Tourism and livelihood sustainability in the Garhwal Himalaya

Tourism, particularly pilgrimage tourism, in the Garhwal Himalaya is a centuries-old practice. It contributes significantly to enhancing employment, income, and livelihood, as many people are engaged in it. This paper examines tourism practices in the Garhwal Himalaya and their role in livelihood sustainability. The study is empirical in nature. Data were collected through case studies of service centers located along the routes to major tourism destinations in the Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 200 heads of households were interviewed, including 100 who provided services to tourists/pilgrims and 100 who were engaged in traditional agriculture. Additional data on tourist/pilgrim inflow at the selected destinations were obtained from the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Dehradun. The study reveals that income from tourism activities is considerably higher (over 40%) than income from traditional agriculture. It further suggests that tourism can significantly enhance livelihood sustainability if proper standard operating procedures are adopted.