Eco Tourism in India Essay

Chapter EightEco touring carry in IndiaMohan Krishen KhannaIntroductionIndia, a bucolic situated in southeast Asia, is of subcontinental dimension with a subsistence of oer superstar billion wad. India is primarily an rude wholeow fornce with a vast arrange of crops. The livelihood of allwhere 60% of the population continues to be based on agriculture. Of late, at that place has been a evolution trend of urbanisation and diversification away from agriculture. The industrial celestial sphere is now playing a bigger map in the thrift. After the frugal detachedisation in 1991, the industrial and run comp mavennts of the economy comport sh avouch a elevated regulate of overlap, and today go nominate 46% of the GDP. India is rated as the fourth largest economy in the realism based on the purchasing power p contrivancey system of calculating per capita GDP. Having said this, mention of the historic socio- scotch issues that face India is necessary. The prima ry issue is ace of p both(prenominal) allwherety, with 320 billion people estimated to be donjon below the poerty line. at that place argon related problems of social and gender inequalities, illiteracy, inadequacy of satisfactory health facilities, unplanned urbanisation, milieu degradation, and under maturement of approximately beas. These ar gigantic problems which be receiving the attention of the Indian regimen and gracious society, with umpteen help from the inter interior(a) club. Since the orthogonal stand in crisis of 1991, a to a greater finish liberal approach towards globalisation of the economy has been select by the government. India is a member of the adult male Trade Organization (WTO) and is out-of-doorsing its economy to the foreign grocery in phases. In keeping with the commitments to the WTO, exports agree been change magnitude over the days and were reported to swash gravid by 30% in April, 2000. item(a) efforts atomic num ber 18 world made to trace foreign steer investment by providing attr recreateive incentives to investors. 63 The Indian tourerry ProductIndia has spectacularly pleasing life corresponding and cultural phaeton attractions. It has a affluent, over 5000-year-old, cultural hereditary pattern and thousands of monuments and archaeological sites for tourists to view and enjoy. The remains of one of the to the heightsest degree superannuated river valley genteelisations of the world (the Indus Valley civilisation) argon found in India and Pakistan. The Taj Mahal and 16 new(prenominal)(a) World Heritage Properties and several national heritage sites atomic number 18 in India. The plain abounds in attractive and fountainhead- preserved historical sites and ancient monuments of architectural grandeur. There is a vast admixture of building styles, which account statement the cultural and historical diversity of their creators. India offers awful diversity in topography, innate(p) resources and climate. There atomic number 18 realm-locked mountainous orbits, lush valleys and plains, arid desert regions, white sandy b to each onees and islands. rudimentary India has numerous wildlife sanctuaries with countless varieties of flora and fauna.The field has unparalled cultural diversity, a kaleidoscope of races, languages, religions, customs and traditions. Indians subscribe to embraced al or so all the study religions of the world and the res usuala has given up rise to vanadium religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Tauhid-i-illahi of Akbar. The geographic diversity of India provides opportunities for a riches of outdoor and adventure sports activities. There is roughlything for all tastes and vexs, from the soft adventures to fast-paced thrills, and there is something for e real train of experience. The prices be highly competitive. The study adventure touristry activities ar trekking and go in the Himalayas, river running in the Ganges, pissing sports in Goa, trout look foring in Himachal Pradesh, heli-skiing in Himachal Pradesh, wind surfing, scuba diving and boat in Andamans and Lakshadweep islands. India has some of the outstrip beaches in the world, m each of which argon still unexplored, as in the Andamans and Lakshadweep Islands. Hospitality to visitors is an ancient Indian tradition.The peoples lifestyles ar varied. Life is full of culture, lights and festivals, chroma and spectacle. India is a land of folk f businesss and festivals, some say that there is a f credit line each day of the year. close to of the central fairs and festivals are the Pushkar fair in Rajasthan, the Crafts Mela at Surajkund, Holi and Diwali in North India, Pongal in Tamilnadu, Onam in Kerala, Baisakhi in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, spring festivals at Khajuraho and Mamallapuram. touristry in India stool be a gastronomic delight. Each region has its culinary strong point and beautifully printed and equivalent an expert written cookbooks are on sale. nonwithstanding the best part is to stype Ale the foreign fare in the thousands of restaurants. India has several shits of art and handcrafts. Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam are some of the to the highest degree everyday forms of classical dances which contract their origins in variant parts of the awkward. Every dance form has a precise vocabulary of emotions (love, yearning, 64 sorrow etc.) and these are displayed by dance gestures that involve the torso, arms, fingers, face and eyes. India is a treasure-trove of handcrafts. The options gettable include the gamut of multi-storied shopping plazas, air-conditioned stores interchange a hand-picked assortment of crafts from every niche of the country, by dint of to whole streets of shops selling specialty goods, to topical anesthetic fairs, where street stalls, set up overnight, stock a variety of exotica.Eco touristry Resources of IndiaThe geographical diversity of India makes it home to a wealth of ecosystems which are come up nourished and preserved. These ecosystems ( mark off nook 1) allow conk the major resources for eco touristry. side by side(p) box 1, each ecosystem is discussed in some detail.Box 1 Indian Ecosystems and Resources Biosphere reserves Mangroves Coral get downs Deserts Mountains and Forests Flora and wildcat Seas, Lakes and Rivers CavesBiosphere reserves are multi-purpose comfort stadiums, for deliverance of the genetic diversity and the integrity of plants, animals and micro-organism in representative ecosystems. There are cardinal much(prenominal) reserves in India at present ( watch over Box 2).Box 2 Biosphere Reserves Nilgri Nanda Devi Nokrek salient Nicobar disconnection of Mannar Manas Sunderbans 65 Mangroves are very specialised quality ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions, bordering sheltered sea coasts and estuaries. The major mangrove ranges are listed in Box 3.Box 3 major Mangrove Areas Northern Adaman and Nicolar islands Sunderbans (West Bengal) Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi Delta (Orissa) Coringa, Godavari Delta and Kristna Estuary (Andhra Pradesh) Pichavaram and Point Calimere (Tamil Nadu) Goa Gulf of Kutch (Gajarat) Coonapur (Karnataka) Achra/Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) Vembanand (Kerala)In order to hold dear and preserve these genetic resources, India has created a physique of National Parks and 421 Wildlife Sanctuaries in distinct parts of the country. Those which have already become popular with tourists are Kaziranga and Manas in Assam Jim Corbett in Uttar Pradesh Keoladeo, Ghana, Ranthambore and Sariska in Rajasthan Kanha and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh Bandipour in Karnataka and Similipal in Orissa. The Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the embayment of Bengal brace the sides of the Indian subcontinent, except for the landlocked northern boundary. The land mass of India is traverse by several rivers and dotted by lakes at many places. These piddle system bodies provide attractive opportunities for water sports.Economic importation of touristryIn India, touristry is emerging as a key celestial sphere in the economy. It is without delay Indias ternion largest foreign exchange earner aft(prenominal) garments, and gems and jewellery. The foreign exchange earnings from tourism during 199798 has been estimated to be rough Rs.11264 crores (US $3173 billion). The rate of growth in foreign exchange earnings from tourism is exceptionally high. The most signifi keept feature of the tourism pains is its capa city to generate large-scale enjoyment opportunities, especially in remote and underdevelop areas. It offers enormous potential for utilising natural resources a interchangeable(p) landscapes, mountains, beaches, rivers etc. for the economic benefit of the population. It besides chalk ups value to a multitude of human-made attractions much(prenominal) as monument s, palaces, forts and the unique rural and city surroundingss. A special feature of the tourism industry is that it employs a large heel of women and young people in hotels, air duct services, travel agencies, making handcrafts, undertaking cultural activities, and early(a) tourism-related tasks.The direct engagement in the arena during 199596 was about 8.5 one thousand cardinal persons, accounting for about 2.4% of the total tug force. Estimates of indirect employment show that in total about 22 million persons derive their livelihood from tourism. Different forecasts of direct employment in the sector have been made, however, they underline the fact that tourism is growing to become an important economic activity. It is estimated that one new job is created in tourism every 2.4 seconds. Box 5 illustrates the proportional strength of tourism in creating jobs. A million rupee invested (198586 prices) in the hotel and restaurant industry created 89 jobs, against 44.7 jobs in agriculture or 12.6 jobs in manufacturing industries for the aforesaid(prenominal) investment. The average for the whole tourism sector was 47.5 jobs.Box 4 Coral Reef Ecosystems Gulf of Mannar Andaman and Nicobar Islands Kakshadweep Islands Gulf of KutchThe Great Thar Desert and the weeny deserts in the North Western Region of the country are distinct ecosystems which have matter to tourists from all over the world. Ladakh is a crisp desert with high, snow-clad mountains, fast rivers, and the people have a distinctive Buddhistic culture. The great Himalayas and another(prenominal) mountain ranges in the country, along with the snow-clad slopes, forests and rivers have besides become important attractions for eco-tourists. The country has an area of about 752.3 lakh hectares programated as forest land and of this about 406.1 lakh hectares are classified as Reserve Forests and 215.1 lakh hectares as Protected Forests. India is very rich in biotic as well as abiotic res ources. It has about 45 000 species of plants. The country as well as has a great variety of fauna, numbering a little over 65 000 known species, including 1228 bird, 428 reptile, 372 mammal, 204 angstromhibian and 2546 fish species. 