Road to Everestland: a road to disaster?
By Iris Coates, responsibletravel.com
China’s plans to build a road to the Everest slopes to open the area up to tourism, despite fears that Everest is already overcrowded, has caused controversy around the world.
Not only would a road put further pressure on the area’s unique wildlife and habitats (known for example for being the home of the endangered and elusive snow leopard) but it would also mean further repression for the local Tibetans. Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, now can be reached by train from Beijing and over 2 million Chinese visited in the past year alone.
In fact Tibetans are now a minority in Lhasa as cheap rail fares encourage migrant workers and tourists. A local Tibetan guide said he felt that they were turning Tibet into 'Everestland' and by doing so hoping to obliterate the history of Tibet, and of China's occupation of Tibet – a plight which China has been trying to keep hidden from the rest of the world for 50 years now. The Tibetan guide told the Observer: "They are turning Tibet into Everestland, that way it's easier to forget the past and make us into a theme park." By turning Tibet into a theme park or 'Everestland', it would appear that China is trying to disconnect any associations of oppression which the notion of Tibet conjures up; thereby erasing its history and years of struggle for independence.
Although China’s intentions are to increase tourism to the area, there are real concerns it will lose its magic, becoming just another gimmick on the mass tourism trail.
Justin Francis, co-founder of responsibletravel.com says: “This development is perhaps predictable given China's history, but it is very sad. Our feeling is that when tourism undermines the culture of local places and disrespects local people then the authenticity of the experience is lost and its appeal to tourists diminishes. In short the road to Everestland is a road to disaster for Tibetans“
A local viewpoint
Raj Gyawali from one of our local operators running trips in Nepal and Tibet expressed his concern about the further ‘development’ of Tibet: “The Tibetans themselves (at least of this present generation) have resigned or learnt to just accept the so called 'development' that the Chinese have brought along with them... The market demand for people wanting to drive to Everest will be incredible, so for the country, it appears to makes sense.
However, from our side, as responsible tourism operators, this is a disaster, not only for tourism, but more importantly for the whole principle of maintaining heritage. Mt. Everest is an environmental heritage of earth, which is equal to being desecrated when Land cruisers spew up smoke along its sides... which is what will happen when millions more people visit it every year.”
He also highlighted concerns regarding large numbers of tourist braving the slopes unprepared: “Trips that take place from Nepal to Tibet will vastly increase, as more and more travellers realise that travelling to Tibet is just like going anywhere else except for its high altitude, and many more will also get terribly sick along the way as more and more companies will start on mass tourism. Going up that fast in high altitudes can lead to an increase in deaths.”
He adds: “Apart from the environmental desecration, there are many more implications of this, least of which have been analysed from the perspective of the people in the area”
The Tibetan Women's Association explains how the road would lead to further oppression of the Tibetans by mobilising and equipping Chinese soldiers better to patrol the passes of the Himalayas. "Every year, hundreds of Tibetans flee into exile through the Himalayas. With this project, the Chinese government can tighten its grip over Tibetans’ freedom of movement and prevent children, monks, nuns, and other Tibetans from meeting their religious leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and pursuing their education."
Our view at responsibletravel.com
At responsibletravel.com we feel that turning Tibet into 'Everestland', facilitated by the road to the Everest slopes, will not benefit anyone in the long term. Aside from the hardship and further oppression caused to the local people of Tibet, we feel that the overdevelopment of Everest will make it lose its appeal to travellers, which in turn will harm the tourism industry. When tourism undermines the wishes of the local people the end is in sight as a destination loses its magic. This doesn't benefit anyone - not the tourist, not the tourism industry and least of all the local people.
Further information
Read more on the road to Everest in the following articles:
China’s plans to build a road to the Everest slopes to open the area up to tourism, despite fears that Everest is already overcrowded, has caused controversy around the world. Not only would a road put further pressure on the area’s unique wildlife and habitats (known for example for being the home of the endangered and elusive snow leopard) but it would also mean further repression for the local Tibetans. Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, now can be reached by train from Beijing and over 2 million Chinese visited in the past year alone.
In fact Tibetans are now a minority in Lhasa as cheap rail fares encourage migrant workers and tourists. A local Tibetan guide said he felt that they were turning Tibet into 'Everestland' and by doing so hoping to obliterate the history of Tibet, and of China's occupation of Tibet – a plight which China has been trying to keep hidden from the rest of the world for 50 years now. The Tibetan guide told the Observer: "They are turning Tibet into Everestland, that way it's easier to forget the past and make us into a theme park." By turning Tibet into a theme park or 'Everestland', it would appear that China is trying to disconnect any associations of oppression which the notion of Tibet conjures up; thereby erasing its history and years of struggle for independence.
Although China’s intentions are to increase tourism to the area, there are real concerns it will lose its magic, becoming just another gimmick on the mass tourism trail.
Justin Francis, co-founder of responsibletravel.com says: “This development is perhaps predictable given China's history, but it is very sad. Our feeling is that when tourism undermines the culture of local places and disrespects local people then the authenticity of the experience is lost and its appeal to tourists diminishes. In short the road to Everestland is a road to disaster for Tibetans“
A local viewpoint
Raj Gyawali from one of our local operators running trips in Nepal and Tibet expressed his concern about the further ‘development’ of Tibet: “The Tibetans themselves (at least of this present generation) have resigned or learnt to just accept the so called 'development' that the Chinese have brought along with them... The market demand for people wanting to drive to Everest will be incredible, so for the country, it appears to makes sense.
However, from our side, as responsible tourism operators, this is a disaster, not only for tourism, but more importantly for the whole principle of maintaining heritage. Mt. Everest is an environmental heritage of earth, which is equal to being desecrated when Land cruisers spew up smoke along its sides... which is what will happen when millions more people visit it every year.” He also highlighted concerns regarding large numbers of tourist braving the slopes unprepared: “Trips that take place from Nepal to Tibet will vastly increase, as more and more travellers realise that travelling to Tibet is just like going anywhere else except for its high altitude, and many more will also get terribly sick along the way as more and more companies will start on mass tourism. Going up that fast in high altitudes can lead to an increase in deaths.”
He adds: “Apart from the environmental desecration, there are many more implications of this, least of which have been analysed from the perspective of the people in the area”
The Tibetan Women's Association explains how the road would lead to further oppression of the Tibetans by mobilising and equipping Chinese soldiers better to patrol the passes of the Himalayas. "Every year, hundreds of Tibetans flee into exile through the Himalayas. With this project, the Chinese government can tighten its grip over Tibetans’ freedom of movement and prevent children, monks, nuns, and other Tibetans from meeting their religious leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and pursuing their education."
Our view at responsibletravel.com
At responsibletravel.com we feel that turning Tibet into 'Everestland', facilitated by the road to the Everest slopes, will not benefit anyone in the long term. Aside from the hardship and further oppression caused to the local people of Tibet, we feel that the overdevelopment of Everest will make it lose its appeal to travellers, which in turn will harm the tourism industry. When tourism undermines the wishes of the local people the end is in sight as a destination loses its magic. This doesn't benefit anyone - not the tourist, not the tourism industry and least of all the local people.
Further information
Read more on the road to Everest in the following articles:
- The Telegraph: Chinese plan road to Everest base camp
- The Observer: Everest at risk as new road conquers roof of the world
- The Tibetan Women's Association: Road to Everest: What’s at stake?