RE a 2S-0r- 200d m PROFILE OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN SELECT WORLD HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS G. Krishna Ranga Rao Professor Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior, Heritage tourism offers opportunity to portray the past in the present. It provides an infinite time and space in which the past can be experienced through the prism of the endless possibilities of interpretation to receive and communicating messages, constructing their own sense of historic places to create their individual journey of self discovery In our own country that there are many Cultural and Natural heritage sites of Wordd Heritage status, the tourist interpretation and management of these sites is still in rudimentary stage. In fact it is yet to be realised that the heritage sites with scientific interpretation and management do not need to depend upon government any longer and they could generate enough income through tourism for their own conservation and preservation. Such studies have to be started as the country now has many sites which have been selected for World Heritage Listing and examples are Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, Keoladeo National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary etc. This article proposes to make a beginning of such a study in the interpretation and management of few well known World Heritage attractions. The sites chosen for study are two most frequented by tourists : Taj Mahal and Keoladeo National Park. ‘Tourism has immense economic potential. It influences and affects social, environmental and land development policies. It contributes to the transfer of wealth from the industrialized to the developing countries. It has already become a very important component of our economy. But sil Tourism in our country is considered as most talked about but Icast worked upon. The per cent share of India in the World tourism traffic is 0.4 per cent during 1995 and this certainly reflects the above. India has many fascinating Natural and Cultural Heritage attractions. Both these attract, ‘many domestic and internation! tourists. Tourism and Culture have always been closely linked in our country. India has always been an important destination for those attracted by its rich cultural, historic and natural heritage. To briefly introduce “Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to the future generations (UNESCO)"’. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life, inspiration and our identity. World Heritage Sites belong to all the peoples of the World, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. Its universal application is what makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional. How a World Heritage Site belongs to the entire world community could bbe understood from the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO 1972). This Convention helps countries understand that the Sites located in their territory 4nd which are included in the World Heritage List constitute @ World Heritage property. Convention is an agreement signed by approximately 146 countries till date (UNESCO 1996) and they contribute the necessary financial and intellectual resources to protect World Heritage Sites. Sites selected for World Heritage Listing are approved on the ‘of their merits as the best possible examples of Cultural and Natural Heritage. fist of such approved World Heritage Properties stands it 300 till date and India 32 8ie + nc oe RNAse is an active member state on the World Heritage from 1997 and has been working in close cooperation with other International agencies like ICOMOS {International Couey, of Monuments and Sites), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature ad Natural Resources) and ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Presers and Restoration of Cultural Properties). 1 is an elected member of the World Hcritage Committee since 1985 and is contributing regularly for the promotion of World Heritage It has inscribed already 17 Cultural Sites and 4 Natural Sites. The Cultural Sites ie Ajanta Caves (153), Ellora Caves (154), Taj Mahal (156), Agra Fort (155), Fatchpur Sikri (242), Sun Temple Konark (185), Mahabalipuram Group of Monuments (186), Gos Churches and Convents (239), Khajuraho Group of Monuments (240), Hampi Monuments (241), Pattadakal Group of Monuments (260), Elephanta Caves (265), Brihadeswara Temple Tanjore (241). The Natural Sites are Keoladeo National Park (212), Manas Wildlife ‘Sanctuary, Kaziranga National Park (214), Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (213) and Sunderbans National Park (215), ‘The ICOMOS, a wing of UNESCO, has declared April 18 of every year as World Heritage Day. The Department of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), apart from observing this day have also decided to observe the World Heritage Week from 19th November every year coinciding with the birthday of our late Prime Minister, Smt Gandhi, Perhaps the World Heritage List will continue to grow longer and perhaps more countries will join the Convention. This article does not propose to deal with the criteria/rules/regulations for inclusion of a