Final Report November, 2019 Conducting a baseline study on existing impact of tourism activities and provide detailed recommendation for sustainable tourism activities with special focus on nature-based and adventure tourism in SECURE Himalaya project landscapes of Lahaul-Pangi in Himachal Pradesh Project Advisors Dr J V Sharma (IFS Retd.) Dr D. V. S. Khatti (IFS Retd.) Pia Sethi, Principal Investigator Nidhi Srivastava, Legal expert Himachal Pradesh: Rashmi Murali and Jonathan Donald Syiemlieh Ladakh: Pia Sethi, and Yatish Lele Sikkim: Yatish Lele, Pia Sethi, Joyita Ghose and Arunima Hakku Uttarakhand: Siddharth Edake and Deborshi Brahmchari Pic credits: Jonathan Donald Syiemlieh Contact information Dr Pia Sethi Area Convenor and Senior Fellow Centre for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Forestry and Biodiversity Division T E R I Tel. 2468 2100 or 2468 2111 Darbari Seth Block E-mail [email protected] IHC Complex, Lodhi Road Fax 2468 2144 or 2468 2145 New Delhi – 110 003 Web www.teriin.org India India +91 • Delhi (0)11 Report on Conducting a baseline study on existing impact of tourism activities and provide detailed recommendation for sustainable tourism activities with special focus on nature-based and adventure tourism in SECURE Himalaya project landscapes of Lahaul-Pangi in Himachal Pradesh Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ ix Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ xi Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 3. Study Landscapes .................................................................................................................. 7 About the state ................................................................................................................................... 7 About the SECURE landscapes ............................................................................................................ 9 Pangi ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Lahaul ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Chapter 4. Existing Status of Tourism in the landscapes ...................................................................... 15 Tourism in the State .......................................................................................................................... 15 History of Tourism Development in HP ........................................................................................ 15 Tourist Seasons ............................................................................................................................. 15 Popular Destinations ..................................................................................................................... 16 Popular Activities .......................................................................................................................... 16 Eco-tourism in Himachal Pradesh ................................................................................................. 18 Tourism in the Landscape ................................................................................................................. 18 Pangi landscape ............................................................................................................................ 18 Lahaul Landscape .......................................................................................................................... 24 Tourist Visits and Tourism Expenditure ............................................................................................ 30 Tourist Visits to Himachal Pradesh ............................................................................................... 30 Tourist Visits to the Landscapes .................................................................................................... 31 Tourism Expenditure ..................................................................................................................... 31 Existing tourist infrastructure and gaps ............................................................................................ 32 Tourist Infrastructure in the State ................................................................................................ 32 Tourist Infrastructure in the Landscape ............................................................................................ 35 Pangi Valley ................................................................................................................................... 35 Lahaul ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Benefits to Communities .................................................................................................................. 41 Seasonal Employment for Community ......................................................................................... 42 iii Report on Conducting a baseline study on existing impact of tourism activities and provide detailed recommendation for sustainable tourism activities with special focus on nature-based and adventure tourism in SECURE Himalaya project landscapes of Lahaul-Pangi in Himachal Pradesh Key Challenges and Solutions ........................................................................................................... 44 Challenges in the landscapes ........................................................................................................ 45 Issues of Accessibility to the Landscape ....................................................................................... 45 Inadequate Communication Networks ......................................................................................... 45 Lack of Local Tourism Department Office and Interpretation/ information Centres ................... 46 Lack of Capacity Building for Hotels and Homestays .................................................................... 46 Lack of Trained and Certified Guides ............................................................................................ 46 Illegal Picking of Medicinal Herbs ................................................................................................. 46 Possible Issues of Waste Management......................................................................................... 47 Potential Threat from Rohtang Tunnel ......................................................................................... 47 Review of successful initiatives –case studies from the landscape .................................................. 47 Collective Efforts for Voluntary Action (CEVA) ............................................................................. 47 Menthusa Sangathan .................................................................................................................... 48 Potential Sustainable Tourism Products for the Landscape ............................................................. 50 ...................................................................................................................................................... 51 Pangi Valley ................................................................................................................................... 51 Lahaul ............................................................................................................................................ 58 Business opportunities arising as spin-offs to tourism activities ...................................................... 63 Local Handicrafts ........................................................................................................................... 63 Local Produce ................................................................................................................................ 64 Technology-based tools that can be leveraged for sustainable tourism development ................... 65 Practices and sustainable tourism models globally and highlight those that have potential for best replication ......................................................................................................................................... 67 Bhutan’s sustainable tourism model ............................................................................................ 67 Chapter 5: Legal Framework and Policies for Tourism in Himachal Pradesh ....................................... 68 Tourism & Ecotourism Promotion .................................................................................................... 68 National Tourism Policy, 2002 ...................................................................................................... 68 Ministry of Tourism Strategic Action Plan .................................................................................... 68 HP Ecotourism Policy 2017 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