An Analysis of Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Northern Areas of Pakistan: A Case of Organic Farming Hunza Valley

Abstract

The paper aims to seek the effects of tourism on biodiversity (Variety of plants and animals life in a particular habitat) of Northern Areas of Pakistan considered as visitor’s paradise filled with colors of nature. It is believed that tourism leads to economic growth of a specific region, with spillover effect on national economy. Tourist industry needs massive arrangements like housing, transportation and infrastructural development; with a negative bearing on environment in form deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, land erosion and other ecological losses. An obvious consequence of tourist movement is influx of consumer goods produced in industrial towns; that will act as catalyst for polluting environment in form of plastic, heavy metals (A metal of relatively high density) and CFC’s (Chlorofluorocarbons: hazardous materials for nature). Furthermore inclusion in net of national economy serves as a detriment of local small scale village based industries. The paper aims to analyze the impacts generated by a boom in tourist industry on natural, social and economic ecology of northern areas of Pakistan through SWOT analysis and suggest remedies to cure environmental degradation by establishing environment friendly local economies of Hunza Valley of Pakistan.