INDEX

SL. Particulars Page

No. No(s).
1. Introduction 1

2. History of Ecotourism 2

3. Types of Ecotourism 2-4

4. Principles & Guidelines of Ecotourism 4-5

5. Characteristics of Ecotourism 5-6

6. Economic Effect of Ecotourism 6-7

7. Environmental Effects of Ecotourism 7

8. Who is an Ecotourist? 7

9. Ecotourism in India 8-13

 Need for ecotourism in India
 Government Initiatives for Overall Tourism
 Recent Ecotourism Initiatives in India
 10 States that are encouraging ecotourism
10. Ecotourism & International Laws 14-16

11. Comparative Analysis between three countries regarding the laws on 17-21
ecotourism
Grounds of Improvement for India
12. Conclusion 22

13. Bibliography 23
 INTRODUCTION
Ecotourism or environmentally-responsible tourism is synonymously used with natural-area tourism,
and stands on the cornerstones of benefit to environment, benefit to communities, conservation and
interpretations. The primary goal of ecotourism is to enable tourists to enjoy nature and wilderness
areas in its full glory without causing any disturbance, such that it fosters sustainable use through
resource conservation, cultural revival, and economic development and diversification.

Around the world, ecotourism has been hailed as a panacea: a way to fund conservation and
scientific research, protect fragile and pristine ecosystems, benefit rural communities, promote
development in poor countries, enhance ecological and cultural sensitivity, instill environmental
awareness and social conscience in the travel industry, satisfy and educate the discriminating tourist,
and, some claim, build world peace.
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that attempts to minimize its impact upon the environment, is
ecologically sound, and avoids the negative impacts of many large-scale tourism developments
undertaken in the areas which have not previously been developed.

According to the International Ecotourism Society (TIES),1 ecotourism can be defined as

“responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the
local people, and involves interpretation and education”. Such traveling can be created thanks to an
international network of individuals, institutions, and the tourism industry where tourists and tourism
professionals are educated on ecological issues.

Travel within India is an age-old practice and its traces can be retrieved from the famous Silk Route.
The concept of ecotourism in India came into the consciousness during the latter part of the eighties.
When, the history of Indian tourism saw many changes, a shift towards the need to conserve natural
resources and to curb the ill effects of conventional tourism was realized and the present-day
ecotourism shows it as being the fastest growing tourism space in all forms of tourism across the
globe.

Further, the geographical diversity of India makes it home to a wealth of ecosystems which are well
protected and preserved. These ecosystems have become the major resources for ecotourism here.
Simultaneously, most of these wilderness areas across India are fragile ecosystems that provide a
whole host of ecosystem services to local residents and people living in surrounding areas.

However, as unplanned tourism in such landscapes could completely destroy the very environment
attracting tourists, the need to move towards a sustainable model of tourism that is compatible with
these fragile landscapes was soon realized.

According to the Ecotourism Association of Australia, “ecotourism is nature-based tourism that

involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically
sustainable.” This definition recognizes that ‘natural environment’ includes cultural components and
that ‘ecologically sustainable’ involves an appropriate return to the local community and long-term
conservation of the resource.

HISTORY OF ECO TOURISM:

1
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is an American organization dedicated to
promoting ecotourism globally. The organization was founded in 1990 and contributed significantly to the growth and
development of ecotourism, providing guidelines, technical assistance, training, research and publications.

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The origins of the term ‘ecotourism’ are not entirely clear, one of the first to use it appears to have
been Hetzer (1965), who identified four pillars or principles of responsible tourism: minimizing
environmental impacts, respecting host cultures, maximizing the benefits to local people, and
maximizing tourist satisfaction. The first of these was held to be the most distinguishing
characteristic of ecological tourism.

Other early references to ecotourism are found in Miller’s (1978) work on national park planning for
ecodevelopment in Latin America, and documentation produced by Environment Canada in relation
to a set of road-based ‘ecotours’ they developed from the mid-1979s through to the early
1980s.Ecotourism developed ‘within the womb’ of the environmental movement in the 1970s and
1980s. Growing environmental concern coupled with an emerging dissatisfaction with mass tourism
led to increased demand for nature-based experiences of an alternative nature.

At the same time, less developed countries began to realize that nature-based tourism offers a means
of earning foreign exchange and providing a less destructive use of resources than alternatives such
as logging and agriculture. By the mid-1980s, a number of such countries had identified ecotourism
as a means of achieving both conservation and development goals. The first formal definition of
ecotourism is generally credited to Ceballos Lascu rain2 in 1987.

TYPES OF ECOTOURISM:3

Fennell considers that ecotourism exits within the broader classification of tourism types which, at an
initial level, can be divided into the following types:

1. Mass Tourism
2. Alternative Tourism
2
Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is a Mexican conservationist and an architect by profession.
3
https://tourismnotes.com/eco-tourism/

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Mass tourism we saw as the more traditional form of tourism development where short-term, free-
market principles dominate and the maximization of income is paramount. The development of the
tourism industry was originally seen as a desirable and relatively ‘clean’ industry for nations and
regions to pursue. This was particularly true in terms of benefits in foreign exchange earnings,
employment and infrastructural development such as transport networks.
These days we are more prone to vilify or characterize conventional mass tourism as a beast; a
monstrosity which has few redeeming qualities for the destination region, their people and their
natural resource.

This is not to deny that ‘mass tourism’ has caused problems, because it has. There has, quite
justifiably, been a need to identify an alternative approach to tourism development that lessens the
negative consequences of the mass tourism approach.

Thus the ‘alternative tourism’ perspective has become a popular paradigm. This alternative approach
has been described as a ‘competing paradigm’ to mass tourism, but it can also be viewed as a
complementary approach to tourism. That is, it is not possible to have ‘alternative tourism’ to.

So, the discussion returns to a semantic debate, perhaps it is best to accept that alternative tourism is
a natural outcome of the maturing understanding of tourism development and its strengths and
weakness.

Fennell states that: Alternative tourism is a generic term that encompasses a whole range of tourism
strategies (e.g., appropriate, eco, soft, responsible, people to people, and green tourism) all of which
purport to offer a more benign alternative to conventional mass tourism in certain types of
destinations.

However, Weaver quite rightly points out that there are also many criticisms of alternative tourism. It
is clear that just because alternative tourism has developed as a reaction to the negative consequences
of mass tourism it is not necessarily less harmful or better than its alternatives. Nature of Ecotourism:
Tourism activity is expected to grow by 4.3% per annum in real terms between 2008 and 2017.
Ecotourism or nature-based tourism has become the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry
growing 3 times faster than the industry as a whole.

There can be no doubting of the increasing trends in environmental concern allied with the
historically prevalent trend of travel as for, of escape to nature, driven by the pressures of urban
living encourage people to seek solitude with nature, therefore, increasing the numbers of visitors to
national parks and other protected areas.

