issue entails and what the UN should suggest Nepal impose to ensure that tourism does not degrade the Himalayas..

History of the Problem

Mount Everest, the tallest mountain above sea level in the world, has gained international notoriety for being one of the seven wonders of the world and most difficult climbing challenge. Tourism has rapidly grown as more travel companies and people attempting to climb Mount Everest expanded. Because of expeditions starting in the 60s and writings of such expeditions, tourism has been concentrated in Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest, all of which are homes to national parks.2 Demand for tourism in other regions has remained underdeveloped and action by the Nepalese government to expand tourism in other regions has not been taken. Up until 1950, Nepal, except for Kathmandu, was actually closed off to foreign visitors, aside from dignitaries and those specially let in by the government. In 1955, when Thomas Cook organized the first tour for Westerners, trekking began to take off and grew into an international tourist hotspot. The book, Annapurna by Maurice Herzog, about trekking in the Himalayas, has sold over 11 million copies and is considered the most influential trekking book of all time. Works from Edmund Hillary, John Hunt, and Tensing Norgay popularized mountaineering around the world as well.

The environmental stability of the Himalayas is a part of many interconnected processes that affects levels of rainfall in Nepal and India and the global climate. As a high-altitude ecosystem, the Himalayas have low resilience, meaning that they are unable to restore themselves fully and quickly when faced with disturbances that offset wildlife populations or habitats. Because of the short summers in the Himalayas, little time is available for biological processes to occur. Again, any disturbances will be amplified given these restrictions. From 1950 to 1980, Nepal lost half of its forests due to deforestation, and has since not recovered.3

Not only are the Himalayas a tourist destination, but they are a sacred site for Hindus and the most visited destination in India for pilgrimages. A glacier in the Himlayas is the source of the sacred Ganges river for Hindus and the Kailash mountain is home to the god Shiva. The Himalayas are also sacred for Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and the indigenous Bon traditions of Tibetans.4 Pilgrimages can be dated back all the way to 1st century B.C.5

History of the Problem

The expansion of roads and busses after the Indo-Chinese war ended in 1962, greatly increased the number of pilgrims that could visit the Garwhal region. During Britain’s colonization of India, they set up several Hill stations in the Himalayas as a way to escape the hot monsoon season.6 While the number of tourists decreased when India gained independence from Britain in 1947, mass tourism resurged in the 1960s to the hills stations. Tourism was welcomed during this time period as an opportunity for economic development and as a way to bring local vendors business and to raise the living standards of locals. Western sports became popular with modern tourists, such as skiing, hiking, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, and paragliding.6 Nepal established the Tourism Development Board in 1957, which later became the Nepal Tourism Board in 1998. The board has worked to promote tourism in Nepal and gather statistics on tourism. By 1959, Nepal joined the World Tourism Organization.7

As a result of this increased tourism, pollution increased as well and the Sukhatal and Naini lakes were dried up, filled with waste, and became breeding grounds for E. coli and toxic chemicals.1 Local subsistence farmers were even reported to have burned down forests to clear up land. Concerned about the effect tourism was having on the ecology of the Himalayas, the World Bank and World Resources Institute started releasing reports in the 1970s and 1980s warning of predicted deforestation levels rising and potential desertification.2 The Sagarmatha National Park banned using firewood as fuel in 1979, but this ban did not apply to the tourist lodges and “tea house” treks in the park. Tourism also exacerbated the waste problem and the 1979 regulation also required tourists to carry out or bury their trash. Even human waste from tourists, if not properly buried can contaminate water sources. However, because the means of enforcing this law were not spelled out, trails with large influxes of tourists, like those in the Everest region, became dumping grounds for waste.6

Population increase and the increase of Nepal’s middle class created pressure for land development. Because of this pressure, land that was deemed unsafe for development due to unstable slopes, were exploited for the construction of large multistory buildings. Locals expressed concern over the safety of this construction and the environmental effects it will cause, such as soil erosion and landslides.