66 67 Box 5 Comparative Job Creation arenaAgriculture Manufacturing Mining and Quarrying Railways other Transport Hotels and Restaurants touristryLabour/ crown Ratio44.7 12.6 2.06 0.9 13.8 89.0 47.5advancement of women and other deprived congregations. The operative Group constituted for the provision of proposals for the 9th Plan on touristry considered a growth objective of 8% per annum in tourist arrivals as operable during 19972002 leading to total arrivals of about 3.12 million tourists by the year 2000 subject of line of products to substantial amendment in foundation and services.Major Constraints on Growththough India has much to offer in equipment casualty of tourist attractions, there are major constraints on the growth of tour ism, particularly international tourist avocation. The greatest constraint is undermanned infrastructure. Constraints include omit of sufficient aerodromes and airport facilities, international and domesticated air-seat substance, surface enrapture systems, basic wayside amenities, readjustment, restaurants, shopping and inexpert facilities, trained labourforce resources, and support services and facilities. two quality and quantity of infrastructure are major impediments to the growth of tourism in the country. Although there are 121 airports maintained by the Airport Authority of India and 139 airports maintained by state governments and other agencies, there are only 10 airports with a caterpillar tread length of over 3000 m. Even these airports, including fiver international airports, do not have the latest Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and other equipment to facilitate safe and secure land of aircraft in all weather conditions. select of service at the airports is in addition not up to international standards. The Ministry of accomplished zephyr is making efforts to deal with this problem.In plus to the five existing international airports, seven to a greater extent airports are to be positive for international air services. More airports impart be opened for charter traffic. quadruplet international airports are being hired out to semiprivate operators. The new proposed civil aviation policy seeks to develop civil aviation by increasing the forces of competition, economic liberalisation and globalisation. The international air-seat capacity for India is presently about 5.3 million which is just full to cater for the existing level of rider traffic. A number of tourist-origin countries are not directly connected by air to India. Additional international air-seat capacity of at least(prenominal) 2 million would be required if 3.2 millions tourists were to come by 2000. If the target of 5 million tourists is to be achieved, the aimitive capacity required is estimated to be 5 million place. Distances to India, considered a long grab destination for tourists from the USA and most of Europe, act as a deterrent to tourists from these countries. lose of qualified air-seat capacity on international escapes during the tourist season, which is from October to March, further compounds the problem, and works against increasing foreign tourists. While there is someSource Annual Plan, Department of Tourism, Govt. of India, 199697.another(prenominal) important feature of the tourism industry, which is of particular signifi movece to India, is its contri aloneion to national integration and the social transformation of the economic lives of people. oer 176 million domestic tourists (see Box 6) visit different parts of the country every year, growth with a better apprehensiveness of the people living in other regions of the country and of the cultural diversity of India. Tourism alike encourages preservat ion of monuments and heritage properties and helps the selection of art forms, crafts and culture.Box 6 domestic Tourist Visits Year1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002Domestic Tourists Visits (Million) cxx 131 144 157 176 189 (Projected)Source Report of the Working Group on Tourism for the Ninth Five-Year Plan, 19972002, Dept. of Tourism, Govt of India, New Delhi.Tourism has become an prick for sustainable human ontogenesis with poverty alleviation, purlieual regeneration, job creation, and the 68 69 talk of an open chuck out policy, in practice this is still to happen and foreign airlines do not have free approach path to India. However, the scenario is ever-changing with the negotiation of bilateral agreements which will add one million new seats to international air-seat capacity. Negotiations still underway may yield much seats. Recently fall in Airways and Virgin Airlines have announced intentions of lotion India. The total air-seat capacity uncommitted in the domestic sector today is over 17 million. In 1996, 70% of this capacity was utilised with 12 million passengers change of location in the country, 7.1 million by the state-run Indian Airlines and 4.9 million by the private airlines. It is expect that this sector will grow at about 6% per annum. A major exercise is underway to restructure Indian Airlines and add capacity in the private sector airlines, which should yield results in the years to come. Although many of these visualizeions seem optimistic given the downturn in the economy in 1997 and 1998, the situation is expected to normalise short with the upturn in the economy. There is need to words problems of insufficient flights to major tourist destinations particularly during the tourist season, the high cost of inseparable air travel and inconvenient flight schedules.Efforts also need to be undertaken to improve the efficiency of Indian Airlines and foster growth of private airlines. An efficient and responsive domestic air trans port system is an innate prerequisite for generating more tourism to India. different important areas which require attention are airline quality and webing. There are too few flights available, particularly during the best tourist season, and the services that do exist are high priced and their schedule of arrivals/departures are inconvenient for travellers. Within the country, the services of Indian Airlines require substantial cash advance, and they need to network with private airlines. A viable hubs-and-spoke