There are a number of dimensions to nature-based tourism. All forms of travel to natural areas are
not necessarily ecotourism, but this provides a useful step in differentiating nature-based tourism
from ecotourism and gives us a number of levels at which to distinguish the relationship between
specific tourism activities and nature:

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  Those activities or experiences that are dependent on nature.
 Those activities or experiences that are enhanced by nature.
 Those activities or experiences for which the natural setting is incidental.

There are several classes of nature-based tourism, each utilizing a combination of these dimensions.
Bird watching, for example, can provide a pleasant and relaxing holiday based around a general
interest in nature and the environment. So that without the natural environment it would be difficult
to carry out the activity.

Similarly, camping is an activity/experience which often enhanced by nature. Most people would
prefer to camp in some type of natural setting rather than on the side of a busy road. Therefore,
nature is an integral part of these experiences but not the fundamental motivation for them.

1 PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES OF ECOTOURISM:4

Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment and, in varying degrees,
develop their knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of it. The Ecotourism Society gives the
principles and guidelines of ecotourism. These are following as:

o  Prepare travellers to minimize their negative impact while visiting sensitive environments
and cultures before departure.
o Prepare travellers for each encounter with local cultures and with native animals and plants.
o Minimize visitors impacts on the on the environment by offering literature, briefing, leading
by example, and taking corrective actions.
o Minimize travellers’ impact on cultures by offering literature, briefings, leading by example,
and taking corrective actions.

4
https://www.earthreminder.com/ecotourism-principles-benefits-and-examples/

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 o Use adequate leadership, and maintain small enough groups to ensure minimum group impact
on destination. Avoid areas that are under-managed and over-visited.
o Ensure managers, staff and contract employees know and participate in all aspects of
company policy to prevent impacts on the environment and local cultures.
o Give managers, staff and contact employees access to programmes that will upgrade their
ability to communicate with and manage clients in sensitive natural and cultural settings.
o Be a contributor to the conservation of the region being visited.
o Provide competitive, local employment in all aspect of business operation.
o Offer site-sensitive accommodations that are not wasteful of local resources or destructive to
the environment, which provide ample opportunity for learning about the environment and
sensitive interchange with local communities.
o Focuses on personally experiencing natural areas in ways that led to greater understanding
and appreciation.
2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ECO-TOURISM:

Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and
(often) small scale. It helps educate the travellers, provides funds for conservation, directly benefits
the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and fosters respect for
different cultures and for human rights. Some important characteristics of ecotourism are following
as:

1) Involves travel to the natural destination. These destinations are often remote areas, whether
inhabited or uninhabited, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection at the
national, international, communal, or private travel.

2) Minimize impact. Tourism causes damage. Ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse effects of
hotels, trails, and other infrastructure by using either recycled or plentifully available local building
material, renewable sources of energy, recycling and safe disposal of waste and garbage, and
environmentally and culturally sensitive architectural design.

3) Builds environmental awareness. Ecotourism means education, for both tourist and residents of
nearby communities. Well before the tour begins, tour operators should supply travelers with reading
material about the country, environment, and local people, as well as a code of conduct for both the
traveler and the industry itself. Ecotourism projects should also help educate members of
surrounding communities, schoolchildren, and the broader public in the host country.

4) Provides direct financial benefits for conservation. Ecotourism helps raise funds for
environmental protection, research, and education through a variety of mechanisms, including park
entrance fees; tour company, hotel, airline, and airport taxes. And voluntary contributions.

5) Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people. Ecotourism holds that national
parks and other conservation areas will survive only if, there are happy people around the perimeters.
The local community must be involved with and receive income and other tangible benefits (potable
water, roads, health clinics, etc.) from the conservation area and its tourist facilities.

6) Respects local culture. Ecotourism is not only “greener” but also less culturally intrusive and
exploitative than conventional tourism. Whereas prostitution, black markets, and drug often are by

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products of mass tourism, ecotourism strives to be culturally respectful and the human population of
a host country.

7) Supports human rights and democratic movements. The United Nations-sponsored World
Tourism Organization proclaims that tourism contributes to “international understanding, peace,
prosperity, and universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for
all.
Such sentiments, however, are little reflected in conventional mass tourism. In this way, ecotourism
supports humans’ rights and, to establish international peace.

3 ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM:

The job generated by ecotourism provide an important reason for interest in and support for, the
phenomenon. These jobs often occur in areas relatively untouched by traditional development efforts
and represent tangible economic benefits from natural areas. Several studies have assessed the local
employment benefits of ecotourism; not surprisingly, the level of benefits varies widely as a result of
differences in the quality of attraction, access and other factors.

Some important economic effects of ecotourism are following as:

1) Fiscal Impacts (taxes, fees, expenditures) - Ecotourism not only generates government revenue
through business and other general taxes but also through industry-specific channels, such as
payment of occupancy and departure taxes.

2) Reduced access to the resource - Tourism utilizes various resources as inputs into the products
and services provided to visitors. In the case of ecotourism, one of these products is nature in a
partially or totally preserved state.Preservation of natural areas often involves reduced local access to
resources, such as wood or medicinal plants. In so far as tourism is a partial or sole rationale for
preserving an area, it also causes reduced access to resources.

3) Inflation - Many destinations have experienced increased price for goods, services, and land due
to tourism development, and this is a cost borne by residents of the area who purchase these items.

4) Effects of the income distribution - In some cases, tourism development exacerbates existing
income inequalities within destination communities, while in others it generates new financial elites.

5) Revenue sharing - At some ecotourism destinations, residents’ benefit from revenue-sharing

programmes that either provide cash payments or, more commonly, funding for community projects
such as well or schools.

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4 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM:

The impacts of ecotourism depend on what ecotourism is. The critical issue is that ecotourism should
involve deliberates steps to minimize impacts, through the choice of activities, equipment, location
and timing, group size, education and training, and operational environmental management.

There is now quite an extensive literature on impacts such as trampling, which is easy to quantify
experimentally. However, very little is known about impacts such as noise disturbance, soil and
water-borne pathogens, and interference with plant and animal population dynamics and genetics,
which are likely to have far greater ecological significance. Some important environmental effects of
ecotourism are following as:

 Crushing or clearance of vegetation.

 Soil modification.
 Introduction of weeds and pathogens.
 Water pollution from human waste.
 Air pollution from generator exhausts, noise from machinery, vehicles, and voices.
 Visual impacts.
 Disturbance to wildlife through all of the above, and through food scraps and litter,
etc.