History of the Problem

In 1971, a landslide occurred beneath the Ridge’s water reservoir. Landslides also occurred in 2001 in Lakkar Bazaar and the Grand Hotel, which were particularly susceptible to landslides and construction there was even banned by the government. Construction in these banned areas has also caused buildings to sink4. The rise of tourism and increased job opportunities has meant that more women could be apart of the workforce. However, due to traditional gender roles, women were often burdened with collecting water and fuelwood. Additionally, women experienced a wage gap for equal work in the tourism industry and often were stuck to household or cooking work for tourists.8

Trekking, which is travel by foot on areas without infrastructure. In the Himalayas, many of these trekking paths go through protected areas. Because the heavy monsoon season causes landslides, trekking is limited to before and after monsoon season. Trekking can be linked to colonial expeditions and tourist groups since the 1960s. Mountain trekking has since become the leading cause for tourism in Nepal. Local communities have also engaged in trekking for jobs needed to accommodate tourists.3 Sherpas, an indigenous group in the region, were some of the first to establish trekking agencies to guide tourists. Since the 60s tourism grew but halted under the Maoist regime. After some political stability was gained in 2006, tourism resumed and continued growth. Much of the Kathmandu trekking companies are owned by local Sherpa families.2

The growth of trekking has led to an amalgamation of issues including trail erosion, pollution, and climate issues. With too many trekkers on a trail at once, the trails get worn down.

Disappearing lake caused by deforestation effects9

History of the Problem

Trekkers also may accidentally trample and kill plants if not informed not to do so. According to Unaslyva, over-trekking can cause “excessive widening, deep incisions, exposed bedrock, exposed mineral soil, trail displacement, exposed tree roots and running water on the trail.” The damage to vegetation from trekking causes habitat destruction and disrupts food chains. Trekkers also carelessly dispose of large amounts of waste in the region by leaving around non-biodegradable oxygen tanks, plastic water bottles, food cans and wrappers, and hiking gear.3 Such waste mismanagement can also lead to groundwater pollution. The trail to Mount Everest has even been called the “garbage trail,” due to the rise of waste mismanagement and plastic use in the past 40 years.2

To transport trekkers throughout the areas, buses are needed. With the rise of tourism, the demand for the construction of roads has increased. As more roads are constructed the opportunity for greater air pollution and deforestation increases. According to the Theory of Himalayan Environmental Degradation, proposed by Jack D. Ives and Bruno Messerli, population booms will increase the need for subsistence agriculture, which will increase deforestation.3 Deforestation will decrease soil fertility and cause landslides and runoff, which will lead to unprecedented flooding and droughts in the region. Specifically, the Ganges river and Brahmaputra plains will experience greater amounts of flooding due to this phenomena.3 Thus, all leading to a vicious cycle that will wreak socio-economic havoc on Nepal.

Additionally, the rise of tourism has increased the demand for resources at an alarming rate. In 1997, 24 percent of all of Nepal’s fuelwood consumption was due to lodges in the Everest region. When peaks first started opening in the 1960s to tourists one that drew many tourists was the Nanda Devi mountain. As a result of this influx, bushes in the Sanctuarv were indiscriminately cut. The Most common bushes above 10,000 feet are juniper, which are evergreen. As a fuel, these shrubs burn fast and thus provide a lot of attraction to mountaineers and trekkers. This issue thus became of serious concern.10 Once the vegetation is destroyed above 10,000 ft the regeneration is a long and slow process. Again, the flora and fauna of the Himalayas lacks resilience.

Past Actions Taken

In wake of the Theory of Himalayan Environmental Degradation, and the rise of tourism and unsustainable agriculture, four national parks were created in 1976: Sagarmatha, Langtang, Rara, and Chitwan National Park.2 These parks were supervised by the army. Sherpa support from Sir Edmund Hillary allowed them to continue logging for energy and fuel2. Since the 1980s, it became clear that policies regarding national parks must integrate locals with specialized local committees, which encourage participation from marginalized groups such as women and lower castes.

The Nepalese government released the Master Plan of Tourism in 1978. This plan put forth strict regulations on the use of forest resources by local populations and it provided some flexibility with construction of infrastructure in protected areas. This flexibility in the law explains why today roads are still being built through valleys that are designated protected areas.11

Furthermore, The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), created in 1983 and managed by an NGO, the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, was the first and largest of the country’s conservation areas, and the one that is visited by the most tourists. The ACA’s entry fees for tourists helped with funding. The ACA has worked to have local outreach with tourists staying with locals and doing dances performances.2 Moreover, an action being taken by the World Wildlife Fund is community-manage livestock insurance plans.

