Eco-tourism in India

What is Eco-tourismThe International Eco-tourism Society defines eco-tourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and improves the well-being of local people."
Fundamentally, eco-tourism means making as little environmental impact as possible and helping to sustain the
indigenous populace, thereby encouraging the preservation of wildlife and habitats when visiting a place. This is
responsible form of tourism and tourism development, which encourages going back to natural products in every
aspect of life. It is also the key to sustainable ecological development.

Those who implement and participate in Eco-tourism activities should follow the following principles:

Minimize impact on environment

Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate
Support international human rights and labour agreements

Eco-tourism is more than a catch phrase for nature loving travel and recreation. Eco-tourism is consecrated for
preserving and sustaining the diversity of the world's natural and cultural environments. It accommodates and
entertains visitors in a way that is minimally intrusive or destructive to the environment and sustains & supports the
native cultures in the locations it is operating in. Responsibility of both travellers and service providers is the genuine
meaning for eco-tourism.
Eco-tourism also endeavours to encourage and support the diversity of local economies for which the tourism-related
income is important. With support from tourists, local services and producers can compete with larger, foreign
companies and local families can support themselves. Besides all these, the revenue produced from tourism helps and
encourages governments to fund conservation projects and training programs.
Saving the environment around us and preserving the natural luxuries and forest life, that's what eco-tourism is all
about. Whether it's about a nature camp or organizing trekking trips towards the unspoilt and inaccessible regions, one
should always keep in mind not to create any mishap or disturbance in the life cycle of nature.

What it focuses onEco-tourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to
live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural
heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible Eco-tourism includes programs that minimize the adverse effects of
traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in
addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling,
energy efficiency, water reuse, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities are an integral part of
Eco-tourism.
Historical, biological and cultural conservation, preservation, sustainable development etc. are some of the fields
closely related to Eco-Tourism. Many professionals have been involved in formulating and developing eco-tourism
policies. They come from the fields of Geographic Information Systems, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Photography,
Marine Biology and Oceanography, National and State Park Management, Environmental Sciences, Women in
Development,
Historians
and
Archaeologists,
etc.
Eco-tourism is considered the fastest growing market in the tourism industry, according to the World Tourism
Organization with an annual growth rate of 5% worldwide and representing 6% of the world gross domestic product,
11.4% of all consumer spending - not a market to be taken lightly.

Aware of the Environment

Today the "Green Laws" of conservation are making people aware of how man and the environment can live
symbiotically for more time to come and eco-tourism is the only way to maximize the economic, environmental and
social benefits of tourism. Everyone is a stakeholder in the process and we clearly need to avoid our past shortcomings
and negative impact that they have had. In India too, the movement is gathering momentum with more and more travel
and travel related organisations are addressing the needs of the eco-tourists and promoting eco-tourism in the country.
Some basic do's and don'ts of eco-tourism are listed below:

Do's

Carry back all non-degradable litter such as empty bottles, tins, plastic bags etc. These must not litter
the environment or be buried. They must be disposed in municipal dustbins only.
Observe the sanctity of holy sites, temples and local cultures.
Cut noise pollution. Do not blare aloud radios, tape recorders or other electronic entertainment
equipment in nature resorts, sanctuaries and wildlife parks.
In case temporary toilets are set-up near campsites, after defecation, cover with mud or sand. Make
sure that the spot is at least 30 meters away from the water source.
Respect people's privacy while taking photographs. Ask for prior permission before taking a
photograph.

Don'ts

Do not take away flora and fauna in the forms of cuttings, seeds or roots. It is illegal, especially in
the Himalayas. The environment is really delicate in this region and the bio-diversity of the region
has to be protected at all costs.
Do not use pollutants such as detergent, in streams or springs while washing and bathing.
Do not use wood as fuel to cook food at the campsite.
Do not leave cigarettes butts or make open fires in the forests.
Do not consume aerated drinks, alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicant and throw bottles in the wild.

Do not tempt the locals, especially children by offering them foodstuff or sweets. Respect local
traditions.
Polythene and plastics are non-bio degradable and unhealthy for the environment and must not be
used and littered.

