Impacts of tourism development on the physical environment of Mussoorie,a hill station in the lower Himalayan range of India  

作　　者：Sangeeta SUNDRIYAL Vijay SHRIDHAR Sandeep MADHWAL Kamal PANDEY Vikram SHARMA 

机构地区：[1]School of Environment&Natural Resources,Doon University,Dehradun-248001,Utturakhand,India [2]Indian Institute of Remote Sensing,Dehradun-248001,Uttarakhand,India

出　　处：《Journal of Mountain Science》2018年第10期2276-2291,共16页山地科学学报（英文）

基　　金：Financial support provided to the first author from the Department of Science&Technology,Government of India under grant DST/INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP/2012/558

摘　　要：Tourism in mountainous regions is a significant source of revenue generation. However, it has also been associated with many adverse environmental consequences. This study aims at assessing the negative impacts of the incessant upsurge in tourism development on the physical environment of Mussoorie, a well-known mountain tourist destination in India. The impact indicators for the region were identified and assessed by qualitative and quantitative analysis of field observations. The observations indicated the aggravation of traffic congestion, atmospheric pollution, undisposed solid waste, water scarcity and infrastructure unavailability as the prevalent issues, especially during the peak tourist months. The extent of the consequential damage to the environment was evaluated by conducting an assessment of tourism-induced human disturbance on the natural landscape of the town. Slope, slope aspect, vegetation cover, road network and drainage network were incorporated as thedetermining landscape attributes to prepare thematic maps of landscape quality(perceivable intrinsic properties) and landscape fragility(vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances) using GIS technique. An absorption capacity map was finally prepared to characterize the study area into regions of different conservation needs. The results identified the need for planning appropriate preservation strategies for different tourist places in the town. The study can be used by the policy makers for implementing the regulatory measures against potential disturbances due to mass-tourism.

关 键 词：Absorption capacity Analytical Hierarchy Process Geographic Information System Human interventions Landscape assessment Mountain Tourism Destination 

分 类 号：X22[环境科学与工程—环境科学] F591[经济管理—旅游管理]