5 WHO IS AN ECOTOURIST?5

A new group of tourism clients has emerged who are demanding different activities, experiences and
approaches to tourism from the industry: ‘these are the ecotourists – people who require
environmentally compatible recreational opportunities, where nature rather than humanity
predominates’.
They are shrugging off the shackles of traditional tourism in search of knowledge and experience.
Their interest is not in lounging by hotels pools or hectic sightseeing schedules. They are interested
in visiting wilderness, national parks, and tropical forests, and in viewing birds, mammals, trees and
wildflowers.

They want to experience new lifestyles and meet people with similar interests to themselves and they
want to see their traveling dollars contributing toward conservation and benefiting the local
economy. Ecotourists can be generally characterized as having higher than average incomes, largely
holding tertiary qualifications and there tend to be more female ecotourists than men.

According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourists are experienced travellers who are
more likely to have a college/university degree and have a higher income bracket.
Ecotourists are expecting discovery and enlightenment from their ecotourism experience. Personal

5
https://www.royalecotravel.com/safaris/who_is_an_ecotourist.html

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growth in emotional, spiritual, as well as intellectual terms, appear to be expected outcomes from
ecotourism travel for the majority of these travellers.

ECOTOURISM IN INDIA:

India, the land of varied geography offers several tourist destinations that not just de-stress but also
rejuvenate you. 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 you 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. 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 are taking
place in several places. Numerous organisations and NGOs are coming forward to provide
environmental education to the common people at the grass root level.

Today, tourism in India has significant potential given its rich culture and heritage, variety in
ecology, and terrains and places of natural beauty. Tourism is also a potentially large employment
generator, besides being a significant source of foreign exchange. India is often viewed as a hotspot
for biodiversity and its rich natural heritage is unparalleled. The country offers diverse tourism
experiences—cruises, adventure, medical, wellness, sports, MICE, ecotourism, film, rural and
religious.

Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile and relatively untouched natural areas,
intended as a low-impact alternative to conventional commercial mass tourism. Ecotourism is a
conscious effort to preserve the beauty of a naturally gifted region and conserve wildlife in their
natural habitat. In the process, ecotourism glorifies offbeat places, their rich culture and traditions.
Covid-19 and lockdown have had a catastrophic impact on the country’s tourism sector. While the
world is on its way adapting to a new normal, there’s still uncertainty regarding international travel;
however, the search volumes for domestic travel indicate an appetite for going on vacations. After
months of lockdown, people want to be amid greenery and nature to get some fresh air and enjoy
good weather. Several niche offerings such as medical tourism, ecotourism and domestic leisure,
wherein people can travel in their own cars to remote untouched areas, are expected to fuel demand.
Covid-19 has had a massive impact on the mode of transport opted by tourists. They are more
interested in responsible and sustainable travel. Current travel trend shows that the classic road trip is
ready to make a comeback, as most tourists are looking for nearby offbeat destinations, away from
the crowd and close to nature, which can be comfortably reached by car rather than travel by flight or
train.

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NEED FOR ECOTOURISM IN INDIA:

Rising threat of global warming and nature degradation have given a fillip to ecotourism. Promoting
and preserving fragile and undisturbed nature, reducing carbon footprint and connecting secluded
environments with the mainstream are a few concerns that ecotourism will tackle head on. Today,
there are many sprawling farms, resorts, homestays and eco-friendly hotels in India offering a natural
retreat in popular tourist destinations.
Alok Gupta, Principal Secretary, Rajasthan Tourism, stated that the pandemic has caused an
unprecedented crisis worldwide and perhaps, hit the tourism sector hard. I believe tourists are
concerned about safety and are choosing destinations away from the hustle bustle of big cities. I
expect a rising preference for lesser-known destinations and excursion sights near major destinations;
this will likely be the next big driver for attracting tourists.
Sunil Mehta, Tree House Resorts, also pointed out that even after the last of the pandemic, the scars
and fear will take a long time to heal. Resorts at easily drivable distances from the metros will
benefit the most. Wildlife and ecotourism: These will definitely take off as potential travellers
understand the need to be with nature and in open natural surroundings.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR OVERALL TOURISM6:

The government has realised the country’s potential in tourism and taken several steps to make it a
global tourism hub and subsequently, encourage ecotourism.
Mr. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, spoke at a session on ‘Future
of Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Industry and The Way Forward’ (organised by FICCI) and
highlighted that while revival of international tourism would take some time, domestic tourism will
be in focus.
In line with this strategy, some major government initiatives to boost tourism and ecotourism are as
follows:
 In October 2020, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated four new tourist
attractions in Gujarat—Arogya Van, Ekta Mall, Children's Nutrition Park and Sardar
Patel Zoological Park/Jungle Safari (near the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Narmada
district).
 The initiative is part of the 17 new planned projects. Additionally, the government will
also launch a seaplane service from Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity, lending a major
push to India’s tourism.
 The Ministry of Tourism developed an initiative called SAATHI (System for
Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) by partnering with the
Quality Council of India (QCI) in October 2020. The initiative will effectively
implement Covid-19 guidelines/SOPs for safe operations of hotels, restaurants, B&Bs
and other units.
 The Ministry of Tourism launched the Dekho Apna Desh webinar series to educate
viewers on various destinations and showcase the sheer depth and expanse of the
Indian culture and heritage. 
 The Prime Minister has urged people to visit 15 domestic tourist destinations by 2022.
 The government is working to gain 1% of the global international tourist arrivals pie by
2020 and 2% by 2025.
6
https://www.ibef.org/blogs/ecotourism-a-model-to-reboot-tourism

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Recent Ecotourism Initiatives in India:

The government has designated ecotourism as a ‘thrust industry’ in states such as Jammu &
Kashmir, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. A range of incentives are available for
ecotourism projects such as hotels, resorts, spas, entertainment/amusement parks and ropeways.

Projects Initiated for Ecotourism Development in India:

 Development of Horsely Hill in the Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh has been
sanctioned.
 Development of Satkosi in Orissa (Rs. 4.25 crore) has been approved. The following
are proposed under the project: building an interpretation centre; landscaping; elephant
camps; trekking park; watch towers; parking facility; etc. 
 The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has sanctioned Rs. 2.63 crore for an ecotourism
project in Morni-Pinjore Hills and Sultanpur National Park in Haryana.
 The project on integrated development of tribal circuit, with focus on ecotourism in
Himachal Pradesh, has been approved for Rs. 6.98 crore.
 Expansion of Wayanad in Kerala for Rs. 2.01 crore. 
 Development of Tourist Circuit (Western Assam Circuit) DhubariMahamaya-Barpeta-
Hajo has been sanctioned for Rs. 4.97 crore.
 Expansion of Mechuka destination (Rs. 4.41 crore in Arunachal Pradesh).
 Development of tourist destination in Khensa for Rs. 4.58 crore in Nagaland Circuit
Udhyamandalam-Madumalai-Anaimalai, Tamil Nadu.
 Jungle Lodges and Resorts, Karnataka (provides experience of living in the
wilderness).
 Private initiative in Kerala-Casino Group of Hotels, Tours India Ltd. (adopted 2 tribal
villages in Periyar Tiger Reserve for growing indigenous pepper to help local
communities realise financial gains).
 GEF Project-Gulf of Mannar, Tamilnadu (ecotourism as an alternative method of
livelihood and preservation of biodiversity in the region).
 Sikkim Biodiversity and Ecotourism Project (developing collaboration between TAAS,
local orgs., and communities for biodiversity, conservation, and income generation).
 Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala–India Ecodevelopment Project, Corbett–Binsar–Nainital
Ecotourism Initiative (Uttarakhand), and Great Himalayan National Park, HP – Eco
Development Project (promoting participation of local communities in biodiversity
conservation through incentive-based mechanisms)

10 States That Are Encouraging Ecotourism:7

Eco Sensitive Zones in India boast of geographical diversities and lovely tourist places that have
been or are rapidly becoming popular getaways in India!