As a traveller has an impact on the environment and culture of the place he is visiting, he should be watchful to the
minute details of his interaction with the nature and the natural habitats.

The Concern for Eco tourismSince ages, nature worship and the conservation ethics have been an inseparable part of Indian thought and
traditions. Traces go back to ancient civilisations of India, when people used to nurture the philosophy of the
oneness of life. The Indian tradition has always taught that, humankind is a part of nature and one should
look upon all creation with the eyes of a love and respect.
It is tragic that since last few decades, the mad quest for the material end and economical progress in India
and abroad has become identical with the exploitation of nature in all its appearances. Today, the entire
world is facing a deep crisis and is in the danger of being doomed. The rich forest areas and biological
diversities have been relentlessly divested to erect concrete walls. The continuous denuding of forest
reserves has led to Global Warming and Greenhouse Effects. Fortunately, this has led to some realisation,
and now the world has awaken for new beginnings about human responsibility towards nature.

Eco tourism in IndiaIndia, the land of varied geography offers several tourist destinations that not just de-stress but also
rejuvenate us. There are several ways to enjoy Mother Nature in most pristine way. The few places like the
Himalayan Region, Kerala, the northeast India, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep islands
are some of the places where we can enjoy the treasured wealth of the Mother Nature. Thenmala in Kerala is
the first planned ecotourism destination in India created to cater to the Eco-tourists and nature lovers.
The India topography boasts an abundant source of flora & fauna. India has numerous rare and endangered
species in its surroundings. The declaration of several wildlife areas and national parks has encouraged the
growth of the wildlife resource, which reduced due to the wildlife hunt by several kings in the past. Today,
India has many wildlife sanctuaries and protection laws. Currently, there are about 80 national parks and 441
sanctuaries in India, which works for the protection and conservation of wildlife resource in India.
There are numerous Botanical and Zoological Gardens in India, which are working towards the
enhancement of the Ecosystem. Poaching has stopped to large extent. There are severe punishments for
poachers, hunters and illegal traders of animals and trees. Tree plantation is taking place in several places.
There are several animal & plant rights organisation, which fight for the rights of the animals and plants.
Numerous organisations and NGOs are coming forward to provide environmental education to the common
people at the grass root level.
Some eco tourism destinations in India have been highlighted below-

1.

Kerala Backwaters

Amidst the paddy fields and lush green palm grove these backwaters has its own gentle rhythm hewed out from
the rivers which flows down from the Western Ghats to the coast. Eco tourists enjoy a frolic cruise on the
backwaters along the breath-taking vivid contrasts of lush greens and deep blues on the houseboats, known as
Kettuvallam which are the cargo boats that once plied in the backwaters to carry heavy cargo such as Rice,
Coconut & Spices and also to provide living accommodation for the boatman.
2.

Munnar, Kerala

The gushing streams gutting through the whispering woods and winding lanes cutting through mountains make
Munnar one of the popular eco green tourism destinations in India.

Covered with an extensive layer of forests, grasslands and tea orchards and dotted with several species of exotic
flora including the rare Neelakurinji flower, Munnar at an elevation of 1,700 meters is a snug hideout for eco
travellers. The small but picture-book hill town in Idukki district in the Western Ghats is home to several
protected areas that houses many threatened and endemic species of flora and fauna including the Nilgiri Tahr,
Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Elephant, and Gaur amongst the mammals; and Nilgiri Wood
Pigeon, Malbar Whistling Thrush, Orange-Crowned Warblers, Nilgiri Pipit, Scarlet Minivet, and Broad-tailed
Grassbird amongst the avifauna.

3.

Thenmala, Kerala

Indias first planned ecotourism destination, Thenmala in Kollam district is majestically set in the midst of
evergreen forests in the lap of the Western Ghats and hosts a wide range of adventure and leisure activities
for all kind of travellers. Its growing popularity among both domestic and international tourists is due to its
unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning.
4.

