Saving Ladakh: Locals lead sustainable tourism drive

DW (English)

Overtourism in Ladakh in northern India is triggering an ecological crisis. Local communities are pioneering green alternatives, promoting sustainable travel options and conservation.

Transcript

00:00A pickaxe, a shovel, and plenty of stamina.

00:06That's all Caitlin Thorrell needs for a perfect vacation day.

00:10She and her husband come from New Hampshire in the U.S.

00:14She's been spending her vacations here in Ladakh for more than 15 years.

00:19She lives and works together with local residents for up to four months at a time.

00:25I grew up in a place where there are many tourists. People come, it's beautiful in the summer.

00:31And everyone who lives there is a little bit judgmental of the tourists.

00:34So I felt that I wanted to travel, I wanted to learn from another place, and I wanted to do it in some good way.

00:39I wanted to not just, like, come and take.

00:42The village where she's vacationing is called Tar.

00:45Until recently, only three families lived here. But now there are 13 again.

00:51Former residents have returned because there is work available, thanks to gentle tourism.

00:57There are no huge hotels or crowds passing through the village as though it were an amusement park.

01:05Lundrup Dorje is the driving force behind the development.

01:09The 27-year-old was born in Tar but left to study computer science.

01:14Now he's back and hopes sustainable tourism can prevent his village from dying out.

01:21That's how we are right now, we are targeting, we are promoting eco-tourism only.

01:28We call volunteers to work on the field and mostly we bring guests who stay for longer period of time,

01:36not just for one or two days, so that they can learn from the village.

01:43Elsewhere in Ladakh, it's a very different picture.

01:47The tourism industry has long since discovered the area.

01:51In 2023 alone, the Ladakh region received more than 400,000 visitors.

01:57That's double the local population.

01:59It's led to congested roads that were not built for so many vehicles.

02:06Garbage left strewn about the countryside and water shortages too.

02:11Environmentalist Sonam Vangchuk says the tourism industry needs to be better regulated.

02:20He says it's a matter of urgency.

02:24It's about numbers, it's about timing and it's about places.

02:29When tourism started in Ladakh in the 70s, it had a very positive impact.

02:35It was small in number, it was people who really were interested in learning about the place.

02:42It was more like explorers and travellers.

02:46Right now, the sheer number of tourists is overwhelming the infrastructure in the region.

02:52Many travellers see it as a problem too.

02:55Here, at the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh, scientists are looking for new approaches to tourism.

03:03They also provide important information for visitors.

03:07For instance, Ladakh being a desert does not hold itself well for flush toilets.

03:16Because every flush, you lose six litres of fresh water.

03:20Before the tourists come, we send out a booklet, the Ladakh Handbook,

03:25which talks about the various sacred cultural practices here, the various environmental important matters that they have to heed to.

03:40But at the same time, the region depends on the tourists.

03:44Tariq Ghani is the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

03:48He says that tourism accounts for more than 10% of the region's economic output.

03:53And the 5,000 plus hotels are only part of that story.

04:00Three lakh people are employed in tourism, mostly the youth.

04:04And directly or indirectly, 20 lakh people are involved.

04:07Maybe he, Poniwala, houseboat owner, transporters, Kashmir handicrafts, groceries, many more.

04:14So tourism is an economic factor, a burden, and the great hope for the future all at once.

04:21Most of the tourists here are from India.

04:24But some come from further afield, like Luke.

04:27The 24-year-old student is from the Netherlands.

04:30He's been travelling around India and is now spending two weeks here.

04:34He's covering the entire route by bike.

04:37I think that's a major responsibility.

04:39You know, like if you visit the place, leave it the same way as you, like when you arrive there.

04:45And of course, I think you can never fully escape like the emissions.

04:52But just try to be aware, you know, and try like, if it's possible, try to limit it.

04:57And to think about, you know, your, yeah, the effect you have on the environment as well.

05:03It's always a balancing act.

05:05To reduce emissions in the region, the government has introduced electric and hydrogen powered buses.

05:12And like the village of Tar, the plan is to introduce sustainable tourism to 12 more villages.

05:18Caitlin Thorell will likely remain an exceptional visitor here.

05:23Not many people could come to live and work here for several months.

05:27She's even learned the language.

05:29But if every tourist took a little inspiration from Caitlin, it would surely make a big difference.

05:34It would exactly make a big difference.

05:36Sighini lye lambo, ni lam sden del chanthong, chwinan ghiam co chelen meka,

05:50America

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