ARMY INSTITUTE OF LAW

CHALLENGES OF ECOTOURISM

A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO ARMY

INSTITUTE OF LAW IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR
THE DEGREE OF B.A.L.L.B

SUBMITTED BY:

Yuvraj Goswami

ROLL NO.- 1616

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A project is a golden oppurtunity for learning and self

development. I consider myself very lucky and honoured
to have so many wonderful people who lead me through
in completion of this project.

My grateful thanks to Lokendra Singh and Deepak

Kumar, who in spite of being extraordinarily busy with
his work, took time out to hear, guide and keep me on
the correct path. I am very thankful to him for his
support.
 Index

1. Introduction
2. Atidhi Devo Bhavah
3. Importance of Ecotourism
4. Principles of Ecotourism
5. Challenges of Ecotourism
6. Suggestions and policy recommendations
7. Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION

Global tourism is recognized by governments as a sector with high economic development

potential and job creation. International organizations such as the World Tourism

Organization (WTO)1 have underscored the tremendous development potential of tourism

especially for developing countries like India. It is estimated that economies like India and

China would emerge as the superpowers in world tourism until 2020. Despite the noticeable

growth in tourism2 in recent years and given the excellent growth prospects of the industry,

concern about the sustainability of tourism as a development paradigm is growing mainly

because of the negative environmental impact. It is generally believed that environment

friendly tourism alone can be sustainable in the long term, and accordingly, the concept of

"ecotourism" is gaining importance.3 Ecotourism promises local communities employment,

income and the necessary exchange of foreign currency to national governments while

allowing the continued existence of the natural resource base.

Tourism is the largest and fastest industry in the world. India's glorious traditions and rich

cultural heritage are closely linked to the development of tourism. In the global scenario,

tourism is the largest industry in the world. Ecotourism has received much attention in recent

years, especially in developing countries. It has been linked to sustainable development

initiatives, protected areas, conservation efforts and regional and municipal development

strategies in many places.4 In today’s world ecotourism is the only instrument for sustainable

development. Ecotourism has a lot of leeway and at the same time the rapid growth of

tourism has also had a negative impact on the environment and socio-cultural issues.

1
UNWTO, (10 [8, 2019, 12:12 PM]), http://www2.unwto.org/.
2
INDIA TOURISM STATISTICS AT A GLANCE – 2018, (10 [8, 2019, 12:43 PM]),
http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/ITS_Glance_2018_Eng_Version_for_Mail.pdf.
3
Rinkesh, What is Ecotourism?, CONSERVE ENRGY FUTURE, (10 [8, 2019, 12:52 PM]), https://www.conserve-
energy-future.com/principles-importance-benefits-ecotourism.php.
4
What is Ecotourism?, THE INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM SOCIETY, (10 [8, 2019, 12:55 PM]),
https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/.
Ecotourism is "responsible travel to nature, areas that protect the environment and improve

the well-being of local people."5

ATIDHI DEVO BHAVAH6

The traditional treatment of a visitor in India is based on the mythological concept of Atidhi

Devo Bhavah (Guest is God). This was the Indian mantra of the tourism sector. The Ministry

of Tourism has launched the "Atithi Devo Bhavah" campaign under an ambitious program to

attract more tourists. The concept is aimed at capacity building for service providers and

stakeholders in tourism sector to alert tourists to the benefits in India and the need to treat

them with traditional care and utmost courtesy. This was done by the New National Tourism

Policy, which revolves around a framework government led, privately driven and welfare

orientated. The tenth plan approach to the sector also aimed to ensure that the tourist comes

to India gets "strengthened, mentally rejuvenated, culturally enriched, spiritually elevated and

feels India in himself ". A nationwide awareness campaign for public awareness of garbage

and graffiti on monuments was raised under the title "Atidhi Devo Bhavah" for the

conservation and protection of monuments and sites of the country.