Protected areas in Nepal as of 20092

Past Actions Taken

These plans compensate farmers who lose livestocks due to snow leopards by replenishing. This in turn has helped rebuild the snow leopard population and also help local farmers.12 The NASA has also used GIS modeling in the past as a way to track the environmental degradation caused by trekking. GIS modeling is also very useful with tracking climate changes in the region, black carbon deposits on ice, and levels of deforestation.13

It has been proposed by the 12th and 13th Finance Commissions to pay regions for the environmental services they provide and to share these funds with local communities. Despite the proposal, no funding has actually been allocated. The Himachal Pradesh government is currently assessing forests to determine what funds could potentially be allocated based on the value of these forests.14

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) pilot project in integrating conservation and development resulted in community facilities, such as schools, healthcare, women’s owned businesses, electrical units, a Gurung museum, and a water supply system. The ACAP helped villages get toilets and paved roads as well. Much of Ghandruk’s barren land has been planted with trees. Through Amatoli programmes in Ghandruk and Chomrong villages in Annapurna, women actively raise funds from tourists and locals through cultural events and festivals, and invest the money in community activities such as trail repairs, village clean-ups, and literacy programmes. These initiatives raised women’s profile from ignored housewife to a powerful presence in village development activities.14

Sherpa NGOs and other organizations have successfully led clean-up expeditions to gather waste from tourists and trekkers. The Eco Everest Expedition started in 2008 to collect debris and waste on Mount Everest. Since 2012, the expedition has collected 13,500 kilograms on debris and waste and 450 kilograms of human waste.5 Because the Nepalese government has no programs in place to deal with waste management, the issue has been left in the hands of volunteers, locals, and NGOs. Past Actions Taken

The UNTWO worked on the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal is an outcome of a project started in 2009 from tripartite alliance between the Nepalese government, ST-EP Foundation and UNWTO. The Great Himalaya Trail connects the less explored and lesser-known areas of the Himalayas with sustainable tourism opportunities for the poor. The sites added to the trek included the Humla and the Dopla. An NGO established in 1999, Empowering Women of Nepal, to help women receive training for trekking and expeditions. The Trail gained more attention through the WTO’s work with advertising them in Nepal Traveller, National Geographic and The International Ecotourism Society Newsletter.20

The policy think tank group of the Indian government, NITI Aayog, made a working group under the chairman, Mr. Vikram Singh Gaur. The group advised step-by-step policies that includes policy gap analysis, strategic master plans, climate change projections, and actions. The group did financial analysis on the state budgets for tourism. “Waste Warriors” was a group detailed in the paper that took local initiatives to clean up the 22,372 metric tonnes (MT) of municipal solid waste per day that is included in the Himalayas. The areas of assessment they concluded must be considered, that are in accordance with the UNESCO Checklist for sustainable tourism strategy are: “(1) Disaster Management (2) Pollution Control (3) Visitor Control (4) Tourist Traffic Management (5) Crisis Management (6) Waste Management (7) Natural Resource and Ecology Management (8) Quality Standard/Control Mechanism (9) Tourism Enterprise Development Governance (10) Energy (11) Gender, and (12) Marketing and Branding.” By assessing the state of sustainability in the Himalayas, NITI Aayog was able to gage what issues WTO should address and make policy recommendations. While environmental policies are minimal in Nepal and lack enforcement, the WTO should work to find solutions that can be legitimately implemented.21

Current Events

The Eastern Himalayas currently relies on hydroelectric power, a renewable source of energy. There are currently 70 plans in the works to expand hydroelectric power. However, the need for dams to fuel hydroelectric power can be problematic if land has to be cleared out or the flow of rivers have to be stopped. Dams can als displace local populations and harm fish ecology. Strict regulations on dams are necessary to optimize energy usage and prevent environmental damage. Such energy is not readily available to remote villages. National and state grids are being built to provide energy so that firewood, as the sole source of energy, is no longer needed and forests do not have to face the burden of being the sole provider of energy and fuel.14

Measures are being taken to promote sustainability in the region. Meghalaya, Uttarakhad, and Sikkim has all declared themselves to be organic states. These states face challenges because of forestry laws with adhering to organic guidelines. Many trekking companies do not carry their garbage with them, leading to high amounts of pollution near trails.3 A Dharamshala-based NGO, Waste Warriors, has been working to collect this trash, especially along the Himchal Pradesh, one of the most popular trails in the Himalayas. n the Everest region, in 1991, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a Sherpa-run nonprofit organization, was established to tackle this problem. Since then, it has collected up to 250 tonnes of garbage per year, and the Everest trails and villages look much cleaner.16

