Environmental mission

The underlying theme of each trip is to present a message of Himalayan conservation through close cooperation with the Government of India Tourist Offices, and every participant of the event and individual who believes in preservation of the areas they visit. The Race Directorate has also developed the concept that the tour operator should prepare specific Conservation Guidelines and provide the Guidelines to all trip participants, guides, and staff in advance of the trip departure. Everybody should be encouraged to follow the Guidelines during the trip with the tour operator ultimately responsible. After the trip, each participant would be given a Questionnaire to complete that would rate the tour operator on how well the Guidelines were followed. The Questionnaires would then be used to measure the impact of the trip from an environmental and economic perspective on the areas visited.

EcoSports designation

In October 1993, a professional environmentalist, Mr. Bill Antholine, prepared Guidelines and Questionnaires relating to the Stage Race. The tour operator distributed the Guidelines and asked all participants to complete Questionnaires. In August 1994, Mr. Antholine completed a 140 page Eco Travel Case Study of the 1993 Stage Race. Copies of the study were presented to Indian Tourism Officials and others concerned with conservation around the world. The Study was very well received and complimented by senior officials who saw it. In particular, the Secretary Tourism, specifically responded in writing to confirm the Study could be useful in the development of tourism to the North-East HImalayan area, including Sandakphu National Park. For these and other reasons, the running and mountain biking trips have been called the “first EcoSports trips in the world” by environmentalists, tourism officials, journalists, and others.

Broad implications on Tourism

The Mirik Lake Resort is owned and managed by Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Office (DGHC). The Sandakphu National Park is jointly managed by the DGHC Forestry Department and Tourism Department. The mountain huts along the trail to Sandakphu, at Sandakphu, Phulet, Molle, Siri Khola, Rimbik, and elsewhere were constructed and are maintained by DGHC Tourism Department. The walking route follows a historic trail through Sandakphu National Park marking the border between Nepal and India right up to the border with Sikkim (at Phulet Hut). The trail and hut system is designed for trekkers and will readily accommodate runners and mountain bike riders without adversely affecting the natural environment. Public toilets, water supply, hut supervisors, and park wardens are part of the developing infrastructure in this area. The trip you join adds positive impact toward improving this infrastructure. Our staff learn about how to care for tourists, carry trash out, and conserve resources. This learning process is carried over to local villagers directly and indirectly from the trip. Generally, support of DGHC tourism services is support for controlled tourism development with a conservation theme. The international publicity and size of our groups makes a positive impact on tourism development to this area. Before the first Stage Race in 1991, the idea of running in this area was considered impossible by the vast majority of tour and hotel operators in Darjeeling and Sikkim. The Gvnt of India Tourist Office, was almost alone in support for the first Stage Race. Even the second year, the tourism offices were the prime supporters. When the Everest Bike Rally was introduced in 1993, local tour operators and hotel owners said mountain biking in the North-East Himalayan area was “impossible”. There was not one bicycle to found in the entire town. Therefore, the idea of riding to Sandakphu was out of the question. Then the bike riders on the 1993 Bike Rally proved mountain biking was not only possible, but could attract tourism to the area. The Mountain Bike Club (India) was formed in 1994 and now provides free bike itinerary information to anyone upon request. The tour operator presented 6 new Hero bikes to DGHC and one new bike to Sikkim Tourism Department in 1993. DGHC may purchase more bikes for rent to tourists who want to ride around the town. DGHC now produces booklets on adventure activities in Darjeeling that includes running and mountain biking (reproduced in this PDI). Before the running and bike trips in this Brochure, neither sport existed nor was thought possible in Darjeeling. Another important contribution has been the awareness that Mount Everest can be seen from India. This was not widely known before the publicity from these trips started to make Indians and foreigners aware of the fact. More publicity is now given to the fact that four of the five highest mountains on earth can only be seen at the same time from Sandakphu National Park – specifically on the 14 mile ridge line between Sandakphu and Phulet. On the negative side, the increased use of jeeps in the Sandakphu NP may become a problem. Some foreign tourists are starting to ask to visit the area by jeep rather than by foot. A policy should be established in 1995 to deal with this issue. On balance, the annual running and biking events will translate into increasing international exposure for Darjeeling and Sikkim tourism.