Unsustainable tourism and multi-storied constructions in G-B

The Gilgit-Baltistan region, located at the confluence of major mountain ranges, is currently exposed to various climatic and man-made hazards. The dangers of unorganised tourism have also started to emerge as tourism is growing rapidly without planning.

The unplanned construction of multi-storied buildings (hotels) is one of these hazards, which is not only polluting the environment but also affecting the natural beauty of Gilgit-Baltistan. These impacts are likely to have far-reaching negative effects in the future.

When it comes to tourism, most Pakistani tourists, unfortunately, behave like a herd, often disregarding environmental ethics. They seem comfortable spreading litter wherever they go, cutting branches off fruit trees, damaging water bodies and greenery, and polluting natural landscapes. Most tourists act like an uneducated crowd who do not understand environmental protection and ethics. In one of my studies at Naltar, a tourist destination in Gilgit, it was revealed that local people described Pakistani tourists as uncivilised, while a large number of people appreciated the behaviour and morals of foreign tourists.

For organised and sustainable tourism, the government should take concrete steps and open an office in Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Here, all tourists, whether they are going to Gilgit-Baltistan through a company or independently, whether traveling by air or by road, should be required to register. This office should maintain comprehensive data on the tourists and their travel plans. Doing so will help manage tourism effectively and collect tourist data in one place, which will be invaluable for future research and policymaking. The tourism department should also conduct a one-day session for these tourists to educate them on tourism principles and environmental ethics, providing them with a card that proves the tourists are aware of these principles and ethics.

There are two main opinions regarding the construction of multi-storied buildings. According to the first opinion, the rapid increase in the number of tourists necessitates proper accommodation arrangements. For this purpose, hotels are built to accommodate the influx of tourists and provide employment opportunities for the local population. These three, four and five-star hotels are often constructed by non-local people or companies. This raises a pertinent question: What percentage of local people are actually getting jobs in these hotels?

On the contrary, another opinion suggests that these multi-storied hotels are not needed in these hilly areas, as they affect the natural beauty and views. Additionally, these hotels cause land, water and air pollution. The construction of these hotels often leads to deforestation or the conversion of agricultural land or pasture into buildings, which is known as land conversion.

Building multi-storied hotels in the mountains is tantamount to destroying the natural beauty of these landscapes. Tourists come to see these natural mountains, not the high-rise hotels they can find in cities. Hotels must be built for the accommodation and dining of tourists, but they should be compatible with the local culture and environment.

Multi-storied buildings made of cement are not compatible with the hilly environment. Therefore, when constructing buildings, materials such as clay, stone and wood should be prioritised, as they are more compatible with the environment and local architecture and beneficial in terms of environmental and climatic conditions. Research has shown that composite constructions made of clay, wood and stone are more beneficial for climate adaptation and mitigation than cement buildings, which contribute to various diseases and are colder in winter and hotter in summer.

Multi-storied hotels have many negative impacts on the environment, including waste generation, wastewater discharge and air pollution on a daily basis. Clearly, if there is no solid waste disposal system or wastewater recycling system, and if smoke from hotels and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are released into the environment, it will lead to pollution that harms human health, contributes to global warming, and causes local climate change, potentially becoming more dangerous in the future.

In mountainous areas, bedrock is often covered with a thin layer of soil that is only a few meters deep. Each soil layer has its specific ability to bear weight, known as carrying capacity in ecology. This thin layer of soil on the mountains cannot support the load of multi-storied buildings made of cement. Furthermore, if there is land erosion, these buildings may face significant risks. In case of a flood, there is a risk that thousands of tons of soil and cement could be washed away, making early intervention crucial.

The demand of consciousness is to adopt the model of smart and managed tourism instead of haphazard tourism, as this holds the key to sustainable development. Otherwise, natural resources and beauty will be destroyed due to uncontrolled tourism, and after a few years, tourism will decline. Tourists visit these areas to enjoy natural resources and beauty, and if these are lost, tourism and its associated revenue will diminish.

The trend of multi-storied constructions needs to be controlled. There is a need to promote single-storey mixed constructions made of mud, stone and wood. Since this area is located on the fault line of earthquakes, there is little scope for multi-storied constructions. In contrast, single-storey mixed constructions made of mud, stone and wood will prove effective even during earthquakes, align with the local culture, and be beneficial for the environment.