Tourism in India amid climate challenges calls for stringent policymaking

Climate change isn’t just a global issue, but a local one too. Its effects are being felt worldwide, and India is no exception. The problem of climate change is aggravated by rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, reshaping not only landscapes but also travel preferences and business strategies across the country. 

A 2023 report by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment indicated that India experienced extreme weather events almost every day in the first nine months of the year, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths. 

Climate change is directly affecting the landscape, from the picturesque heights of Kashmir to vibrant cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, necessitating a rethinking of both destination selection and tourism practices. In 2023, India had its second warmest year in 122 years, with temperatures above normal in February, July, August, September, November, and December. 

This has put historically favoured destinations at risk of extreme weather conditions; as of July 23, 2023, statistics from Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed that heatwaves killed 264 people across 14 states between 2015 and 2023.

Summer has not yet begun this year, but several Indian states, including Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, Saurashtra, Kutch, Bihar, West Bengal and parts of Rajasthan, have already experienced heatwaves.  

Extreme rainfall has also increased significantly. A study published in journal Nature Communications in 2017 revealed that extreme rain events over central India tripled between 1950 and 2015, affecting about 825 million people, leaving 17 million homeless and killing about 69,000.

The devastating floods in Kerala in 2018, also known as God’s own country, affected over a million tourists and demonstrated the vulnerability of tourist hotspots to climate-related disasters, with the state suffering economic losses of up to $4.4 billion.

As climate change alters the geographic and seasonal tourism maps, corporate strategies for sustainable travel must be reconsidered. Urban areas such as Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Hyderabad are becoming ‘heat islands’, with temperatures remaining higher for longer periods of time, prompting tourists to plan their trips accordingly.

This evolving climate scenario is not merely an operational challenge for travel companies but an indicator necessitating transformative shifts towards sustainable tourism practices. 

Source: IndiaStat 

Northern Indian states, traditionally popular for their summer retreats, face a dual threat due to climate impact: Diminishing snowfalls affect winter sports in regions like  Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while rising summer temperatures are making cities like Jaipur less appealing during what used to be peak tourist seasons. 

Similarly, coastal regions, a  major draw for both domestic and international tourists, confront rising sea levels and  strengthened cyclones, posing risks to infrastructure and future viability. 

India Tourism Statistics 2023 reported that the country ranks 14th in the world in terms of international tourism receipts, with total international tourism receipts of $131.4 billion in 2022, representing a 45 per cent annual growth rate.

The number of domestic tourist visits to all states and union territories in India has reported a negative growth rate, with 2,321.98 million visitors in 2019 and 1,731.01 million visitors in 2022. Is climate change responsible?

The Himalayan skiing industry faces existential threats from climate change as predictable winter seasons become more unpredictable.

Over the last two decades, the Indian Himalayan region has experienced a consistent decline in snowfall days, severely affecting destinations such as Gulmarg and Auli, which have seen a decrease in skiing tourists and shorter seasons, resulting in lower revenue and local economic strain. 

The decline in snowfall is linked to western disturbance activity over northern India, raising serious concerns about water security, agriculture, and tourism. 

The coastal tourism sector, which contributes significantly to the country’s economy, is also at risk. The aftermath of Cyclone Fani in 2019 and Tauktae in 2021, which caused significant destruction in Odisha, Gujarat, and Maharashtra (costing approximately $9.67 billion in economic loss), highlighted the escalating threats to coastal infrastructure, which is critical for tourist activities. 

The travel industry in the country is a microcosm of global issues, necessitating a collaborative effort from all stakeholders — governments, businesses, and tourists — to chart a course for sustainable and responsible tourism. As the number of travellers grows, so does the pressure on the environment; more facilities such as power, water, and goods are required, and more waste is generated.

India’s tourism industry can grow and expand by developing and implementing sustainable policies and appropriate measures using the carbon footprint calculator. 

Around the world, various countries have implemented distinct sustainable tourism policies tailored to their unique environmental, cultural, and economic contexts. For example, Costa Rica’s certificate for sustainable tourism programme evaluates local tourism businesses’ sustainability efforts, while the European Union employs the European tourism indicator system to manage tourism sustainability at the destination level. 

In Australia, the eco-certification programme promotes minimal environmental impact tourism, which helps tourists make responsible travel choices. South Africa supports ethical tourism through its fair-trade tourism certification, which ensures fair wages and working conditions in tourism enterprises. 

Bhutan adopted a “high value, low volume” policy, which serves a dual purpose and involves a daily fee paid by tourists, which helps fund local community services and limits tourist numbers to prevent overtourism. The daily tourist fee in Bhutan for 2024 is $100 per night, down from $200 per night in 2023. 

This fee is solely a sustainable development fee that can be  invested back into the community to fund local infrastructure, conservation efforts and social  programmes, thereby ensuring that tourism contributes positively to the region’s development. 

By learning from Bhutan’s and global examples and tailoring policies to India’s unique context, the country can ensure a resilient and sustainable future for its tourism industry. 

Moreover, the adoption of new technologies for better resource management, resilient infrastructure designs, and the promotion of off-season tourism are critical steps towards reducing environmental strain during peak tourist seasons. According to global climate law and  policies document analysis, countries including India urgently need to align with global and national sustainability goals to lower carbon footprints and promote eco-friendly tourism  practices. 

As climate change redefines the Indian tourism landscape, policymakers must enact robust and effective sustainable tourism policies.

This strategic pivot is essential not only for the survival of the tourism sector but also for maintaining a balance between ecological integrity and economic development, ensuring a sustainable future for one of the world’s most vibrant tourist destinations. 

Anand Kumar is a Dublin-based climate finance researcher, lecturer and climate advocate.

Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth

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