 Ladakh: Traveling To The Himalayas Done Right:

The Himalayas have been on top of every traveller’s bucket list and therefore left gasping for breath
in recent times. Now that tourism has found a foothold in Trans – Himalayan region and most of the
places have been glorified, ecotourism is penetrating to encourage sustainable travel and extensive
tours.
7
https://traveltriangle.com/blog/ecotourism-in-india/

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Leh Nutrition Project, established by Save The Children Fund (UK) in 1979, happens to be the NGO
working towards the overall upliftment in Ladakh. They have been addressing issues related to child
care, development, education, livelihood, and watershed development in the difficult terrains. In
addition to that, Leh Nutrition Project and Ladakh Ecological Development Group have been
actively working to promote the sustainable society in Ladakh.

 Himachal Pradesh: Responsible Travel In The Highlands:

The mountainous landform of Himachal, bordering Tibet and Jammu & Kashmir, has rich
biodiversity, which attracts a large number of tourists every year. As a result, popular holiday
destinations in Himachal are suffering due to excessive commercialization.
The Ecotourism Society in Himachal has been practicing Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET),
which is a collaborated effort towards the conservation of nature and cultural resources in the region.
Various approaches like Participatory Forestry Management for the development of forests have
been initiated. The efforts have been widely appreciated by the people of Himachal as well as
tourists. Besides, they’ve generated a lot of revenue for the state.
A huge credit for promoting ecotourism in Himachal also goes to Ecosphere – an organization that
focuses on initiatives for saving the rich bio-reserve, keeping the environment sound, and making
lesser-known places more popular.

 Delhi: Good Vibes Straight from The Capital:

New Delhi has seen a commendable effort from organizations like Ecotourism Society of India that
have been encouraging sustainable practices in the capital. From minimizing carbon footprint to
creating awareness and further collaborating with like-minded bodies to promote eco-tourism, they
have come a long way.
Resources have also been fuelled towards identifying new ecotourism destinations and making them
popular. For example, Chhawla-Kanganheri – an ecotourism park near Najafgarh drain has been
revamped and recreational activities like boating, camping, paintball and obstacle course are
available for the entertainment of tourists. Farm stays also have a major role in the promotion of
ecotourism; a few have come up in the heart of the city, besides many in the outskirts.

 Uttarakhand: Cascading from The Garhwal Himalayas:

To make travelers aware of the diverse culture and surroundings, several village treks have been
initiated by the tourism department of Uttarakhand. These trails give an insight into the lives of
Kumaoni villagers. It is a collective effort from Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board,
Garhwal-Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, and ecotourism division of the state forest department
and has seen the successful execution of eco-tours, which has taken adventure tourism to new
heights. The organizations also run homestays in the area by providing essentials and required
finances to the homeowners to operate efficiently.
State Bird Spring Festival organized by forest department has experienced a tremendous growth
over the years and has been a boost to the tourism. Communities like Pawalgarh Conservation
Reserve – a tiger conservation reserve in Ramnagar has been highly benefitted because of all the
eco-friendly initiatives taken at places in Uttarakhand.

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  Arunachal Pradesh: Crown Of The Northeast

Arunachal Pradesh is one of the prized jewels of the Northeast India. It boasts of diverse topography
and unexplored terrains, which make it a popular destination for ecotourism in India.
Organizations like Future Generations Arunachal and Green Pastures have been focussing on
projects to impart awareness on ecotourism and encourage homestays in the region. Also, institutions
like NgunuZiro by Future Generation Arunachal have been contributing towards the cause of
preservation of tribal culture and safeguarding the nature around.
Apatani Plateau Initiative, Ziro and Tangsa Community Conservation Reserve Initiative, Changlang
District have been major initiatives executed by Association for Conservation and Tourism in the
state. They aim at the sole motive of creating a friendly environment for tribals and making
conserving the pristine environment.
Further, game viewing at wildlife sanctuaries, climbing, trekking and nature walk in the valleys and
splendid sightseeing make Arunachal Pradesh an ideal place for ecotourism.

 Meghalaya: Into The Abode Of Clouds

This unexplored paradise in the northeast has a lot of cultural diversity and plenty of secluded
wonders. Living Roots Ecotourism Society has unearthed a hidden treasure in the northeast and
glorified Nongblai – a lesser-known village in the East Khasi Hills district. The village has record 16
living root bridges. Raid Nongblai – a collective organization of Nongblai, Suthim, and
Wahlyngkhat villages have jointly taken up the responsibilities of these living root bridges that are
like a god to them.
Regional Workshop on Environmental Service Learning, conservation of Hotspots of
Biodiversity and Ecotourism that focusses on biodiversity conservation and ecotourism. Moreover,
the exciting village tours and untarnished natural beauty has a raw appeal for every aspiring traveller.

 Assam: Of Secluded Environs And National Parks

Remote places, tribes, and their exciting traditions make Assam an exciting destination for
ecotourism in India. People, over the years, have shown acceptance to responsible travel and now
workshops are conducted at different places.
Understanding the need of the hour, Ecotourism Society of India in partnership with Assam Tourism
has been organizing workshops to promote responsible tourism. Assam Tourism Development
Corporation (ATDC) has also been keen on supporting initiatives by setting up eco-camps all
managed by deprived youths in the region. These camps, mostly frequented by the foreigners and
backpackers are a huge boost to the tourism.

 Sikkim: Taking Indian Tourism To Another Level

In the lap of the Himalayas, Sikkim experiences large number of footfalls; especially honeymooners!
People who turn out to be ignorant while making memories end up spilling garbage at random thus
affecting the nature.

12 | P a g e
To save the beautiful environment of the northeast, sustainable tourism and eco-friendly measures
have been devised by Directorate of Ecotourism in association with Forest Department of Sikkim. In
this region, promotion of wildlife and nature has remained a prime focus.
GoingWild is another responsible organization in the northeast working towards the development of
ecotourism by promoting several wildlife and birding tours.

