Mussoorie's mandatory online tourist registration - Why it matters?

Mussoorie

Mussoorie, the iconic Himalayan destination, has rolled out a mandatory online registration system for tourists staying in hotels, guesthouses and homestays - an urgent step to protect the hill station's delicate ecology and overstretched resources. This measure, reported by The Indian Express, is part of an array of directives stemming from a 2023 National Green Tribunal (NGT) committee report aimed at safeguarding Mussoorie from the mounting pressures of overtourism.

Why is this registration system needed?

Over the decades, Mussoorie has transformed from a tranquil retreat to a bustling tourist hotspot. Visitor numbers have soared from 1.5 lakh in 1958 to over 30 lakh by 2019, dramatically outpacing the town’s limited infrastructure. As highlighted by The Indian Express, Mussoorie currently offers just 1,240 public and private parking spots for visitor vehicles, despite having more than 500 registered accommodation providers as of 2023. The town has already reached a point where, especially in peak season, the influx of tourists far exceeds available guest rooms and parking capacities.

How will the system work?

The process, which came into force on August 1, 2025, requires accommodation providers to register both their businesses and each guest on an official Uttarakhand Tourism Department portal. According to district tourism development officer Brijendra Pandey cited by The Indian Express, a live demonstration was provided for local hoteliers and homestay owners, ensuring they are equipped to manage the real-time registration during guest check-in. This move, as explained by Pandey, will give authorities precise, up-to-date data on tourist inflows, enabling better day-to-day management and allowing officials to act should the carrying capacity be reached.

What are the pressures faced by Mussoorie?

The NGT report, as referenced by The Indian Express, pointedly flagged that Mussoorie must not exceed its “carrying capacity” - the maximum visitors and vehicles the environment can handle without serious degradation. The committee also advised that visitor entry should be linked to available parking and accommodation to protect infrastructure and natural resources. Notably, the 2011 Census recorded the resident population at just 30,118 and estimates suggest this will increase by over 50% by 2052, underscoring further strains.

Water scarcity is a pressing problem already in the hill station. Mussoorie’s daily supply of 7.69 million litres comes from six pumping stations and gravity sources but often needs to be supplemented by expensive water from the Yamuna Water Supply Scheme during the busy tourist season. The NGT highlighted that tourist arrivals drive demand far beyond what local resources, such as water and waste management, can bear during these periods.

What more did the NGT and experts recommend?

Drawing on warnings from geologists and previous official reports, the NGT committee underscored that Mussoorie sits on a fragile, fractured rock base, designated as Seismic Zone IV. Overbuilding, especially on steep slopes (with some structures exceeding 40-degree gradients and height restrictions), exacerbates landslide and subsidence risks. The committee recommended not only strict enforcement of construction and building height norms but also called for enhanced drainage systems, spring rejuvenation and rainwater harvesting to help alleviate water deficits at peak times.

In its report, The Indian Express noted that the NGT panel also called for exploring a fee on tourists entering Mussoorie, with proceeds directed to waste management and cleanliness initiatives, a pressing need as rapid urbanisation and tourism have led to recurring problems with solid waste and sewage systems.

What does this mean for tourists and locals?

For visitors, registration is now a prerequisite for any stay in Mussoorie, adding a layer of formal oversight to prevent overcrowding and resource exhaustion. Local property owners are central to the system’s enforcement, bearing responsibility for ensuring guests are registered properly.

While some local stakeholders express concerns over enforcement and practical challenges, many acknowledge that this system may help curb over-tourism and preserve the natural environment.