In short, ecotourism can be categorised as a tourism programme that is - "Nature based, Ecologically sustainable, Where education and interpretation is a major constituent and Where local people are benefited." what you think?
One of the challenges, which tourism industry is facing -how to develop without destroying the environment. Tourism and ecotourism are often discussed in terms of their structural organization, economic impact or the environmental credentials of green businesses. Ecotourism is widely touted for its positive impacts, actual or potential, for communities and conservation as well as for companies and consumers. In arguing for access to protected areas, for example, tourism lobbyists and ecotourism operators commonly argue not only that they will take steps to minimize their environmental impacts, but that ecotourism also generates benefits.
Remember every year more of the planet’s natural resources are consumed or contaminated by its human population. Human survival needs drinkable water, breathable air and usable biological diversity. Natural ecosystems are the world’s primary reservoirs for each of these. Ecosystems worldwide have been modified by human activities to various degrees, as a result areas of near-pristine wilderness and other little-modified environments are continually reduced . However, without such changes in the short term, far larger disruptions will be forced upon us. The single most critical component of any long-term strategy for sustainability, and indeed human survival, is hence to maintain representative areas of the world’s various ecosystems in a reasonably intact and functional state. For creating a best strategy , you need to think by considering following points:
- Costs of Protected Areas for Ecotourism
- Benefits of Ecotourism for Protected Areas
- Costs of Ecotourism for Protected Areas
based on these points you have to also consider how EIA reports are justifying a destination as Eco Tourism hot spot, and exisiting policy for eco tourism of India like " GUIDELINES FOR ECOTOURISM IN AND AROUND PROTECTED AREAS".
http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Draft%20Ecotourism%20Guidelines%202%20June.pdf
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Dear Kundan Sagar,
Yes I am attached with eco-tourism in India based project. We are surveying various places in India and reporting their economical condition, how we can develop that spot as a eco-tourism destination.
WITH REGARDS,
SHAILEYEE DAS
As per my view and my basic understanding, few step should be there which are given below.
1. First and foremost, the most important step in ecotourism planning is permanent protection of the resource Establishment of the Protected Area in this case it is the National Scenic Area Designation.
2. Once the area has a protected status, develop management zones. The most sensitive areas should have no development while less sensitive areas may be zoned for research, minimal tourism, and or higher impact tourism.
3. The third step is the establishment of a Management Authority that includes local people. Once the protected area is identified and zoned, this Management Authority should develop a long-term management plan that addresses regulation of the protected area, guidelines for development, financing and generating local economic development, and monitoring the affects of tourism on the resources over time.
4. Development Design Guidelines are essential to ensuring that tourism development is compatible with protecting the resource and maintaining scenic beauty
5. Successful marketing and participation in the international ecotourism community can increase visitation and help the community continue to improve visitor services.
Shaileyee what you have put forth is true.Tourism doesn't take place in isolation. It is people centric in every aspect. Although eco tourism is differentiated from rural tourism, but they cannot exclude each other in the Indian context especially. The Indian villages are unique socio-cultural spaces that vary from one after another but are intertwined with the ecology of the space they occupy. Rural Tourism takes place in non-urban settings usually in countryside, offering an elixir to counter tension and “urbanization” syndrome to the weary, stressed out tourists from both within as well as foreign countries to help them relax and rediscover their roots. As they rediscover their roots they also explore the elements of nature in their purest forms. Since nearly 70% of the India’s population is living in rural areas, rural and ecotourism is expected to benefit the local rural communities economically through various opportunities for rural enterprises, income generation and employment. Hence both rural and ecotourism are important as they help in nurturing rural arts and crafts, rural infrastructure development while simultaneously preserving environment and cultural heritage. Ecotourism, rural tourism can only be of relevance if it leads to overall development of people where it is taking place
You can refer to the following paper that extensively covers promotional strategies for rural and ecotourism in India
RURAL TOURISM IN INDIA: RELEVANCE, PROSPECTS AND PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES - Shikha Kapur. Available from:
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