The Koksar and Sissu Panchayat Tourism Development Committees (PTDCs) in Lahaul have set a benchmark for community-driven tourism by launching a Homestay Resource Management Plan under the People Owned People Governed Tourism (POPGT) initiative. The project, implemented by People for Himalayan Development (PHD) with support from Royal Enfield, focuses on reducing waste, conserving energy, and promoting environmentally responsible tourism practices in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The initiative emerged after extensive consultations with local residents and homestay owners who highlighted three major concerns: plastic waste from bottled water, high energy consumption, and poor tourist awareness about sustainable behaviour. In response, PTDCs and PHD devised context-specific solutions suited to high-altitude rural settlements.
To eliminate plastic waste, water filters were distributed to homestays, ensuring tourists receive clean filtered water instead of bottled alternatives. For energy efficiency, sensor-based lighting systems were installed, reducing electricity use by nearly 80% during non-occupancy hours. This innovation demonstrates how small-scale technology can deliver significant environmental savings without compromising hospitality standards.
Equally important is the behavioural change component. The committees and PHD introduced awareness signage and eco-messages across guesthouses and public spaces, urging travellers to respect local customs, reduce litter, and use resources mindfully. This human-centric approach blends environmental protection with cultural sensitivity.
A Broader Perspective: Similar Models in India and Beyond
Lahaul’s initiative mirrors similar community-based efforts across mountain and rural tourism destinations:
- Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh: The Spiti Ecosphere project has empowered locals to operate carbon-neutral homestays and discourage bottled water use through solar-powered water filters and glass-bottle refilling systems.
- Khonoma, Nagaland: India’s first green village banned hunting and deforestation, relying on eco-tourism as an income source while preserving biodiversity.
- Sarmoli, Uttarakhand: The Sarmoli-Jhaltola Homestay Collective runs under a women-led management model where profits are reinvested in waste management, solar lighting, and nature conservation.
- Bhutan: The country’s Gross National Happiness model prioritises ecological and cultural sustainability in all tourism policies, serving as a global reference for responsible tourism governance.
Key Takeaways
The Koksar–Sissu case demonstrates that sustainability grows strongest when locals lead. By addressing plastic waste, energy conservation, and visitor awareness through local innovation, the PTDCs and PHD have created a replicable model for other Himalayan regions. Their work shows that genuine tourism development is not about increasing footfall but about ensuring that every guest contributes to preserving the host landscape.
Such initiatives prove that when communities govern their resources, tourism becomes not just an economic driverbut a means of protecting both heritage and habitat.