 Karnataka: Of Rainforest, Wildlife, And Adventures

There couldn’t be anything more exciting than taking up eco-trails, walking through the valley, and
spending moments camping in the dense rainforests of Western Ghats. The vastness of nature in the
Ghats has treasured ecological diversity, which needs to be explored and brought into the people’s
knowledge.
Jungle lodges, heritage sites, and resorts make Karnataka a popular ecotourism destination in the
country. For all the rush and visitors that come down to visit the city, Karnataka Ecotourism
Development Board (KEDB) and National Tiger Conservation authority have collectively rolled out
policies aimed at attracting more investment, creating more awareness at the tourist hotspots, and
facilitating ambitious activities to attract tourists.

13 | P a g e
 ECOTOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL LAWS

In the international arena, many different organizations address ecotourism related issues.   

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)8 is the United Nations agency responsible for the
promotion ofresponsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.As the leading
international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of
economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers
leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

World Tourism Organization (WTO) plays an important role in the development of ecotourism.

UNWTO has been involved in the field of ecotourism since the early 1990s and developed a set of
guidelines focusing on the strong link between protected area and tourism, with the aim of ensuring
that tourism contributes to the purposes of protected areas and does not undermine them.
In the framework of the UN-declared International Year of Ecotourism (IYE) 2002, UNWTO
undertook a wide range of activities, including the organization of regional conferences and the
World Ecotourism Summit, and published guidelines and methodologies for ecotourism
development and market studies, as well as supported regional and national activities.At the request
of the United Nations General Assembly, the World Tourism Organization prepared a report on the
activities undertaken by States and major international organizations in the framework of the
International Year of Ecotourism. Also, UNWTO prepared a series of market reports to increase the
knowledge of seven important countries considered “Ecotourism generating markets”.

Tourism and environment in the practice of the UN WTO9:

• The Manila Declaration on World Tourism (1980) "The satisfaction of tourism requirements
must not be prejudicial to the social and economic interests of the population in tourist areas, to the
environment or, above all, to natural resources, which are the fundamental attraction of tourism"

• The Hague Declaration on Tourism (1989) Principle III (2): In view of th[e] intrinsic inter
relationship between tourism and environment, effective measures should be taken to: […] (b)
8
https://www.unwto.org/about-us
9
https://www.unica.it/unica/protected/282708/0/def/ref/MAT265086/

14 | P a g e
Promote the integrated planning of tourism development on the basis of the concept of “sustainable
development” […]

• The Lanzarote Charter for Sustainable Tourism (1995) and Agenda 21 for the Travel and
Tourism Industry (1997) Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and
host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. It is envisaged as leading to
management of all resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled
while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life
support system

• The Code of Ethical Tourism (1999)

Soft law instrument distilling non-binding ethical principles addressing all relevant stakeholders in
the tourism sector

Article 1: Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies
Art.
Article2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment Art.
Article3: Tourism, a factor of sustainable development Art.
Article4: Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement Art.
Article5: Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities Art.
Article6: Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development Art.
Article7: Right to tourism Art.
Article8: Liberty of tourist movements Art.
Article9: Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.

• The 2019 Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics:

It largely reproduces the Code of Tourism Ethics. It will translate the ethical principles contained
therein into legally binding commitments. An Optional Protocol reintroduces the conciliation
function of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. Not yet entered into force.

The CBD Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development:

• They are addressed to all stakeholders with a view to securing the application of the Convention
provisions in the development and management of tourism policies, strategies, projects and
activities.
• Three key principles:
• In-situ conservation
• Sustainable use of biodiversity
• Involvement of indigenous and local communities

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is another international governmental

organization that deals with ecotourism, through its international development assistance
programme.

WTO and UNDP are just two examples of how international governmental ecotourism related
organizations can play a role in making ecotourism a tool for sustainable development. At the
international level NGOs also play a role. Tourism Concern, a UK based NGO dedicated to ensuring

15 | P a g e
tourism is just and sustainable form of business has worked for many years to make tourism more
sustainable.

The US-based TIES is dedicated solely to ensuring that ecotourism is a viable tool for biodiversity
conservation and community development.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)10 is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting

ecotourism. Founded in 1990, TIES has been on the forefront of the development of ecotourism,
providing guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, and educational resources. TIES’
global network of ecotourism professionals and travellers is leading the efforts to make tourism a
viable tool for conservation, protection of bio-cultural diversity, and sustainable community
development.

Through membership services, industry outreach and educational programs, TIES is committed to
helping organizations, communities and individuals promote and practice the principles of
ecotourism. TIES currently has members in more than 190 countries and territories, representing
various professional fields and industry segments including: academics, consultants, conservation
professionals and organizations, governments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners and managers,
general development experts, and ecotourists.

10
https://ecotourism.org/ties-overview/

16 | P a g e
Comparative analysis between three countries regarding the laws on ecotourism:
The three Asian countries— India, China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK)—share large amount of
their economic, political, and cultural experiences through a long history of interactions. In ancient
times, political instabilities, economic fluctuations, and intellectual discoveries in one country
affected the others. Nowadays, economic vitality and prosperity allows for stronger and closer
economic relationships among all three countries. Not surprisingly, the government of each country
strives to attract more tourists from the other two countries. Since 2006, from each of the three
countries, the ministers responsible for tourism growth have begun to hold annual meetings to
discuss the ways in which to boost tourism in their region. Many local governments improve mutual
cooperation by setting up sisterhood relationships, convening forums, and making periodic
exchanges of officials and experts. The three countries can take advantage of geographical and
cultural proximity as they endeavor to implement various programs for ecotourism, and this
ecotourism can be a viable method in establishing more stability and sustainability in the region’s
tourism.
One significant issue related to the imposition of regulatory measures for ecotourism operators is
their perceived loss of control in the delivery of services and decision-making (Fennell,1999). As for
the governments, they bear the responsibility of supporting the establishment of ecotourism, such as
contributing to the drafting of guidelines, providing education for staff members, and supporting
nonprofit endeavors. This study examined ecotourism policies in three countries—China, ROK, and
India. They were chosen for a comparative study of ecotourism policy based on the following
aspects: their common cultural backgrounds, geographical proximity, and maturity in tourism
development as well as their recent implementation of an ecotourism policy 11. As Liu (1994) points
out, a government policy is crucial in supporting the development of ecotourism. For these reasons,
this study attempted to analyze each country’s ecotourism policy and compare them to suggest
improvements for future development.
Ecotourism Policies of China, ROK, and India12:
Ecotourism Policy in China:
The China National Tourism Administration recently announced that the year 2009has been declared
as Chinese ecotourism year with the slogan, ‘‘Be a green traveler and experience eco-civilization.’’
The most recent and comprehensive document on ecotourism is the National Ecotourism
Development Plan (CNTA, 2008) regulated jointly by the China National Tourism Administration
and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The plan specifies the mission, goals, types of
ecotourism, roles of ecotourism stakeholders, etc., as follows:
The mission of ecotourism is advocating the harmony of the environment and the economy,
strengthening construction of ecological environment, improving education, constantly meeting the
demand of ecotourism, and ensuring sustainable tourism development.

