While I agree with your thoughts on overtourism, but in a large, mostly poor country like ours, levying fees and quotas will de-democratise travel. Those with huge sums of money and privilege and connections will be able to secure the quotas and pay fees. The not so well off, who also deserve a visit to the mountains, will not be able to do so.
I have thought a lot of over tourism, and a huge part (though not the only one) of the problem is social media. People share quaint locations on social media and then they become the next tourism disaster, panning lake being one.
I have also wondered if asking people to pass a free written test makes sense. Anyone, irrespective of money and privilege could sit for the test. Just a fantasy idea, not thought through.
But perhaps one of the biggest issues is our cities do not have enough to entertain people with. There isn’t enough in a city to do. There aren’t enough alternative places to go to. Our cities need more Hyde Parks, Central Parks, Fisherman’s Wharfs, meadows along the river etc. image if the Yamuna in Delhi was cleaner and had meadows along its banks, people would come and chill there.
Many ideas come to mind. But you are right, this over tourism needs to be controlled.
