Overtourism directly impacts ecosystems. The expansion of tourism infrastructure often comes at the cost of forests, wetlands, and agricultural land. Wildlife corridors get fragmented, water tables deplete, and solid waste accumulates faster than it can be managed. Research indicates that tourism contributes around 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. From plane flights and boat rides to souvenirs and lodging, various activities contribute to tourism’s carbon footprint.
UN Environment research highlights that the sector’s growing consumption of resources is matched by rising waste, biodiversity loss, and emissions. By 2050, tourism could drive a 154% increase in energy use, 131% rise in greenhouse gas emissions, 152% in water use, and 251% in solid waste disposal.
| 1. Thailand’s Maya Bay was shut down from 2018- 2022 due to coral damage caused by overtourism and recovery from its impact. 2. Mt. Everest is ill-equipped to handle the waste generated by large numbers of tourists. The mountain is littered with trash, abandoned gear, and human waste left behind by climbers. 3. Attractions like rice fields in Indonesia face soil erosion and ecological strain. 4. In the Himalayas, trekking trails around Roopkund and Triund are increasingly littered with plastics and food waste. Alpine meadows, once pristine, are now dotted with makeshift stalls and encroachments. 5. Marine ecosystems, especially in popular diving and beach destinations like Andaman, Lakshadweep, and Goa, are at risk from coral bleaching, sunscreen contamination, and unregulated boating activities. |
When tourism becomes commercialized, cultural practices, festivals, and traditions often get repackaged to cater to tourist expectations, diluting its authenticity. Such as some folk performances, singing and rituals from Rajasthan are now staged daily for tourists, sometimes removed from their original spiritual or seasonal context. The cultural identity of destinations risks dilution, seen starkly in Jaipur’s old city, parts of Kochi, and beach towns in Goa, where shops, homes, and streets begin to cater exclusively to tourist tastes.
Sometimes, locals get displaced as well to accommodate tourists. Barcelona is an emerging example for this, where the local or heritage residences are being turned into home-stays, hotels etc., pushing long-term residents out. Mt.Fuji in Japan is another example, where tourists, to get a perfect shot, climb on the rooftops of locals’ residences, infringing on their personal space.
Languages, rituals, and practices that rely on close community transmission can erode when the community is overwhelmed by tourist influence. Furthermore, tourists’ behaviour often clashes with local norms. In religious places, inappropriate dressing, drunkenness, insensitive photography or unruly behaviour can create tension. A perfect example of this would be youth dancing while the loud music was playing in the premises of the sacred Kedarnath. Communities once rooted in agriculture, crafts, or fishing may shift to roles emerging due to tourism, altering traditional identities.
Europe, one of the most visited continents in the world, has become a bellwether for anti-tourism movements. While tourism brings in billions in revenue, residents across several cities have begun pushing back against what they see as the commercialisation of their homes and the erosion of urban liveability.
What began as isolated discontent has now grown into urban debates. The key demands of these protest movements typically include:
Many of these cities are now exploring carrying capacity models, dynamic tourist taxes, and behavioural guidelines for visitors. For example, in Reykjavik, Iceland, authorities introduced visitor dispersal strategies to push tourists into lesser-known locations. In Santorini, the government has capped cruise ships disembarking at 8,000 passengers per day to protect the island’s infrastructure and environment.
The tourism sector is witnessing a remarkable recovery post-pandemic, with domestic tourism leading the way, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTCC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR). WTTC projects the sector’s GDP contribution to hit INR 21.15 trillion in 2024 and potentially INR 43.25 trillion by 2034, supporting nearly 63 million jobs.
India’s growing appetite for travel, driven by rising incomes, improved connectivity, and digital influence, has led to seasonal surges, ecological strain, and cultural erosion across multiple regions. While India has not yet seen anti-tourism protests at the scale of Europe, the underlying tensions are surfacing from residents’ complaints in Goa and Himachal, to environmental activism in Joshimath and Leh.
If proactive regulation is not introduced, India could witness similar public resistance, especially in ecologically and culturally fragile regions. Popular hill towns like Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie, and Nainital see chronic traffic congestion, water shortages, and solid waste issues during summer peaks.
The fragile Himalayan ecosystem has been overwhelmed by unregulated construction, landslides, and helicopter operations, several of which have resulted in fatal accidents, raising concerns over safety, sustainability, and crowd control. In 2023, Shimla authorities advised tourists to delay visits due to a water crisis. The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand witnessed over 48 lakh pilgrims in 2024, which was accompanied by massive solid waste generation, traffic congestion, and unruly tourist behaviour.
| Pressure on Tourist Hotspots in India 1. Leh-Ladakh faces glacial melt, waste mismanagement, and stress on Buddhist cultural traditions due to a spike in visitors. 2. Varanasi, Rishikesh, and other spiritual centres face mounting pressure on civic amenities, with rituals commercialised for tourist appeal, and untouristy behaviour with locals and rituals. 3. Tawang, Shillong, Ziro are witnessing tourism growth but lack adequate roads, waste systems, and safeguards, leading to friction in tribal areas. 4. UNESCO sites like Hampi, Mahabalipuram face erosion due to unmanaged crowds and vandalism of properties. 5. Goa struggles with coastal degradation, overbuilt infrastructure, and erosion of local Goan identity. 6. In Kerala, backwater tourism and hill station footfall strain local resources and biodiversity. 7. Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep are ecologically sensitive zones where mass tourism threatens coral reefs, marine life, and limited freshwater sources. Proposed mega-infrastructure plans in Nicobar Islands have drawn criticism from environmentalists and island communities. |
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pushed for carrying capacity assessments in pilgrimage and eco-sensitive zones. The Wildlife Institute of India was tasked in 2024 with assessing the Char Dham circuit and Hemkund Sahib. These studies are crucial but implementation remains sluggish.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has demarcated Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) to limit construction near protected areas. Some states like Himachal Pradesh and Goa have introduced vehicle entry caps, green taxes, and tourist registration systems, but enforcement varies widely.
The Draft National Tourism Policy 2022 proposed strengthening community-based tourism, promotion of green certification for tourism businesses, establishing Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), and usage of technology to monitor tourist inflow, but these measures remain on paper.
States like Kerala have introduced the Responsible Tourism Mission, which seeks to minimize negative economic, environmental and social impacts. It generates greater economic benefits to local people and enhances the well-being of local communities. It also makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and the maintenance of the world's diversity.
Sikkim has notified its official Ecotourism Policy, which outlines strategic guidelines to enhance ecotourism while preserving the state's unique environmental and cultural heritage, emphasizing the involvement of economically disadvantaged communities. Sikkim has also imposed an entry fee for tourists entering the state.
Overtourism, if left unchecked, can undermine the very essence of travel. For India, the challenge lies in balancing accessibility and aspiration with sustainability and inclusion.
As we rethink tourism in a post-pandemic world, national and state authorities must move beyond economic metrics to adopt people and planet-centred approaches, rooted in data, community voice, and ecological responsibility.
Further practices such as sustainable tourism should be promoted, which include reduction in plastic use, conservation of water etc. Community involvement in tourism management can not only ensure regulation of tourism but also benefit the community economically and include sustainable practices.
The government should also promote lesser-known destinations, which can distribute tourist traffic evenly and reduce the burden on hot spots.
Utkarsha Srivastava is a Legal Fellow at TA.
TA is a Bhopal-based policy and development consulting group. We are on a mission to make the development space more inclusive and democratic for students and professionals. Join us on this mission.
