Ecological Resilience and Economic Shifts: Tourism and Solid Waste in Ladakh's Mountainous Landscape

Abstract

Ladakh, a mountainous region nestled in the north-western part of India, is a cold desert Himalayan area known for its predominantly agricultural economy. Tourism significantly contributes to its economic growth, drawn by its scenic landscapes and impressive ancient monasteries. In the past, Ladakh maintained a delicate ecological balance. However, recent economic advancement and increasing tourism have disrupted this equilibrium. This study will therefore, focuses on establishing the relationship of rising tourism with increase in waste generation through primary data collection. The data has been collected from randomly selected tourists’ accommodation in Leh town which is the hub of tourism industry. Furthermore, the data has been analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient test, the result shows a strong linear relationship between tourist’s arrivals and volume of waste generated which suggests as tourist arrival increases, waste generation also rises. Thus, suggesting adoption of sustainable tourism practices and waste management policies.