The Socio-economic Benefits and Challenges of Community Based Tourism

Experiences from Andhra Pradesh

Dr.Prashant Kumar Singh *
Dr.A.Raghu**

Abstract
Tourism is one of the most important and fast growing industry in Andhra Pradesh. Its
high growth rate and development activities in remote areas are very important for the
social development of the local people. Tourism is responsible for generation of
employment of local people. Mainly the infrastructure development like drinking water,
power, and roads are actively affecting various facets of socio-economic conditions
which positively contribute to the overall development of the region and the state. The
Government of Andhra Pradesh through its various agencies related to tourism, social
development, forests is enforcing its policies related to the development of tourism by
involving the local communities. The agencies identified for tourism development is
doing its work in these eight destinations, they are namely at Maredumilli (East Godavari
District), Nelapattu (Nellore District), Mamandur, Talakona, Nanniyal (Chittoor District),
Balapalli (Kadapa District), Ettipotala (Guntur District) and Kambala Konda
(Visakhapatnam District).
The government has started its activities in the identified destinations by involving the
local community people and making them as principal stake holders. In order to
accelerate its systematic growth and development the government framed community
based tourism guidelines in its 2010 policy. This research paper evaluates the results of
the projects and their method of implementation. Further the benefits of the local people
through these projects and their expectation towards the project and challenges faced by
them.
Keywords: Community based tourism policy, identified sites, local communities, Andhra
Pradesh Tourism.
Introduction:
Andhra Pradesh State is a land of different cultures, heritage monuments, mountains,
river belts, coastal lines, pilgrimage centers, world class film making studios, lush green
valleys, zoo parks, hospitable peoples and variety of food habits etc. It is therefore, a fact
of that the Andhra Pradesh has enormous tourism potential, a prospective must leverage
and uphold. Tourism industry is smokeless industry, income generating industry and
employment generation industry. The Andhra Pradesh tourism is not only selling its
products and also analyze the needs, preferences and satisfactions of the tourists that it

can offer. Hence, the study intension is to analyze the tourists responses with the help of
questionnaires (Krishnaiah, P. (2012).
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is extending its services so as to cater
to the needs of different groups of clientele with the concept of tourism development and
has been giving emphasis not only to increase the revenue for the Government but also to
satisfy the growing needs of different groups of clientele. The company was incorporated
in February 1976 as a subsidiary of Andhra Pradesh State Road Corporation (APSRTC)
in the name of Travel And Tourism Development Corporation Private Ltd with an
authorized and paid up capital of 100 and 13 lakhs respectively. The company was
registered in March 1980 under the name Andhra Pradesh Travel and Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd. The main objective of the company is to develop Tourism
in the state. The main aim is to position the state as the "Dream - Destination" of the
Country (Kirk, J. A. 2005). Tourism is one of the important economic sectors, which is
not flourishing as desired due to acute water shortage and other facilities. Proper
management of water resources both on surface and underground is essential in areas
important for tourism for the development of that industry (Raghu, V., & Swamy, M. V.
2009). Specific national, regional, and local conditions with specific cultural, historical,
institutional, and political legacies all shape the particular experiences of sub-national
territories and their economic and social development (Pike and Tomaney, 2004; Pandey
and Reddy, 2012). Andhra Pradesh state is one of the largest states in India with a
population of 84.6 million in 23 districts. The state was formed in 1956 by the merging of
three regions, namely, Telangana, Coastal Andhra, and Rayalaseema. Telangana region
occupies the largest geographical area of the state (42%), followed by Coastal Andhra
(34%) and Rayalaseema (25%). Population density is higher in Coastal Andhra
(367/sq.km), followed by Telangana (288/sq.km) and Rayalaseema (213/sq.km).
Objectives:
To collect the details of the community based tourism projects in Andhra Pradesh.
To collect the details and number of people involved and benefited from the project
To know the socio-economic benefits of tourism to the stake holders of the community
based tourism projects.
To understand the initiatives of the government to encourage and promote community
based ecotourism projects.
To know the marketing and promotional activities carried out by the members of the
community based tourism projects.

Community Based Tourism Projects:

About the Community-based Eco-tourism Center at Maredumilli The Maredumilli
Forests of East Godavari District, which form one of the less disturbed forest tracts of
Eastern Ghats, are endowed with rich biodiversity of flora and fauna and are home to
important wildlife like the tiger, bison, panther, varieties of deer, birds and butterflies.
This forest forms catchments for River Godavari and River Shabari." It is also home
to a number of primitive tribes like Konda Reddy, Konda Koyas, Valmikies, Gonds,
Nayaka Podus, etc.
The Maredumilli Community Conservation and Eco-tourism Area is situated on
Maredumilli-Bhadrachalam Road, nearly four kilometers away from Maredumilli
Village, in the midst of undisturbed Eastern Ghats, which are home to rich flora and
fauna. The area has many streams flowing over the undulating rocks in the deep woods
and any visitor can feel the thrilling experience by living in nature and visiting the
primitive tribal habitations of Konda Reddys and knowing their way of life ( Jayesh
Ranjan , (2011),

1. Wildlife Management Circle Tirupathi: There is a great scope for the ET locations
outside the Protected Area like Talakona, Mamandur, Jungle Book and Tummalabailu in
WLM Tirupathi Circle.
2. Nizamabad: CBET can be proposed in Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary near Sangareddy
which is a wetland of importance and a prominent bird area which also harbors marsh
crocodile. The activities like boating and bird watching are the main attraction here.
3. Project Tiger Circle Srisailam: In the existing Farhabad Site certain visitor facilities
like rest shed, seating benches, water facility, toilet, hording and sign boards at locations
like Farhabad gate, Rasumallabavi, Mallelatheertham and Farhabad view point can be
taken up. This CBET project can be a role model to the other projects.
4. Guntur: The existing setup at CBET Kotappakonda can be strengthened by proposing
activities like development of water sources, improvement to tourism complex,
education and extension. This is an ongoing project and an investment of Rs.10.00 Lakhs
is proposed to strengthen the existing facilities. The CCF Guntur may be requested to
ensure that the gate money is deposited in VSS account and utilized for maintenance of
the facilities.