11
A policy is a written course of action adopted and pursued by an organization (Eagles, McCool, & Haynes, 2002).
12
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
247528762_Comparison_of_Ecotourism_Policies_and_Implications_for_China's_Ecotourism_Development

17 | P a g e
Goals are promoting ecotourism products and the concept of environment-friendly travel, and
encouraging resource-saving tourism operations, with the objective of satisfying the new trend of
tourism consumption and building Chinese tourism industry into a green industry with sustainable
development.
Types of ecotourism suggested in the policy involve forest recreation ecotourism, prairie ecotourism,
wetlands bird-watching ecotourism, desert exploration ecotourism, countryside experience
ecotourism, and ocean vacation ecotourism. China sets rules for all stakeholders to follow to ensure a
healthy ecotourism development. Also, CNTA is working on creating an accreditation system. What
should be mentioned in terms of ecotourism is that other organizations in China may also be
developing their own accreditation systems. One example is the National Forestry Bureau. It has so
far accredited 31 natural reserves for planning and developing ecotourism (CYOL, 2008). Other
international organizations such as Worldwide Fund also show interest in promoting the principles of
ecotourism in China.
Ecotourism Policy in ROK:
General tourism policies in ROK were developed and implemented by several ministries such as the
Ministry of Environment; the Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Tourism; the Ministry of Land,
Transport, and Marine Affairs; and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
However, the responsibilities for establishing, implementing, and monitoring ecotourism are under
two ministries—the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Tourism
(2008), which defined ecotourism as ‘‘responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the
environment and improves the welfare of local people’’. In the Ecotourism Stimulus Plan, the
ministries noted that ecotourism in the ROK should involve activities not only in natural resources,
such as wetlands or foreshore areas, but also utilize historical and cultural resources. In addition, they
emphasize the importance of interpretation in ecotourism and maintain that all ecotourism activities
should include interpretation programs.
Though, ecotourism is a fairly new concept to ROK, interest has been steadily growing for several
reasons. First, changes in the perception of leisure and demand of alternative tourism resulted in the
increase of ecotourism awareness. Because of an increase in per capita income and the
implementation of a 5-day workweek, many people in ROK have changed their leisure consumption
pattern from spectator oriented to experiential recreation oriented. Second, the central government
perceives that ecotourism may be the means of stimulating local economies and establishing positive
images of local communities. The government also recognizes that promoting ecotourism that
involves local residents’ participation is more beneficial than mass tourism development such as
adding hotels in the region. According to the Ecotourism Stimulus Plan, three goals were set to
vitalize ecotourism: (a) to provide a high-quality travel experience to tourists (tourist satisfaction),
(b) to reinvigorate local economies (improving quality of life), and (c)to systematically preserve and
manage the natural environment (conserving the natural environment). Based on those three goals,
the ultimate goal is to implement an ecotourism model that is unique to ROK.

Ecotourism Policy in India13:

13
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329206372_Ecotourism_Policy_in_India_Rhetoric_and_Reality

18 | P a g e
Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India constituted a committee for preparing basic papers on ecotourism
policy for which a workshop was held on 26th June 1997. The final draft was approved by the State
Ministers for Tourism in a conference held on 27th June 1997, and was released in 1998 (Ministry of
Tourism, Govt of India, 1998The policy document comprises four chapters: ecotourism definition,
ecotourism resources of India, policy and planning, and operational guidelines. The Ministry of
Tourism is the leading governmental sections responsible for promoting ecotourism in INDIA. It
defined the rationale to promote ecotourism in the law as follows:'responsible travel to natural areas
that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people’. Goal of the policy is
Promoting better understanding of' nature and wildlife conservation while generating income and
opportunities for the local communities.
The Ministry has published several policy documents for ecotourism promotion since 2018. The law
required that ‘‘the government must establish a policy on promoting ecotourism based on these
principles’’ and that the government ‘‘must listen to a diverse opinion’’ in the process of developing
a basic policy (Ministry of Environment, 2018). The policy was developed based on these
determinants complying with the Ecotourism Promotion Law. Before the law and policy were set in
place, the Ministry of Environment (2018) had decided to take over eight strategies for ecotourism
promotion. They involve identification of potential sites; assessment of carrying capacity of vehicles
and visitors; Building capacities of local communities to act as nature guides and to provide
hospitality management service; monitoring ecotourism plans; Enabling provisions for management
of eco-tourism within protected areas.

Comparison of Policies Among the

Three Countries
The publicly available ecotourism
policies for the three countries were
compared. As
a result, seven topics were the same in
all three countries: goals, principles,
implementation strategies, definitions,
missions, responsible ministries, and
govern-
19 | P a g e
mental support. The lack of a ministry-
level policy on the accreditation and
designation of land or resources in all
three countries may suggest a future
emphasis
on these policies. Designation of
land/resources is addressed only in the
Japanese
system. An investment plan was
established only in ROK’s policy. This
plan involves
specific numbers and indicates that
$832 million will be invested from 2009
through
2012. Most funds will be allocated to
infrastructure development ($703
million),
which includes developing ecoculture
model cities, model ecolodges, and
ecotourism
20 | P a g e
trails.
Table 2 summarizes the policies of the
three countries based on the checklist
adapted from Hyslop and Eagles’
(2007) study. An X indicates that a
topic exists. A
blank box indicates that no description
was found for the topic area.
Seven topics were alike in all policies in
the three countries: goals and/or
objectives, methods of transportation,
tourist education and interpretation,
facilities, accommodations, human
resources required for ecotourism, and
tourism
use monitoring. The following seven
topics are applied in two countries:
trails and

21 | P a g e
markings, zoning and temporary area
restrictions, enforcement of rules and
laws,
waste management, marketing and
competition for ecotourism,
measurement of
economic impacts of ecotourism, and
assessment of tourist satisfaction. The
absence
of these topics may be challenging to
each country because it implies that
strategies
are implemented in an inconsistent
manner. For example, a Japanese
manual
suggests a method of transportation as a
park and ride system and the use of low
NO
x