Chilika, Odisha

Indias largest coastal lagoon and the worlds second largest, The Chilika Lake and its surrounding
environment are home to a number of migratory birds and animal and plant species. The area, covering over
3,500 square kilometers, houses the Irrawaddy Dolphins, green sea turtle, dugong, blackbuck, Spoon billed
sandpiper, limbless skink and fishing cat amongst some of the endemic species; Milk fish, Indo-Pacific
tarpon, Ten pounder, Bream, Hilsa, and Mullet amongst some of the aqua fauna; Greater and Lesser
Flamingos, Goliath Heron, Grey and Purple herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, Storks and Black-headed Ibis
amongst some of the migratory birds; and Asiatic Dowitchers, Dalmatian Pelican, Pallass Fish-eagles,
migrant Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Spot-billed pelican from some of the rarest bird species. The ecosystem
dotted with more than 700 species of flowering plants is also a shelter to a large number of mammals,
reptiles and other amphibians. The region comprising a group of small islands was declared as a wetland of

international importance by the Ramsar Convention and is one of the major eco-tourism destinations in India
that encourages the wildlife photographers, bird lovers, and naturalists.
5.

Sunderbans National Park, West Bengal

Home to the worlds largest mangrove forest, the Sunderbans National Park covers an approximate area of 1,330
square kilometers. It is the royal residence of the Bengal tiger and the region with 54 small deltaic islands is also
a shelter to a variety of bird, reptile, invertebrate species and amphibians. Some of the endangered species, other
than the Royal Bengal Tiger, which are found in the Sunderbans National Park, are the Saltwater Crocodile,
River Terrapin, Olive Ridley Turtle, Gangetic dolphin, Ground Turtle, Hawks Bill Turtle and Mangrove
horseshoe crab. Among the endemic marine mammalsthe Brydes whale, Humpback whale, Irrawaddy
Dolphins, Ganges River Dolphins, and Humpback Dolphins are sparsely found near the coastal area.
6.

Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim

Covering an approximate area of 1,784 square kilometres and ranging from an altitude of about 1,800 meters
to 8,500 meters the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve or Khangchendzonga National Park is one of
the high altitude national parks in India and the only national park in Sikkim. It is home to a large variety of
alpine vegetations including medicinal plants, animals and birds at different altitude and thus representing a
rich ecosystem that also include many glaciers, waterfalls, lakes and streams.

7.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

A world heritage site that is the home to the Great One-horned rhinoceros, the Kaziranaga National Park,
covering an approximate area of 430 square kilometres, is one of the best national parks in North East India that
features a highly diversified ecosystem.

8.

Majuli, Assam

The largest river island in the world that is located in the Brahmaputra River in Assam, Majuli is home to several
migratory birds. The island is mostly inhabited by the Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis and Mising tribes. Nonetheless,
influenced by the Brahmaputra River, the island comprises a unique ecosystem and preserves a rich agricultural
base. The region is also home to a large number of amphibians.

9.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site because of hosting an extreme and unique biodiversity, the Nanda
Devi Biosphere Reserve that constitutes the valley of flowers national park and Nanda Devi national park
is truly a paradise for an eco-tourist. Not only because of its high altitude and highly diversified landscape
that fascinates trekkers and mountaineers, But the vast expanse of forest, dotted with more than 600 species
of flowering plants and also medicinal plants and other alpine trees, giving shelter to some of the endemic
Himalayan animals and birds pulls in a large number of wildlife enthusiasts, naturalists, and leisure
travellers.
10.

Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve, Ladakh

Located at an altitude of 4,595 meters, the Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve comprises of the Lake
Moriri, which is one of the high altitude lakes in India, and its surrounding environment that include the
Changthang plateau region. The area is home to some of the endemic alpine animal and bird species including
the Tibetan wolf and Snow leopard among the mammals, and black necked Cranes, bar headed Geese, Brownheaded Gulls, Great Crested Grebe, Ferruginous Pochard, Black-necked, and Grebe Podiceps nigricollis among
the bird species.

11.

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Stretching over an area of 940 square kilometres and comprising of more than 1000 species of flowering
plants, the Kanha National Park is home to a significant population of Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, sloth
bears, Barasinghas and Indian wild dogs. Blessed with a vast and rich biodiversity that is covered with
grasslands, sal and bamboo forests, and ravines, the Kanha national park in Madhya Pradesh makes for a
refreshing eco-tourism getaway for all travellers.

