Volume-XI, Issue-VI, November 2025 |
An Assessment of Uttarakhand’s Tourism Industry: Growth, Challenges, and Policy Outlook Lucy Kumari, Research Scholar, Department of Sociology, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India Dr. Narinder Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India |
Received: 26.11.2025 | Accepted: 28.11.2025 | Published Online: 30.11.2025 | Page No: 183-191 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.06W.171 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
Tourism constitutes a cornerstone of Uttarakhand’s economy, contributing significantly to its socio-economic development and regional identity as the ‘Dev Bhoomi’ or Land of Gods. This paper, titled ‘An Assessment of Uttarakhand’s Tourism Sector: Growth, Challenges and Policy Perspective’, examines the growth patterns, infrastructural evolution, and sustainability challenges of the state’s tourism sector from 2014–15 to 2023–24. Drawing upon secondary data from official tourism reports, government policy documents, and relevant scholarly literature, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of tourist arrivals, accommodation expansion, self-employment initiatives, and eco-tourism trends. The findings reveal a remarkable recovery in total tourist inflows following the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 7.8 million in 2020–21 to nearly 59.6 million in 2023–24, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Domestic tourism dominates the sector, while foreign tourist arrivals remain relatively limited, signalling the need for enhanced international promotion and infrastructure development. The study also highlights the steady growth in hospitality facilities, including hotels, lodges, and homestays, alongside the success of government initiatives such as the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Paryatan Swarojgar Yojana, which fosters entrepreneurship and local participation. Despite these positive trends, challenges persist in maintaining ecological balance, managing carrying capacity in fragile zones, and ensuring sustainable development. The paper concludes that Uttarakhand’s tourism industry exhibits strong resilience and diversification, but requires integrated policy measures that emphasize environmental sustainability, community engagement, and equitable growth. | ||
Keywords: Tourism, Uttarakhand, Sustainable Development, Eco-Tourism, Economic Growth, Hospitality Sector |