A rise in tourism will come from Spike E, who will be hosting an off road racing event in the Himalayas. Spike E, concerned about sustainability has been working with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to support regional partnerships.17

Garbage from tourists disposed in the Himalayas2

Current Events

ICIMOD is based in Kathmandu and shares information with 8 eight countries who share land with the Himalayas including Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan. According to recent reports from the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), the growth in the domestic business has been around 30 per cent and the incoming international growth, 10 per cent. A 2016 report by Nielsen done for the Ministry of Tourism stated that trekking, among all land-based adventure sports, is a far bigger draw than rock climbing, and mountain biking. While many organizations have recently signed pledges to not pollute trails, there is no way to enforce that this is actually being done. Currently there is no legal infrastructure in place to deal with waste management. Legislation is necessary to ensure that there are proper means for recycling.17 Legislation is also needed to ensure that products being used are biodegradable and to move away from the sale and distribution of single-use plastics. The job of waste collection is left to non-governmental organizations and volunteers. Receiving little funding, greater institutional measures need to be taken or dire consequences will ensure. The Himalayas are home to three major rivers in South Asia: the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra. Increased pollution to these rivers could lead to disastrous effects.

Sherpas can make up to $2000 per expedition, plus the Nepalese government can charge thousands for permits to climb the mountain, since it is considered property of the government. While living standards for the poor have generally improved because Himalayan tourism leading to criticism of the growing socio-economic gap between the rich and the poor in the region.2 ECOSOC recognizes that if eco-tourism occurs, rather than tourism done to gain quick profits and environmental regulations are actually enforced, a middle ground can be met. Because tourism is boosting the economy of the Himalayan region, urbanization and development is increasing just as rapidly. The housing and real estate sector is booming, but little restrictions are being imposed to ensure that they are making sustainable usage of resources. Many new homes are freely disposing waste into rivers and polluting the groundwater. Proper drainage and sewage systems need to implemented in rural regions that are experiencing urbanization to prevent water pollution.18.

As previously mentioned, NASA is still surveying the Himalayas to determine the damage climate change has done to the region. Aerial photographs are used to track the effect climate change is having on the melting of glaciers. NASA’s High Mountain Asia Team (HiMAT) has found that dangerous effects can result from albedo depletion, glacial melting flooding, and changes in rainfall and snowfall.

Questions to Consider

1. What regulations should be imposed to deal with the issue of waste management in the Himalayas? 2. How can awareness of local culture and biodiversity be increased? 3. How can transportation be improved to be sustainable and safe? 4. Can tourism still occur without trek erosion and resource depletion? 5. What does research tell us about how climate change has impacted the Himalayan region? What should course of action should be taken knowing this?

Resources to Use

1. UNWTO, “Sustainable Development.”https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development

2. Spaltenberger, “Tourism in the Himalayas.” http://www.spaltenberger.de/usa/himalayantourism.pdf

3. Sreestha, “Tourism in Nepal: A Historical Perspective and Present Trend of Development.” 2012

4. McCool, “Reframing Sustainable Tourism.” 2016.

5. “Rasmussen, “The Water Future of Earth’s Third-Pole.” 2019. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2887/the-water-future-of-earths-third- pole/

6. Kotru, Rajan. Report of Working Group II Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region, n.d. https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/Doc2.pdf. Endnotes

1. UNWTO, “Sustainable Development.”https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development

2. Badola et. al, “Institutional arrangements for managing tourism in the Indian Himalayan protected areas.”: June, 2018.

3. Nepal, S.K, “Tourism as a key to sustainable mountain development: the Nepalese Himalayas in retrospect.” 2002

4. Ives, Jack. Himalayan Perceptions : Environmental Change and the Well-Being of Mountain Peoples, Routledge, 2004.

5. ”Mountains: the abode of the Gods.” 2006 http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Nature_Worship3.htm

6. Spaltenberger, “Tourism in the Himalayas.” http://www.spaltenberger.de/usa/himalayantourism.pdf

7. Sreestha, “Tourism in Nepal: A Historical Perspective and Present Trend of Development.” 2012

8. McCool, “Reframing Sustainable Tourism.” 2016.

9. Horrell, Mark. Mystery of the Vanishing Himalayan Lake. n.d. Photograph.

10. Nepal, S.K., “Tourism in Protected Areas: The Nepalese Himalaya.” 2001

11. Erdkunde, “Protected Areas and Road Development: Sustainable Development Discourses in the Annapurna Conservation Area Nepal.” 2014.

