The Himalaya is incredibly fragile and the GHT is an amazing thing to do… and we believe that the GHT should also be a great experience for the locals, and that everyone should embrace ‘leave no trace’ principles.
Over the last 15 years, we have developed a range of tools to assess the impact of trekkers along the Great Himalaya Trail, both on the environment and communities. We want to be sure that we are not causing harm by having a good time in the place we value so highly.
We have identified 12 impact areas, some of which are positive and some negative, but all of which are directly related to tourism along the GHT.
The 12 GHT Impacts
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Relating to Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which are a major contributor to Climate Change and Bio-diversity loss, and thus the very obvious loss of glaciers and habitat across the Himalaya, are impacts from Flights, Land Transport, Fuel (cooking and heating), Food and Waste. You can use our GHT Treks GHGe calculator methodology to estimate your own Carbon Footprint.
Social Wellbeing Impacts
Relating to Community Wellbeing, which is critical as they are the ones who are the hosts of any GHT journey and upon whom trekkers rely for food and shelter, are impacts from Water, Waste, Donations, Local Payments, Food and Accommodation, and overall Wellbeing. You can learn more about Social Impacts in our Giving Something Back section.
As part of our commitment to being a low emissions organisation, in 2022 we signed the Glasgow Declaration and Tourism Declares an Emergency, see links below for more information:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Great Himalaya Trail Climate Action
Tourism Declares Climate Emergency
GHT Check-In Points
During COVID, we developed a Social Impact Assessment System, which we piloted in the Everest Region. This was an eye-opener for us! And totally busted many myths about remote area tourism. Key findings were:
Despite decades of NGOs and INGOs running training and development programs in the region, and high levels of resident and visitor satisfaction with tourism, there is a clear lack of relevant skills and training,
Uncontrolled tourism development is only benefiting a few individuals and causing community stress.
Tourism creates an increasing time burden to cater for tourists, and social discomfort due to inbound migration and reduced time for community/traditional events.
OK, so these findings were in the most popular trekking destination in the Nepal Himalaya, and many places would love to be suffering from the same problems and earn the same income. But the warning signs of negative impacts are now easy to spot in remote areas because of this research. If there is one major lesson that we have learnt from the social impact surveys and about the GHT and sustainability, it is:
You cannot be sustainable without education that generates practical actions.
GHT Education Initiatives
There are also basic needs that need to be met; rubbish management, food and water supplies, energy needs, etc that protect and enhance the precious resource of the Himalaya. So, we designed some information posters that are being given to every GHT Check-In Point and that we hope help will establish meaningful priorities for hosts and guests. So far we have printed 50 of each poster, thanks to Map House for donating them.
The next step has been a natural progression for Local Operators to join together and become more engaged with communities and hosts. Local Operators have now embarked on developing 100+ GHT Check-In Points across Nepal. These are premises owned by locals with whom we sign a simple but effective contract, see an example GHT Check-In Point Teahouse Contract.
GHT Check-In Points
Photo courtesy: Kristy and Mike Dixon
Photo courtesy: Cécile Carnimolla Mailhos
Photo courtesy: Narayan Poudel
As part of their contracts, the Check-In Point owners promise to stock foods and fuel for trekkers, display the Go Green posters and aluminium GHT sign, as well as a keep a registration book that is provided each year so we can substantiate claims that folks have completed a GHT trek.
The posters, registration book and Check-In Point signs are made and distributed by Local Operators. From 2026 we will also begin sustainability training programs hosted and paid for by Local Operators in Kathmandu.
GHT and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)
We’re hoping the Nepal Tourism Board will also help support the GHT Check-In Point program in the future.
Photo: Robin handing over a GHT Check-In Point sign to Mr Deepak Joshi, CEO of NTB
The GOAL: A Regenerative GHT
There is a lot of research into transformational and regenerative travel, terms that embody what the GHT has always been, a travel experience like no other. The GHT changes lives, of the hosts (locals) and guests (trekkers), for the better by:
Fostering mutual reliance and care – both hosts and guests exist in a fragile and harsh environment where cooperation is essential. Their mutual needs transcend familiar transactional relationships.
Recognising that the mountains are fragile – despite their immensity, the Himalaya is desperately suffering from climate change, and resources are becoming scarcer.
Change comes when distractions disappear – simple actions like trekking, create mental and emotional space within us, this allows ‘normal daily life’ to be filled with purpose and opportunity for personal transformation.
Developing new perspectives from joint learning – everyone grows together on the GHT through self-reflection, determination and most importantly, a sharing commons-space.
Remote mountain communities have spent generations developing resilient and regenerative economies, and this knowledge is slowly dying out. Over the coming years we will continue to expand the Check-In Points and simultaneously look for ways that we can add increasing value to communities. If we can find ways for them to work regeneratively within tourism, we can hopefully ensure a prosperous, thriving future for the GHT and the Himalaya.
Comparison of GHT Social Impact Criteria with Doughnut Economics Social Boundaries
Recently, we did a comparison with ‘Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries monitors a world out of balance, by Andrew Fanning and Kate Raworth’ with the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) Social Impact system that we developed in 2020 – it was mind-blowing!
The two approaches overlap massively, but because the GHT system is self-generated by communities we tend to include softer, more day-to-day indicators like:
- Quality of life
- Cultural identity
- Community satisfaction
Somewhat conversely, the Doughnut is more ‘objective’ with indicators that perhaps remote communities take for granted (??) or have learnt to live with, like:
- Connectivity (transport and communications)
- Healthcare access (a permanent problem for remote areas)
- Housing security (communities shelter each other)
Over the coming months we are going to dive deeper into this research and hope that with a tweak, we can work out how mountain tourism can navigate to a doughnut-like, environmentally and socially resilient, thriving system… could we almost call it regenerative? We’ll certainly be trying!
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