Tag: Responsible Tourism

What is Ecotourism?

“Tourism involving travel to areas of natural or ecological interest, typically under the guidance of a naturalist, for the purpose of observing wildlife and learning about the environment and at the same time focus on wildlife and promotion of understanding and conservation of the environment.”

This is a conscientious form of tourism and tourism development, which encourages going back to natural products in every aspect of life and help preserve nature. It is also the key to sustainable ecological development.

Goals and Principles of Ecotourism

Ecotourism is essentially all about bringing nature/wildlife conservationists, local communities, and the responsible travel industry together to ensure development focused on long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits.

The goal is to develop tourist accommodations, activities, and attractions that benefit everyone involved– the local flora/fauna, the local people, travel industry stakeholders, and travelers alike.

Education is a key aspect of ecotourism initiatives, for locals and visitors alike. Most of these efforts are focused on improving awareness, sensitizing people to environmental issues, and encouraging them to be conscious of their impact on the places they visit.

Characteristics:

• Motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures.
• Should be conducted inNatural areas.
• Generally for small groups
• Minimizes negative impacts
• Generating economic benefits for host communities
• Increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.

Check out some of the objectives of Karnataka Eco Tourism board. Some of the interested aspirants of becoming nature guides, hosts and ecotourism operators can learn more.

The increase in tourism in the twentieth century set the place for the origin of ecotourism mainly because of two motives. Firstly, more tourism has cut down seriously on the natural environment causing extensive defeat to natural resources and secondly, ecotourism or the nature-based tourism is commonly accepted, presenting a clean and more steady, sustainable and commercially viable tourism goods that matched to the comfort of the tourists, entrepreneurs and the governments.

The objectives of the Karnataka Eco tourism board:

1. To create awareness regarding the conservation of forests and wildlife amongst the people in general and children and youth, in particular.

2. To encourage and promote tourism activities in the country in general and the State of Karnataka, in particular.

3. To encourage local community involvement in ecotourism and provide greater employment opportunities and economic benefits to the local people.

4. To assist in formulation of policies, laws and guidelines for organized development of ecotourism activities in the state.

5. To conduct research and impact-studies in ecotourism areas.

6. To promote ecotourism as a front line non consumptive activity of Forest Department.

7. To develop good practices to be followed by ecotourism operators.

8. To standardize and operate certification of ecotourism operators.

9. To train and certify nature guides.

10. To produce literature and electronic media material required for nature education and ecotourism promotion.

11. To facilitate linkages between public and private operators n the cause of conservation of wildlife.

12. To coordinate and liaise with national /international bodies, experts and funding agencies and receive contribution and funds from Government of India, State Government, National and International funding agencies etc.

13. To encourage local community involvement in ecotourism.

14. To maintain and facilitate ecotourism activities inside the parks and forest areas.

15. To develop trekking trails and operate wildlife safaris in the “Protected Areas”.

16. To encourage public-private partnerships (PPP) in the area of ecotourism, wherever the law permits.

Updates:

11 eco-trails have been identified within the Western Ghats region and the concerned authorities have already been notified. All the eco-trails will have a fee charged by the forest department, ranging between ₹500 to ₹1,000. The move is to encourage youngsters to come closer to nature and put an end to illegal treks in the woods

From my previous blog you can learn more about What is Eco Tourism? From adopting eco tourism in Western Ghats regions of Karnataka we can build a healthy tourism and preserve our nature for the future.