12. “Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee.” 2019.

13. Hine, “Himalayas confirmed on Extreme E Race Schedule.” November, 2019.

14. Joshi, V.K.. “Urbanization: A Threat to the Himalayas.” 2007 https://www.boloji.com/articles/4814/urbanization-threat-to-himalayas

15. “Rasmussen, “The Water Future of Earth’s Third-Pole.” 2019. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2887/the-water-future-of-earths-third-pole/

16. Thieme, Michele, “East Himalayas.” 2019. https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/eastern-himalayas

17. ”Black Carbon Deposits on Himalayan Ice Threaten Earth's "Third Pole" Dec. 14, 2009. https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20091214/

18. Nahrain, “Himalayas: the agenda for development and environment.” July, 2015.

19. Sherpa, “Eco Everest Expedition 2008 launches from Everest Base Camp.” April, 2008.

20. “The Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal.” UNWTO, January 5, 2018. https://www.unwto.org/archive/global/news/2012-12-12/great-himalaya-trail-nepal.

21. Kotru, Rajan. Report of Working Group II Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region, n.d. https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/Doc2.pdf.

Topic 1 Bibliography

1. Ives, Jack. Himalayan Perceptions : Environmental Change and the Well-Being of Mountain Peoples, Routledge, 2004. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/bu/detail.action?docID=200417.

2. Nepal , Sanjay K. “Tourism as a Key to Sustainable Mountain Development: the Nepalese Himalayas in Retrospect.” Unasylva 53 (2002). http://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/004/y3549e/y3549e03.pdf

3. Reinfeld, Marti Ann. “TOURISM AND THE POLITICS OF CULTURAL PRESERVATION: A CASE STUDY OF BHUTAN.” Journal of Public and International Affairs, 14 (2003). https://jpia.princeton.edu/sites/jpia/files/2003-7.pdf.

4. Sarkar , Debasis. “Bhutan’s Upcoming Tourism Policy Likely to Cause Strong Impact on Tourism Trade in Eastern India.” The Economic Times . November 20, 2019. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bhutans-upcoming -tourism-policy-likely-to-cause-strong-impact-on-tourism-trade-in-eastern-india/art icleshow/72149307.cms.

5. Sherpa, Yankila. “Impacts of Tourism on Himalayan Women .” Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, n.d. http://lib.icimod.org/record/12953/files/1366.pdf.

6. Singh Gaur, Vikram, and Rajan Kotru. “Report of Working Group II Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region.” NITI Aayog, August 2018. https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/Doc2.pdf.

7. Thakur, Jai Ram, ed. THE HIMACHAL PRADESH TOURISM POLICY, 2019, THE HIMACHAL PRADESH TOURISM POLICY, 2019 (2019).https://himachaltourism.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Himachal-Prad esh-Tourism-Policy-2019.pdf

8. Upadhyay, Prakash. “Mountain Tourism and Tourism Policy of Nepal,” n.d. https://www.academia.edu/36542893/Mountain_Tourism_and_Tourism_Policy_of_ Nepal.

Topic 2 Bibliography

Gaur, Vikram,“Report of Working Group II Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region.” August, 2018. https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/Doc2.pdf

“Himalayas: the Agenda for Development and Environment.” Down To Earth. Accessed December 25, 2019. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/himalayas-the-agenda-for-development-and-e nvironment--41486.

Ives, Jack, and Bruno Messerli. “The Himalayan Region.” The Himalayan Dilemma, n.d., 16–42. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203169193_chapter_2.

McCool, Stephen F., and Keith Bosak. Reframing Sustainable Tourism. Dordrecht: Springer, 2016

Mountains: the abode of the Gods.” 2006. http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Nature_Worship3.htm

Nepal, S.K, “Tourism as a key to sustainable mountain development: the Nepalese Himalayas in retrospect.” 2002. http://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/004/y3549e/y3549e03.pdf

Shrestha, Hari Prasad, and Prami Shrestha. “Tourism in Nepal: A Historical Perspective and Present Trend of Development.” Himalayan Journal of Sociology and Anthropology 5 (September 2012): 54–75. https://doi.org/10.3126/hjsa.v5i0.7039.

Spaltenberger, “Tourism in the Himalayas.” http://www.spaltenberger.de/usa/himalayantourism.pdf