Measures that can be taken to sustain Eco-tourism:

Now-a-days eco-tourism is at a very vulnerable state due to more human intervention. For ecological
restoration, we can follow some guidelines:
1. With an iron will and sincerity of purpose we must put an end to any further deforestation, especially in
the immediate neighbourhood as well as distant hinterlands of all our hill stations. The most essential first
step is to drastically arrest the murder of our environment.
2. This vital first step should be backed up by the most logical positive step to restoring the already
destroyed jungles. Rigorous afforestation programmes should be launched to revive the scenic splendor of
all our disfigured and denuded hill slopes. The indiscriminate denuding of our hill forests throughout the
country has had an immensely adverse impact on the climate and rainfall pattern, besides greatly enhancing
the danger of natural calamities like landslides and flash floods.
With the spectre of ecological disaster looming large on our horizon, the crying need for Vana Mahotsava is
felt much more keenly today than ever before. Apart from restoring the verdant scenic splendour this will
help greatly reduce the havoc caused by floods or landslides.
3. There is the dire need for drastically minimizing all further building activity in proposed or existing green
belts thus identified. Indiscriminate building activity will surely defeat the very purpose of intensive
afforestation drives taken up together with prevention of further deforestation.
A fleeting look at any of our hill stations and their neighbourhood today drives home the need for drastic
curbs on building activity more than ever before. It will be best to totally ban further commercial building
activity in the immediate neighbourhood of our entire major hill stationsalready overcrowded.

4. Whatever building activity is taken up in and around identified scenic beauty spots, with potential for
developing into new hill stations, must be restricted and highly regulated. The purpose should be to totally
avoid needless encroachment on our environment, and yet facilitate the basic essential infrastructure and
facilities for a properly regulated tourism.
5. Commercial activity needs to be systematically regulated. The economic activity encouraged and
facilitated in and around our hill stations should be centred around giving the maximum possible boost to
local produce including local handicrafts. At the same time, tourism can be given such an orientation as to
sustain and encourage the local folk art and folk culture, giving tourists vivid glimpses into the local folk art
and culture in all their pristine purity.
6. Economic activity centred on boosting the local produce as well as local culture, arts and crafts should get
the maximum possible support. The excessive commercialization of our hill stations often has no connection
at all with the essential growth of the local economy. All our efforts at restoring our environment and
ecology will come to naught in the absence of proper civic sense.
In India, the geographical features are diverse, colourful and varied. The coastline offers opportunities for
developing the best beaches in the world. There are a wealth of ecosystems including biosphere reserves,
mangroves, coral reefs, deserts, mountains and forests as well as an equally wide range of flora and fauna.
For sustained growth of tourism, tourism should take place along the desired lines. Certain guidelines are
necessary and Draft Tourism Policy, 1997, provided such guidelines.
Those include:
1. To create a tourist product that is desirable and supported by an integrated infrastructure.
2. To involve all agencies, public, private and government, in tourism development.
3. To create synergy between departments and agencies those have to deliver the composite tourist product.
4. To use both the circuit and scheme approach so that peoples participation will create a greater awareness
of tourism.
5. To create direct access for destination off the beaten track.
6. To diversify the product with new options like beach tourism, forest, wildlife, landscape and adventure
tourism, farm and health tourism.
7. To ensure that the development does not exceed sustainable levels.
8. To develop the north-eastern states, the Himalayan region and islands for tourism.
9. To maintain a balance between the negative and positive impacts of tourism through planning restrictions
and through education of the people for conservation and development.

Moreover we can conclude that Ecotourism is the key agent for sustaining tourism. It yields multiple
benefits such as conserving and managing natural resources, strengthening local cultures and communities in
terms of economic betterment, providing employment, and sustaining tourism industry and providing
environmental education.
Therefore, the tourism industry, communities dependent on nature, tourists and the government should take
responsibility for the promotion of ecotourism in order to protect the still available natural areas and
resources and take measures for eco-restoration, keeping in view the welfare of ever-growing human
population in India.