Environmental impacts of tourism on Mount Everest

Abstract

The increase in tourism in the Mount Everest region has brought a lot of changes to the local environment and ecosystem. This thesis explores how tourism affects the region's already fragile ecosystem, focusing on waste management, deforestation, climate-related challenges such as the melting of glaciers and the role of local communities in sustainable tourism. The study uses qualitative analysis based on unstructured interviews using open-ended questionnaires to gather insights from stakeholders such as guides, local entrepreneurs, and regional government officials. Challenges like waste management, deforestation, and climate-related obstacles are presented by the findings. They also show that ecofriendly practices, better regulations, and community engagement are essential for the region’s sustainability. At the same time, this study provides an understanding of the relationship between tourism and the environment in high-altitude destinations like Everest.