Himalayas face increasing natural disaster risk

The report was produced by global consultancy Systemiq, in partnership with the Integrated Mountain Initiative and with technical contributions from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment.

According to the report, rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt and increasing the danger of glacial lake outburst floods, while more intense rainfall can trigger flash floods and landslides.

Mountain communities and tourists are particularly vulnerable because steep terrain, limited transport routes, and infrastructure constraints can complicate evacuation and emergency response. Expanding construction and tourism in hazard-prone areas can further increase exposure.

The report argued that greater investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, improved risk mapping, early-warning systems, and stronger land-use planning is needed to protect communities and visitors.

Tourism resilience

The reportestimates that around 400 million tourist visits are made to the Indian Himalayas annually, placing significant pressure on local infrastructure, water supplies, waste management systems, and fragile ecosystems.

Systemiq argued that the region’s current tourism model remains heavily focused on visitor volumes and says a shift towards higher-value, lower-impact tourism could deliver greater economic benefits while reducing environmental pressures.

Measures proposed include encouraging longer stays, developing premium tourism experiences, and expanding nature-based and wellness tourism.

The report also highlighted opportunities to increase the use of locally owned homestays, guides, food providers, and craft businesses, allowing a greater proportion of tourism expenditure to remain within mountain communities.

Foreign travellers currently account for only around 1% of visits to the region, suggesting there could be scope to attract more international travellers and higher-spending visitor segments.

However, the report stressed that tourism growth needs to be accompanied by stronger destination management. This includes establishing carrying-capacity limits to determine the number of visitors individual destinations and their infrastructure can sustainably accommodate.

Systemiq also recommended that more tourism revenue is reinvested in local infrastructure, communities and environmental protection.

The tourism proposals form part of a broader call for a new economic model for the Himalayan region. Systemiq estimated that the Himalayas underpin more than 20% of India's GDP, while Himalayan states capture only around 5% of that economic value.

The report concludes that a tourism model based on longer stays, higher local spending and better management could help increase the industry's contribution to mountain economies without relying on continually rising visitor numbers.