22 | P a g e
emission buses in ecotour destinations.
Japanese policy also defines how to
temporarily restrict tourists’ use in an
area based on the Ecotourism
Promotion
Law.
Ten topics are displayed in only one
country. China’s tourist use plan, for
instance, describes the selected areas
designated for tourism activities, the
control of
tourist group size based on carrying
capacity, the sense of environmental
protection,
respect to locals, and communications
between ecotourists and local residents.
The
Japanese manual describes trails and
markings that indicate the design and
the types
23 | P a g e
of the trails. All of these 10 topics but
one (the tourist use plan) are addressed
in the
Japanese system. The abundance of the
coverage in the Japanese system is due
to the
fact that it has evolved around a law that
forces the policy and manual to contain
diverse subjects.
Comparison of Policies Among the
Three Countries
The publicly available ecotourism
policies for the three countries were
compared. As
a result, seven topics were the same in
all three countries: goals, principles,
implementation strategies, definitions,
missions, responsible ministries, and
govern-

24 | P a g e
mental support. The lack of a ministry-
level policy on the accreditation and
designation of land or resources in all
three countries may suggest a future
emphasis
on these policies. Designation of
land/resources is addressed only in the
Japanese
system. An investment plan was
established only in ROK’s policy. This
plan involves
specific numbers and indicates that
$832 million will be invested from 2009
through
2012. Most funds will be allocated to
infrastructure development ($703
million),
which includes developing ecoculture
model cities, model ecolodges, and
ecotourism
25 | P a g e
trails.
Table 2 summarizes the policies of the
three countries based on the checklist
adapted from Hyslop and Eagles’
(2007) study. An X indicates that a
topic exists. A
blank box indicates that no description
was found for the topic area.
Seven topics were alike in all policies in
the three countries: goals and/or
objectives, methods of transportation,
tourist education and interpretation,
facilities, accommodations, human
resources required for ecotourism, and
tourism
use monitoring. The following seven
topics are applied in two countries:
trails and

26 | P a g e
markings, zoning and temporary area
restrictions, enforcement of rules and
laws,
waste management, marketing and
competition for ecotourism,
measurement of
economic impacts of ecotourism, and
assessment of tourist satisfaction. The
absence
of these topics may be challenging to
each country because it implies that
strategies
are implemented in an inconsistent
manner. For example, a Japanese
manual
suggests a method of transportation as a
park and ride system and the use of low
NO
x

27 | P a g e
emission buses in ecotour destinations.
Japanese policy also defines how to
temporarily restrict tourists’ use in an
area based on the Ecotourism
Promotion
Law.
Ten topics are displayed in only one
country. China’s tourist use plan, for
instance, describes the selected areas
designated for tourism activities, the
control of
tourist group size based on carrying
capacity, the sense of environmental
protection,
respect to locals, and communications
between ecotourists and local residents.
The
Japanese manual describes trails and
markings that indicate the design and
the types
28 | P a g e
of the trails. All of these 10 topics but
one (the tourist use plan) are addressed
in the
Japanese system. The abundance of the
coverage in the Japanese system is due
to the
fact that it has evolved around a law that
forces the policy and manual to contain
diverse subjects.
Comparison of Policies Among the
Three Countries
The publicly available ecotourism
policies for the three countries were
compared. As
a result, seven topics were the same in
all three countries: goals, principles,
implementation strategies, definitions,
missions, responsible ministries, and
govern-

29 | P a g e
mental support. The lack of a ministry-
level policy on the accreditation and
designation of land or resources in all
three countries may suggest a future
emphasis
on these policies. Designation of
land/resources is addressed only in the
Japanese
system. An investment plan was
established only in ROK’s policy. This
plan involves
specific numbers and indicates that
$832 million will be invested from 2009
through
2012. Most funds will be allocated to
infrastructure development ($703
million),
which includes developing ecoculture
model cities, model ecolodges, and
ecotourism
30 | P a g e
trails.
Table 2 summarizes the policies of the
three countries based on the checklist
adapted from Hyslop and Eagles’
(2007) study. An X indicates that a
topic exists. A
blank box indicates that no description
was found for the topic area.
Seven topics were alike in all policies in
the three countries: goals and/or
objectives, methods of transportation,
tourist education and interpretation,
facilities, accommodations, human
resources required for ecotourism, and
tourism
use monitoring. The following seven
topics are applied in two countries:
trails and

31 | P a g e
markings, zoning and temporary area
restrictions, enforcement of rules and
laws,
waste management, marketing and
competition for ecotourism,
measurement of
economic impacts of ecotourism, and
assessment of tourist satisfaction. The
absence
of these topics may be challenging to
each country because it implies that
strategies
are implemented in an inconsistent
manner. For example, a Japanese
manual
suggests a method of transportation as a
park and ride system and the use of low
NO
x

32 | P a g e
emission buses in ecotour destinations.
Japanese policy also defines how to
temporarily restrict tourists’ use in an
area based on the Ecotourism
Promotion
Law.
Ten topics are displayed in only one
country. China’s tourist use plan, for
instance, describes the selected areas
designated for tourism activities, the
control of
tourist group size based on carrying
capacity, the sense of environmental
protection,
respect to locals, and communications
between ecotourists and local residents.
The
Japanese manual describes trails and
markings that indicate the design and
the types
33 | P a g e
of the trails. All of these 10 topics but
one (the tourist use plan) are addressed
in the
Japanese system. The abundance of the
coverage in the Japanese system is due
to the
fact that it has evolved around a law that
forces the policy and manual to contain
diverse subjects.
Comparison of Policies Among the Three Countries:
The publicly available ecotourism policies for the three countries were compared. Asa result, seven
topics were the same in all three countries: goals, principles, implementation strategies, definitions,
missions, responsible ministries, and govern-mental support. The lack of a ministry-level policy on
the accreditation and designation of land or resources in all three countries may suggest a future
emphasis on these policies. Designation of land/resources is addressed only in the Indian system. An
investment plan was established only in ROK’s policy. This plan involves specific numbers and
indicates most funds will be allocated to infrastructure development, which includes developing
ecoculture model cities, model ecolodges, and ecotourism trails.
Seven topics were alike in all policies in the three countries: goals and/or objectives, methods of
transportation, tourist education and interpretation, facilities, accommodations, human resources
required for ecotourism, and tourism use monitoring. The following seven topics are applied in two
countries: trails and markings, zoning and temporary area restrictions, enforcement of rules and laws,
waste management, marketing and competition for ecotourism, measurement of economic impacts of
ecotourism, and assessment of tourist satisfaction. The absence of these topics may be challenging to
each country because it implies that strategies are implemented in an inconsistent manner. Ten topics
are displayed in only one country.
China’s tourist use plan, for instance, describes the selected areas designated for tourism activities,
the control of tourist group size based on carrying capacity, the sense of environmental protection,
respect to locals, and communications between ecotourists and local residents.
Grounds of improvement for India14:
14
https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2020/08/21095722/Eco-tourism.pdf

