Volume : 5, Issue : 5, May - 2016

Impact Of Religious Tourism On The Ecology And Environment Of Katra Town: A Case Study Of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage

Siddarth Dubey

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp; Tourism is one of the major engine to boost the economy of the state and it is having significant impact on the development of the area. Pilgrimage tourism to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has both positive and negative impacts. On the one hand, tourism boosts the economy and on the other hand it can prove detrimental to the environment. Religious tourism upgrade the civic conveniences of the area but this also lead to the impacts such as soil erosion, pollution discharges, population immigration, non judicious use of natural resources, waste generation and increased vulnerability to habitat loss. Therefore the present paper aims to highlight the the possible environmental impacts arising out from the developmental activities and unregulated tourism through population study, analysing the positive and negative impacts of tourism and to suggest amelioration strategies.</p>