IMPORTANCE OF ECOTOURISM

In the words of Mark Twain, ‘India is a fabulous world of splendour and rags, the one

country under the sun with an imperishable interest, the one land that all men desire to see’.7

The diversity of wildlife in India is as rich as that of flora and fauna found only in Africa. The

5
Bassam K & Mujeeb Rahman AP, SOCIAL IMPACTS OF ECOTOURISM IN INDIA, 2 IJARIIE 308, (2016).
6
About Tourism, NRIOL, (10 [8, 2019, 12:57 PM]), https://www.nriol.com/india-tourism/hospitality.asp.
7
Mark Twain, GOODREADS, (10 [8, 2019, 13:00 PM]), https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7455303-this-is-
indeed-india-the-land-of-dreams-and.
great wealth of Indian wildlife can be imagined with the sight of majestic elephants, the

dance of the peacock, the camel’s step, the roar of the lion are unparalleled beauty. The

vastness of the flora and fauna in India is unique in the world. This brings out immense

possibilities for wildlife tourism in India. Development of ecotourism has entered an exciting

period in northern India. The Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and The Bay of Bengal have a

very large coastline.

India is one of the world's 12 mega countries with a biodiversity and has rich cultural heritage

as well.8 It has a huge potential for ecotourism that needs to be unlocked for the healthy

preservation and conservation of nature and bring about economic benefits for local

communities. Ecotourism in India has developed recently.9 The concept itself is relatively

new. India has spectacular, attractive, natural and cultural tourist attractions. India offers

tremendous diversity in topography, natural resources and climate. There are landlocked

mountain areas regions, lush valleys and plains, white sand beaches and islands. In Central

India there are numerous nature reserves with countless species of flora and fauna.

The most important feature of ecotourism in India is the ability to create great job

opportunities, especially in remote areas and underdeveloped areas.10 It offers enormous

potential for the use of natural resources such as landscapes, mountains, biodiversity areas,

rivers, etc. for the benefit of people.

Ecotourism is not just a travelogue. There is the message of relationship with nature and its

own inhabitants. India became a very common country for ecotourism, because of its natural

resources and beauty. Ecotourism focuses on Indian local cultures, wilderness, adventures

8
India – Country Profile, CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, (10 [8, 2019, 13:03 PM]),
https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/default.shtml?country=in.
9
Eco Tourism in India, ECO INDIA, (10 [8, 2019, 13:07 PM]), http://www.ecoindia.com/eco-tourism-in-
india.html.
10
Importance of Eco-Tourism in India, SHODHGANGA, (10 [8, 2019, 13:07 PM]),
https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/19757/14/14_chapter3.pdf.
and environment protection. In India, the movement wins with more travel and travel-related

organizations to meet the needs of eco tourists and promotion of ecotourism in the country.

As a concept, ecotourism has gained momentum in India lately, but as a lifestyle Indians have

practiced ecotourism since time immemorial by using traditional approach to nature and its

rich cultural heritage. The immense popularity of ecotourism in India stems from the fact that

people are increasing awareness of environmental hazards and the importance of the

existence of diverse flora and fauna.11 The ecological diversity of India is probably the most

diverse in the world. Ecotourism does not disturb or change the actual biodiversity of India; it

only popularizes the remote parts of India.

Ecotourism in India is a niche industry that has developed mainly in India over the last few

years. Ecotourism is largely based on the concept of sustainable tourism or eco-friendly

tourism. This has often been the case with tourism destinations in India, where the ecological

balance of a fragile area has deteriorated drastically due to the pressure of tourism. Therefore,

the country is trying to promote tourism in a region in such a way that it generates significant

revenue without disturbing the sensitive ecosystem in the region. This type of tourism is

extremely important to India bearing in mind that it has one of the richest biodiversity in the

world.

The Indian topography has a rich flora and fauna. India has numerous rare and endangered

species in its environment. The declaration of several nature reserves and national parks has

promoted growth of wildlife resources.12 Today, India has many nature reserves and

protection laws.

11
Megan, What Exactly is Ecotourism, MAPPINGMEGAN, (10 [8, 2019, 13:07 PM]),
https://www.mappingmegan.com/what-is-ecotourism/.
12
Eco Tourism in India, ECO INDIA, (10 [8, 2019, 13:13 PM]), http://www.ecoindia.com/eco-tourism-in-
india.html
India has numerous botanical and zoological gardens which work towards improving the

ecosystem. There are serious punishment for poachers, hunters and illegal traders of animals

and trees. There are several animal and plant rights organizations that stand for the rights of

animals and plants. Numerous organizations and NGOs have put in effort in providing

environmental education to ordinary people at grass-roots level.13

Ecotourism is an attempt at sustainable ecological development. India is a land of

geographical diversity and wonders and hence, offers excellent opportunities for ecotourism.