34 | P a g e
As the existing ecotourism ventures in India vary in nature of origin and scale of operations that
range from government ownership to government-private partnership, government-NGO partnership,
community owned/run, community owned with government support, etc., the ecotourism policy
prescriptions for planning/implementing/monitoring/ regulations would be very different based on
the local contexts. The accumulated evidences on the implementation of ecotourism across India
strongly recommend the establishment (if it exists, then strengthening) of an independent state level
Ecotourism Development Agency with powers to implement unambiguous legal regulations. Ideally,
it should ensure the active participation of representatives drawn from all relevant
sectors/stakeholders with decision making powers.
To start with, they should be provided with training and capacity building inputs on a periodic basis
to promote pro-poor, eco-social enterprises based on well-planned, sustainably-run ecotourism
operations. This can facilitate increased investments in protected areas and reserves, conservation of
cultural heritage, a reduction in poaching, an increase in the non-consumptive value of wildlife
through viewing, and opportunities for rural/coastal/mountain communities to diversify/enhance their
livelihoods through tourism-related jobs, revenue-sharing arrangements, and co-management of
natural/biocultural heritage resources. All these should be incorporated into the national policy on
ecotourism.
Almost all ecotourism destination areas in India (including small islands, coasts, mountains,
wetlands, grasslands and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems and habitats) are
ecologically/culturally vulnerable, but are of outstanding beauty and rich biological/ cultural/heritage
diversity. Hence, only ecotourism can be promoted in such areas (if acceptable to the native
communities) by adapting the following appropriate environmental/socio-economic strategies:
Site improvement is utmost essential. The destination areas should be provided with sustainable
sanitation. Ecosan toilet (urine-diverting dry toilet – UDDT), for example, is a closed system that
does not need water and, hence, it is ideal where water is scarce or where the water table is high with
the risk of groundwater contamination. The toilet is based on the principle of recovery and recycling
of nutrients from excreta (both urine and faeces) to create a valuable manure. Other infrastructure
may include biogas, solar photovoltaic panels, aerogenerators, etc. Adoption of ecological
land/water use planning and eco-technologies based on 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) is
inevitable option. Other measures may include: developing culturally appropriate facilities (e.g.
board walks, trails interpretation centers, etc.), establishment of controls on collection of live
specimens, regulation of dumping of untreated mixed solid/liquid wastes, prohibition of mining of
beach/river sand, regulated use of boat anchors in coral bottom bays, ban on cutting of trees in
camping and trekking areas, restriction on feeding of wild animals, and so on.
• Conserving the vitality and diversity of life by supporting water/nutrient cycles.
• Controlling the human numbers/activities/impacts within the regular absorbing/ carrying capacities
and sustain abilities, so that stability, resilience and diversity of the ecosystem are not irreversibly
affected.
• Managing visitor behavior through host control over visitor number, activities and impacts.

35 | P a g e
• Reducing poverty by providing alternative livelihoods, promoting equity and improving the quality
of life.
• Sustainable use of biodiversity in general and renewable resources and common property resources
in particular.
• Changing personal attitudes and practices in tune with cultural diversity and the locally available
resources.
• Working towards self-sufficiency to meet the local needs of the communities.
• Integration of conservation and development (policies, legislation, implementation, participation,
etc.) based on a gender balanced approach.
• Environmental education/legislation for maintenance of environmental quality/health standards.
• Application of ecological land use planning/zoning (for water also) regulations with
appropriate development standards and good site planning principles in tourism areas.
Prevention of linear development along road/shorelines (Tanja, 2008; Brown, Sanders, and Reed,
2018).
• Proper maintenance of tourist vehicles for energy conservation and pollution control by using
electric cars/vehicles/boats wherever possible or necessary.
• Promotion of tourism activities which use green/sustainable technologies for saving water and
energy, preventing pollution, treating waste water, avoiding the production of solid waste and
encouraging recycling. Similarly, tourism activities which encourage the use of public and non-
motorized transport should be in place.
• Incorporation of interpretation, training/capacity building, outreach programmes and
community regulation for all stakeholders; integration of on-site heritage/culture/biodiversity
interpretation by elders, healers and locals; putting local limitations on the use/access (both
temporal and spatial) – hosts can set limits on access to homelands and sacred sites (spatial
limitation); restriction on times for tourist access/use (temporal limitation), permitted tourist
activities (activity limitation); and limiting the access to cultural knowledge and rituals (cultural
limitation).
• Sharpening political and administrative integrity to solve the sectoral/policy conflicts by optimal
trade-offs for enhancing both individual and community benefits at the local/regional levels
through more inclusive, participatory governance.

36 | P a g e
 CONCLUSION

As one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry, there are bound to be some downsides
to ecotourism. Whenever humans interact with animals or even with the environment, it risks the
chance of human-wildlife conflict or other negative effects; if done so with respect and responsibility
in mind, however, ecotourism can reap enormous benefits to protected areas.
As an industry that relies heavily on the presentation of eco-friendly components to attract
customers, ecotourism has the inevitable potential as a vessel for greenwashing. Part of planning a
trip rooted in ecotourism is doing research to ensure that an organization is truly providing
substantial benefits to the environment rather than exploiting it.

 Ecotourism Can Provide Sustainable Income for Local Communities

Sustainably managed ecotourism can support poverty alleviation by providing employment for local
communities, which can offer them alternative means of livelihood outside of unsustainable ones
(such as poaching).
Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that communities in
regions surrounding conservation areas in Costa Rica had poverty rates that were 16% lower than in
areas that weren’t near protected parks. These protected areas didn’t just benefit from conservation
funds due to ecotourism, but also helped to reduce poverty as well.

 It Protects Natural Ecosystems

Ecotourism offers unique travel experiences focusing on nature and education, with an emphasis on
sustainability and highlighting threatened or endangered species. It combines conservation with local
communities and sustainable travel, highlighting principles (and operations) that minimize negative
impacts and expose visitors to unique ecosystems and natural areas. When managed correctly,
ecotourism can benefit both the traveler and the environment, since the money that goes into
ecotourism often goes directly towards protecting the natural areas they visit.
Empowering local people aims to encourage the local economy to create a multiplier effect. The role
and participation of the local population is the primary target in the economic development of the
ecotourism services. The higher the role, the more the local communities receive incentives through
enhanced livelihoods and environmental conservation. Towards this end, the revised ecotourism
policy should create appropriate inclusive partnerships with local communities by recognizing site
specific traditional rights that could assist in adopting successful ecotourism strategies. Enforcing
existing laws and regulations related to ecotourism by a system of incentives/disincentives and
refining them wherever needed should be emphasized in the forthcoming revised national ecotourism
policy.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Articles:

1. http://www.ecoindia.com/eco-tourism-in-india

2. https://www.ibef.org/blogs/ecotourism-a-model-to-reboot-tourism

3. Researchgate.in

4. https://scholar.google.com/

5. https://www.nccf.in/

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