DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjebm.2025.v12i11.007

Pages: 323-333

Climate change is reshaping tourism in mountain regions by altering snowfall patterns, increasing extreme weather events, disrupting transport access and weakening the reliability of seasonal livelihoods. This study examines the relationship between climate change, tourism seasonality and job security in Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector. The study analyses how changing snowfall, heat stress, flash floods, landslides, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), water stress and disaster risk affect tourism businesses, seasonal workers, women, tribal communities, migrant workers, artisans and local tourism operators. The study uses a qualitative research design relying on secondary sources, policy documents, statistical data and thematic analysis. The study argues that tourism employment in Himachal Pradesh is vulnerable not only because climate events disrupt tourist flows, but also because much tourism work is seasonal, informal and unevenly protected. Businesses have responded by diversifying into wellness retreats, adventure activities, cultural tourism, eco-friendly practices, online marketing and off-season packages, while workers increasingly rely on skill diversification, non-winter tourism activities, handicrafts, agriculture, hospitality and public livelihood schemes. However, these adaptations remain uneven and require stronger policy support. It concludes that climate-resilient tourism in Himachal Pradesh must combine year-round tourism planning, disaster preparedness, worker protection, women’s enterprise support, tribal livelihood strategies and climate-sensitive infrastructure. Job security in the tourism sector should therefore be understood as a central component of climate adaptation.