No country in the world offers so many geographical varieties as much as India. India offers

unsurpassed reach and diversity that justifies multiple ecotourism travel.

Ecotourism in India is beginning to qualify for the attention of tourists, government and

entrepreneurs for obvious reasons. India has enough potential in ecotourism to meet the

interests of tourists. Ecotourism industry is one of the leading employment-creating sectors in

India and it generates directly or indirectly about 3.8% of total employment generation every

year in India.

India is full of topographical variations with amazing scenic beauty. Mountain ranges of the

Himalayas, golden beaches, impenetrable forests and many water bodies along with a rich

mix of culture provoke people all over the world to travel to India. Ecotourism is the best way

to enjoy the charisma of nature without damaging it and for the admiration of the wonders of

nature.

13
India, OVERVIEW OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, (10 [8, 2019, 13:19 PM]),
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/CSB-IND.pdf.
 PRINCIPLES OF ECOTOURISM14

Basically, ecotourism means causing as little pollution as possible and contributing to the

preservation of the indigenous population. This promotes conservation of wildlife and

habitats when visiting a location. This is a responsible form of tourism and tourism

development that promotes the return to natural products in all walks of life. It is also the key

to a sustainable ecological development.

This means that those who implement ecotourism and participate in such activities should

follow the following principles:

o Minimize impact

o Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect

o Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts

o Provide direct financial benefits for conservation

o Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people

o Raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate

o Support international human rights and labor agreements

14
Bassam K & Mujeeb Rahman AP, SOCIAL IMPACTS OF ECOTOURISM IN INDIA, 2 IJARIIE 308, (2016).
 CHALLENGES OF ECOTOURISM

"Tourism has a tendency to become something like a steamroller wherever it goes. It can

completely destroy natural places. Ecotourism is about trying to stop that."

- Megan Epler Wood15

The quote tries to define the benefit of ecotourism in comparison to mass tourism. Creating a

concept is much easier than its implementation and it comes in handy when we say that

reaching one hundred percent achievement in any implementation program is inevitable.

That's true with the concept ecotourism around the world. Indian ecotourism industry is

successful but faced with a number of problems that are detrimental. There are number of

topics relating to ecotourism in India, which are against the principle of concept.16

1. Environmental Issues:-

One of the most disturbing facts about ecotourism is that it promotes especially the

expropriation of wilderness area, national parks, isolated tribal areas and even areas

without permanent traces of settlement. Tourists who opt for such tourism often

belong to the wealthy classes of the society and are able and willing to pay for

anything they want and hence, consumption is the main topic here. Tour operators

always succumb to the demands of visitors and to facilitate and entertain them, they

build completely artificial landscape in the area that have mega-resorts, luxury hotels

and shopping centres. Such changes cost almost the entire ecosystem.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, many species of flora and fauna lose their natural

habitat. In the long term this can even lead to species extinction. Tourism competes

with other forms of development and human activity for natural resources, especially

15
Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay, Towards responsible tourism, FRONTLINE, (10 [8, 2019, 13:25 PM]),
https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1904/19040830.htm.
16
Risks and Benefits of Eco Tourism, ECO INDIA, (10 [8, 2019, 13:29 PM]),
http://www.ecoindia.com/sustainable-tourism/risks-and-benefits-of-eco-tourism.html.
 land and water. The use of natural resources then leads to the transformation of

ecological habitats and loss of flora and fauna. Land transformation for tourism

development can directly destroy ecological habitats. The use of resources for tourism

is associated with “opportunity costs” as these are denied usage by other sectors for

economic development.