Cultural/Natural property into the World Heritage List. However it would be relevant to examine the profile of tourism, particularly the Management and Interpretation aspects at the sclect World Heritage Attractions located in the Country. The two examples choosen for such study are (1) Keoladeo National Park and (2) Agra. Keoladeo National Park It is probably the best known bird sanctuary in Asia. To all types of tourists, domestic ‘and international, it offers a wonderful chance to see a high concentration of birdlife in close quarters and other animals as well. The park’s designation as a Ramsar Site ‘and a World Heritage Site has give it the International recognition it deserves. Kcoladeo National Park (27 7'6"N-27 12'2"N and 72 29'S"E-77 33'9"E) is situated on the extreme Western edge of the Gangetic basin, a kilometer South East of Bharatpur town. 50 Km. West of Agra and 180 km. south of New Delhi, it is well connected by road and rail. The boundary of the park is demarcated by a masonary wall, and is surrounded by 14 villages (KNP,WWF 1994), In the late 1800's, the Maharaja of Bharatpur, inspired by hunting trips in England flooded the forest as a duck and wetland bird preserve, to concentrate fowl for shooting expeditions. In 1902 Lord Curzon was the first important guest to shoot at Bharatpur: in 1938 Lord Lonlithgow shot 4273 birds in one day. The last duck shooting was held in 1964 (Agra Heritage Project planning synopsis 1994). Tourism and Management ‘The number of Tourists visiting the park is highly seasonal duc 10 the extreme emperatures, the timing of holidays, the diversity and the number of bird species. Tourism hhas been on the increase particularly since 1980's when the number of visitors i an year averaged about 90,000 (Vijayan 1991), During the last three seasons (1995/4, ousssn amen 1994/5, 1995/6) December has been the busiest month with 27538 entrances made in December 1995. In comparison June consistently attracts the least number of entrances only 1,149 were made in June 1995 (Forest Department, KNP). This sanctuary also attracts more domestic visitors. For example: last season (1995/6), 62,357 entry tickets were sold to domestic tourists, 24,739 to students mostly school children, and 38,026 were sold to foreign tourists (KNP Forest Department). The frequency of students groups visiting in park is significantly high and would be perhaps due to the clear visibility, enhanced visitor satisfaction the case with which bird species and larger mammals can be sighted easily at close quarters. Tourism in the park seems to have an excellent educational value besides financial implications. The revenue carned through entry fee and transport facilities inside the park itself is quite appreciable. The local guides, hotels and rickshaw pullers carn a sizable income in the peak season and so do the local food vendors, shopkeepers and hoteliers. Since 30 per cent of the visitors are foreigners (KNP,WWF 1994) most of whom are keen bird watchers, nature lovers and photographers, the park also earns substantial foreign ‘exchange ‘The park a 29 sq.kms. oasis amidst crop fields, and settlements, including a town with nearly two million population just two kms. from the parks entrance. Life in the whole region is no doubt centred on the benefits accured directly or indirectly from the wetland-agricultural practices, life styles and food habits, all are influenced to some extent by this wetland. These factors have great impact on the culture and tradition of the region. National parks and sanctuaries which are natural and completely free of human influence may not perhaps require management. However in the case of a park like Keoladeo National Park which was man-made and has considerable tourist influx requires a well planned management. KNP has been identified as a Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat, and also as a World Heritage Site and naturally requires its whole system be conserved for posterity. The ecosystem with its functions, values and biodiversity should be preserved and managed taking into account the whole ‘community rather then few species. ‘The management of the park includes the following facilities : (a) a visitor centre for interpretation and exhibition at the main gate (b) Bicycle, rickshaws for hire and electravan rides from the main gate (c) Overnight and unique lodge accommodation at the Forest Lodge Hotel (ITDC) within the park (d) Picnic areas with benches and drinking ‘water at Keoladeo Temple and Sita Ram Baba Temple. (e) Food Services at Shanti Kutir Park headquarters, the Forest Lodge and a small cafetaria at Keoladeo Temple Picnic site. (f) Rest room facilities at Keoladeo Temple, the Forest Lodge and the mai All these facilities make the park very tourism friendly but tourism is also giving park management many problems. The problems include handling numerous noisy pienicers (Particularly during public holidays), vehicular pollution (due to the vehicular ‘within the park) and controlling of throwing of litter by the visitors and Forest jures were taken by the park management to control visitor impacts measi of the park into (a) Bird watching zone (b) recreation zone and by arranting ith excelle