MANILA, PHILIPPINES (5 August 2025) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $126.42 million loan and $1 million in technical assistance to advance rural development through sustainable and climate-resilient tourism in the Tehri Lake area of Uttarakhand, India.
The Sustainable, Inclusive, and Climate-Resilient Tourism Development at Tehri Lake Area Project will support rural livelihoods in the Tehri Garhwal District, which is among Uttarakhand’s most climate-vulnerable and economically disadvantaged hill regions. The region faces increasing risks from natural hazards such as drought, fire, and floods, along with high rates of out-migration, and surge in tourist arrivals. The project is aligned with ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy 2023–2027 for India, which prioritizes rural development through tourism, private sector engagement, and climate-resilient infrastructure and services.
“As a key development partner in India’s tourism sector, ADB is proud to support this transformative project, which showcases a model for sustainable tourism centered around a hydropower lake,” said ADB Country Director for India Mio Oka. “The project aims to benefit more than 87,000 residents and 2.7 million visitors annually through improved tourism planning, new visitor facilities, upgraded sanitation and solid waste management, and disaster preparedness.”
The project adopts a multisector approach to generate jobs, diversify income, and build climate resilience at a hydropower lake, through institutional strengthening; enabling infrastructure for transport, water supply, waste management, and recreation; tourism goods and services led by women, youth, and the private sector; and nature-based solutions to reduce risks from landslides and floods.
Notable features include a livelihood matching grant program to support tourism led by women, youth, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; designs with universal access including for persons with disability; and a women-led disaster risk management program for pilot villages in areas subject to landslides, drought and fire.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