2. Socio-Economic Issues:-

Just because such a thing is marketed as ecotourism does not necessarily mean the

long term motto of providing socio-economic benefits with environmental protection

for the reception areas will be achieved. The fact that ecotourism companies are often

owned and controlled by external interests as well as mass tourism, the economic

benefits are often not used for the protection of the territories or in support of the local

community. In addition, the carrying capacity of receiving areas is not calculated. As

a result there is a breakdown of civilian facilities during the peak season when the

influx of tourists is huge.

3. Impact over Locals:-

One of the main goals of ecotourism is to involve local communities to benefit from

conservation, efficiency and environmental protection development and

environmental education. While most of the inhabitants are nearby, they are directly

affected by the establishment of parks and protected areas but also benefit from their

conservation. Ecotourism deceives the locals in two ways. First, their traditional

economic and social structure is undergoing a transformation in the direction of

tourism monoculture. Second, the promise to them to deliver perennial source of

income and rational distribution of profits are extremely insincere. These locals get

jobs, but only of low quality, low value and seasonal nature. They usually serve as

tour guides, caterers or souvenir sellers in the location. The lion's share of the revenue
 is attributable exclusively to organizers. It can therefore be said that the costs of

ecotourism are borne by locals and big players like organizers make a profit.

The tax paid by tourists in India is the highest in the world. Compared to other Asian

countries the tax rate is between 3 and 6%. Indian hotels charge about 40% tax.

Another important factor for the limited exploitation of tourism potential of the

country is the deterioration of the macro-economic central panning to the level of

micro-planning. Other problems are bad service, bad advertising, lack of

infrastructure, lack of security, poor management, improper implementation of

government policy, lack of coordination between the Centre and the State

governments in the promotion of tourism, involving too many intermediaries, big gap

between politics and economy practice and so on.

SUGGESTIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS17

• Restoration and preservation of historical monuments, artwork, painting, carving etc

with every care.

• Improve and add value to existing destinations / packages and create new one.

• Private sector tour operators should be encouraged to come forward and take part in

the Tourism promotion exercise.

• Pay more attention on environment protection, more emphasis should be placed on

encouraging eco-friendly sustainable tourism. For this, awareness should be created

and there should be people’s participation in the mission.

• Improve the management of India’s natural and manmade resources.

17
Bassam K & Mujeeb Rahman AP, SOCIAL IMPACTS OF ECOTOURISM IN INDIA, 2 IJARIIE 308, (2016).
• The government tour operators, local tourism promoters should work hand in hand in

developing effective sustainable tourism.

• Set standards of recruitment, to govern employment in the tourism and hospitality

sector.

• Tourism planning, development and operation should be a part of conservation or

sustainable development strategies.

• Agencies, corporations, groups and individuals should follow ethical and other

principles with respect the culture and environment of the host area.

• Tourism should be undertaken with equity in mind to distribute fairly benefits and

costs among tourism promoters and host people and areas.

• Good information, research and communication on the nature of tourism should be

made available.

• All round development of infrastructure, efficient means of transport including civil

aviation.

• Integrated environmental, social and economic planning analysis should be

undertaken prior to the commencement of any major projects.

• What is now essential is that the players of tourism or stakeholders of the tourism

industry should take all possible steps to implement plans and strategies which

strengthen India’s position on the World Tourism Map.

• We need to leverage our heritage and culture, the richest in the world. We need to

leverage Nature’s enormous gifts to India.

 CONCLUSION

Given the large geographical and biological diversity, the scope of application of

ecotourism in India is very high. If these resources are used successfully, we can change

the face of the ecotourism industry in India. What is actually needed is careful planning

and a goal-oriented approach. Ecotourism in India has flourished because of the

enormous biodiversity that is not found anywhere else in the world. It however, must be

recognized that there are still immense potentials to be tapped with regard to the optimal

use of available natural resources. Well done ecotourism can be of great benefit to

biodiversity.

There are a few factors that have greatly promoted ecotourism in India. India, however, is

full of potential has not yet been exhausted and in the coming years the country can count

on harvesting some great rewards considering the enormous potential of the ecotourism

industry it offers in the field of job creation and foreign exchange.

At this time, the government has to devote attention to the needs of the ecotourism

industry. It is assumed that the tourism industry will be the largest industry in the world

by 2020. In this way ecotourism in India requires to be developed by amending laws to

achieve the goals of sustainability.