Page 39 - IJES Special Issues for AIEC2016
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International Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 2016, 5(1): 18-34 29
Transportation management requires a coordi- department with software assistance from the
nated strategy with the state department of Council budget and the state government.
transport. The new policy initiatives in this area Information on the environmental strengths of
have to aim at reducing the number of old the area and the potential threats could also be
polluting auto rikshaws, introducing mass rapid disseminated to the tourists as well as the local
transport systems, developing more parking stakeholders.
slots, and regulating the flow of vehicles by
constructing bypasses and putting a stop to Supportive Development
traffic to the Mall area. Sites for construction of
car parking and a new bus stand have to be The Council needs to play a pivotal role in
identified, and the Council could then start removing coordination failures. It could provide
developing designs and posing the projects on a platform for the official agencies to prepare a
public-private partnership mode. holistic plan by pooling resources and busi-
nesses to cooperate with their counterparts in
Developing a sound system of solid waste agriculture, retail trade, handicrafts, tourism
management is an immediate need. The twin services, and transportation. It is only through
problems in terms of solid waste management coordination that the Council could get major
are disposal of solid waste and littering of the infrastructural projects like a Manali bypass
landscape by tourists. Possibilities of setting up road and improvement in Van Vihar executed
a compost site need to be explored with the through the Public Works and Forest Depart-
help of the stakeholders, and their willingness ments. The coordination among the businesses
to contribute to environmental conservation will generate improved quality of services and
needs to be given a practical shape by develop- business development services that are parti-
ing appropriate mechanisms. Even though the cularly helpful in checking environmental
government has imposed a ban on the use of pollution and degradation.
plastic as a packing material, more needs to be
done to publicize the negative effects of the use One of the most important components of
of plastics and other non-biodegradable mate- supportive development is community centric
rials. To this end, the Council needs to under- tourism development. One possible way to do so
take extensive programs to educate tourists, is to start a tourism revenue sharing scheme
locals, and businesses. (TRS). TRSs aim to deliver economic benefits to
the community by spending a portion of
No improvement in the quality of service can be tourism revenue on building infrastructure for
expected unless appropriate programs for the community, such as schools, health clinics,
training people at the cutting edge are designed. roads and promoting positive attitudes among
For example training waiters, taxi drivers, and the community by educating the community
trekking guides is essential from the point of (Simpson, 2008). TRS has been particularly
view of service delivery and tourist safety. The successful in some African countries (Adams
location of the Western Himalayan Moun- and Infield, 2003; Ormsby and Mannle, 2006).
taineering Institute at Manali could be a great With surplus money at its disposal, the Council
help. The institute has suitable infrastructure could undertake works that strengthen commu-
for training and specializes in adventure sports nity infrastructure and enhance the income
only. Assistance from the Hotel Management generating capacity of the community at large.
Institute at Kufri in Shimla could be used for While doing so, it should adopt transparent
training cooks, waiters, and drivers. procedures to inform the stakeholders about
the generation and use of funds.
Dissemination of information among tourists
and local SMEs is essential for getting their Concern for Safety of the visitors and the locals
cooperation in management of tourism at the is an important issue. There have been some
destination. The Council could make use of the instances of tourists having accidents or getting
available information centers of the tourism trapped in high hills during trekking expedi-
department and the wildlife wing of the forest tions. For the locals as well, concerns about
pollution, congestion, soil erosion, and cultural
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