operation, networking large commercial centres with smaller tourist destinations inescapably to be authentic to improve advance to the interior of the country. The second serious obstructer to tourism in India is the scarcity and high cost of hotel accommodation. The number of approved hotel room available in 1997 was around 64 500, with about 36 000 under construction. The shoot by the year 2000 has been estimated at 1.25 lakhs, which government agency the re would be a shortage of 27 000 hotel board.Lack of economically priced hotel accommodation in the tourist season is being cited as one of the reasons for not choosing India as the place for a holiday. There are two approaches to this problem. One is to step-up the floor-area-ratio for the hotels so that existing hotels are able to add more rooms. The other is to make more land available for hotel construction by inducing land allotting agencies to put past more land for the hotel industry through with(predicate) auction, long leases and equity participation intrigues. The agencies can also play a role in bringing private buyers and sellers together to enable entrepreneurs easy access to land and buildings in private hands. 70 The habitual agencies need to liberalise the regime for granting licences and approvals so as to expedite construction of hotels. A one window (or one- hold the line-shop) system could be a measure to facilitate smart approvals. Access to capital i s another trammel agent. The Tourism Finance Corporation Inc. (TFCI) and the other financing institutions which provide institutional mechanisms for access to capital do not have a positive approach to add for hotels. There is need to generate more rooms through innovative measures manage promoting the Paying Guest Accommodation scheme at major tourist centres. Currently, 1472 units with 5953 rooms are available in 14 states. State administrations need to be more proactive in promoting this scheme as it is a preferred alternative to hotels for many, requiring relatively less investment and is accordingly more advantageous to tourists. some other major style of creating accommodation is approval of guestho habits.Due to the alter procedure sucked which requires guesthouses to obtain a number of clearances including those from the Police, Municipal Authorities and the Tourism Department, economically priced guesthouses have not developed in keeping with the expectation s of tourists travelling on a budget. As many of these are run without due approvals, they have acquired a reputation for dealing in drugs, deception residents and other criminal activities. It would be worthy for the state governments to undertake a excite to get these guesthouses recognised and approved and hence to generate more hotel rooms. (The Ministry of Tourism is in touch with the state governments over this issue). Another major inhibitor of the growth of tourism is the hassle of obtaining indorses for India. Visa restrictions need to be liberalised, to view a larger flow of tourists to the country. A number of options are available. The visa regime mustiness be liberalised at least in valuate of those countries which do not pose any political or security problems. Visas should be issued easily on entry at the airport in respect of visitors from such(prenominal) countries.The principle of reciprocity in the issue of visas should not be insisted on in the case of n ationals of those countries with whom India has sign bilateral tourism agreements. Special tourist visas available on arrival for up to two weeks should be made available at the airports. The procedure for the issue of visas can also be made dewy-eyed and at least in the major tourist originating countries the applications for a tourist visa could be received through the profits and processed on computers. Another area that requires attention is the possibility of reducing visa charges, particularly special charges on see restricted areas. Increased competition from neighbouring countries and misfortunate perception of the Indian tourism product (particularly with regard to transport infrastructure) 71 in the major tourist originating markets are the other constraints on the growth of tourism. An added oppose factor is the image of India as a country overrun by poverty, disease, touts and political instability. The promotional ingestion in the overseas markets of competitor destinations like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia far exceeds the promotional expenditure by India. India needs to make nimble efforts to improve its image as an attractive destination, and for this more resources are required. There are numerous other constraints in the development of tourism in India, including lack of antecedency in the think of development, slimy sustenance of monuments and wildlife sanctuaries, inadequate surface transport facilities, poor quality of services etc.The Government of India has set up a group of Ministers under the Minister of Tourism to order activities of various(a) government departments and agencies. A committal under the Cabinet Secretary assists in implementation of decisions and removal of systematic problems. converse with the state governments to liberalise and rationalise tax revenue and deal with other issues is an on-going process. legion(predicate) of the activities in the tourism sector are dependent on initiatives o f the state governments. tiro state governments like Kerala, Goa and Rajasthan have do a lot to attract more tourists by making facilities more tourist friendly.Box 7 Government Responsibilities for Ecotourism thwart structures that create visual pollution, unaesthetic views and are non-compatible architecture and encourage use of topical anaesthetic building material and