5. Ananthapur: The existing tourism complex at Horsely hills which is attracting large
number of visitors can be strengthened by proposing improvement and maintenance of
forest guest house, nature study center, environmental complex etc.,
6. Eluru: The CBET at Attapaka in Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary with facilities like
construction of platform for boarding into boats, childrens recreation center, audio-visual
equipment, reception center, cafeteria and protective wall etc., can become a major EcoTourism destination.
7. Rajahmundry: The CBET project at Maredumill is one of its kind with several added
attractions. Further activities like protective fence around jungle star camp, improvement
to accommodation, seating benches, trek path, Hill Myna restaurant can be taken up.
Further activities like providing childrens play area, tented accommodation, converting
existing departmental building into dormitory, common toilets, sign boards, publicity
material and maintenance of CBET complex at all ecotourism points can be proposed.
8. Kurnool: The Somasila backwaters at Kottapadu can be a major Eco- Tourism
destination by taking up activities like construction of boat house, purchase of boats,
launch, establishing restaurant, construction of pagodas, toilet facilities, watch tower,
childrens play area, EEC, visitor center, nature trek etc.,
9. Khammam: The proposals to develop CBET project at Sri Ramagiri to Kollur in
Papikonda hills and CBET at Mothugudem waterfalls in Lakkavaram range by providing
facilities like nature trail, eco-friendly meditation huts, EEC, cafeteria, souvenir shop,
toilet facilities, publicity material etc., can be proposed. Department of Forests , (2012)
Economic Benefits
The local tribal communities derive many economic and social benefits from this
innovative project both directly and indirectly. These benefits can be listed as:
i) Revenue to the 30 local families involved in the tourism project that is additional to
their routine earnings.
ii) Direct employment for 30 families, including women, in one way or the other through
the project.
iii) Sale of tribal handicrafts made of bamboo.
iv) Income from sales of forest products such as Honey, Gooseberry, Jackfruits and
Toddy.
v) Tips from visitors while performing tribal folk dances.
Forest Department Benefits

1) Effective protection of forest and wildlife with involvement of tribal communities

through Forest Protection Committees.
2) Weaning away the tribal community from practicing shifting cultivation that is
unsustainable and harmful to the environment.
Social Benefits
The local communities also get social benefits out of interaction with the visitors. As
tourism activity increases in the area, the local people exhibit their indigenous traditional
skills and disseminate these traditional knowledge systems to the visitors. The local
tribes also get trained in interpreting the flora, especially the medicinal plants, as well as
the habits and habitat of the wild fauna, traditional therapies and healing systems.
Social Change:
The most significant development in the area is a total return to peace. This area was till
recently a stronghold of left-wing guerilla extremists operating in Eastern Ghats forest
tracts. People used to get scared even to drive through the forest, let alone stay there.
Now, with the tribal community taking up the full responsibility of running the
ecotourism center, there is an unbelievable change in the safety and security perspective
of the tourists. The tourists have the opportunity to stay in the jungle that was once
considered not safe. Jungle Star Eco-camp is now a sought-after destination for
birdwatchers, trekkers, butterfly lovers, wildlife enthusiasts and people interested in
jungle stays.
Marketing Initiatives
The Forest Department directly markets this rural tourism initiative through their state
and district hierarchy. APTDC has developed extensive marketing initiatives through its
Information and Reservation Centers. The destination is also marketed through the
APTDC website and several othersupporting materials, such as brochures, handouts, etc.
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF TOURISM
The ecotourism system exercises tremendous financial and political influence. The
evidence above shows that a strong case exists for restraining such activities in certain
locations. Funding could be used for field studies aimed at finding alternative solutions to
tourism and the diverse problems Africa faces in result of urbanization, industrialization,
and the over exploitation of agriculture (Kamuaro, 2007). At the local level, ecotourism
has become a source of conflict over control of land, resources, and tourism profits. In

this case, ecotourism has harmed the environment and local people, and has led to
conflicts over profit distribution. In a perfect world, more efforts would be made towards
educating tourists of the environmental and social effects of their travels. Very few
regulations or laws stand in place as boundaries for the investors in ecotourism. These
should be implemented to prohibit the promotion of unsustainable ecotourism projects
and materials, which project false images of destinations, demeaning local and
indigenous cultures.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
The industrialization, urbanization, and unsustainable agriculture practices of human
society are considered having a serious effect on the environment. Ecotourism is now
also considered to be playing a role in this depletion. While the term ecotourism may
sound relatively benign, one of its most serious impacts is its consumption of virgin
territories (Kamuaro, 2007). These invasions often include deforestation, disruption of
ecological life systems and various forms of pollution, all of which contribute to
environmental degradation. The number of motor vehicles crossing the park increases as
tour drivers search for rare species. The number of roads has disrupted the grass cover,
which has serious effects on plant and animal species. These areas also have a higher rate
of disturbances and invasive species because of all the traffic moving off the beaten path
into new undiscovered areas (Kamuaro, 2007).
Conclussion :

*Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Hotel Management, IGNTU, Amarkantak.
**Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Hotel Management, IGNTU, Amarkantak.
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