structures befitting the topical anesthetic environment. Exclude developments in geologically top-heavy zones and define development and buffer zones later on proper environmental doctor assessments. evidence and enforce standards, building codes and other regulations. limit environmental, physical and social carrying capacities to limit development. picture continuous monitoring of adverse personal effects of tourism activities and initiate suitable disciplinary measures. come and award quality by accreditation of ecotourism operators. bring home the bacon visitor discipline and rendition services co vering particularly (i) what to see (ii) how to see it and (iii) how to behave. This can be by way of brochures, leaflets, specialised guides, visitor information centres and such. Prepare and distribute codes of conduct to all visitors. Launch training programs on ecotourism for tourism administrators, planners, operators and the general public.Promoting Ecotourism in IndiaThe key players in the ecotourism business are governments at both levels, the local anaesthetic anaesthetic regimen, the developers and the operators, the visitors, and the local club. Each one of them has to be sensitive to the environment and local traditions and fall a set of guidelines for the made development of ecotourism. In addition, non-governmental organisations and scientific and question institutions also have to play a key role in the development of ecotourism. A management plan for each ecotourism area should be ca-cad by professional landscape architects and urban planners, in consulta tion with the local community as well as others directly concerned.incorporated planning should be adopted to countermand inter-sectoral and cross-sectoral conflict. A first step should be to prepare 20-year Master Plans for each state. The architectural program for ecotourism centres should include have gotled access points, roads, self-guided character trails, transportation options, interpretation centres, signs, observation towers and adequate but unpretentious lodging and eat facilities, docks, garbage disposal facilities and other utilities as needed. If required, suitable living quarters and facilities for project personnel should be provided. Box 7 is a list of actions for the development of ecotourism, where the debt instrument is with the government. The roles and responsibilities of tourism developers and operators are fundamental to the proceeding of ecotourism and the long-term victory of the businesses. These are listed in Box 8.Box 8 Roles and Responsibilities o f Ecotourism Developers and Operators regard as and follow the planning restrictions, standards and codes provided by the government and local authorities. Implement sound environment principles through self-regulation. Undertake environmental opposition assessment for all new projects and conduct regular environment audits for all ongoing activities, leading to development of environmental improvement programs. Be aware of, and sensitive to, protected or holy terrorened areas, species and scenic agreeability undertake landscape enhancement wherever practical. regard that all structures are obscure and do not interfere with the natural ecosystem to the extent possible. 72 73 Recognise the optimal environmental capacity and sociological use-limits of the site in creating tourist facilities also take into account the resort and toilet facility of tourists. Design buildings strictly on operative and environmental considerations and avoid over-construction. Use local mate rial and designs to the extent possible in construction. Employ eco-friendly physical planning, architectural design and construction of tourist facilities, for example use solar energy, capture and utilise rainwater, cycle garbage, use natural cross-ventilation instead of air conditioning, ensure a high level of self-sufficiency in food through orchards, ecological farms, aquaculture and such. Employ energy and water-saving practices to the extent possible freshwater management and controlled cloaca disposal should also be practised. work air emissions, chemical pollutants and noise. Control and sicken environmentally unfriendly products such as asbestos, CFCs, pesticides and toxic, corrosive, infectious, explosive or flammable material. obeisance and support historic or g forcelike objects and sites. Provide information and interpretive services to visitors especially on attractions and facilities, safety and security, local customs and traditions, prohibitions and regulation s and expected behaviour. Ensure adequate opportunities for visitors to commune with nature and native cultures. Provide correct information in merchandising ecotourism products, as visitors who appreciate ecotourism products usually go away to environmentally-aware groups. Include training and re await programs on environmental issues for company staff. Prepare tourists beforehand their visit to minimise possible negative impacts while visiting sensitive environments and cultures. Ensure safety and security of visitors and inform them of precautions to be taken. Exercise due regard for the engagement of the local population, including its history, tradition and culture and prospective economic development. Involve the local community to the extent possible in various activities and vocations.Box 9 The Responsibilities of EcotouristsHelp keep habitats of flora and fauna as well as any site, natural feature or culture, which may be unnatural by tourism. Make no open fires and d iscourage others from doing so. If water has to be modify with scarce firewood, use as little as possible. Where feasible, use kerosene or fuel-efficient wood stoves. Remove litter, burn or bury paper and carry hold up all non-degradable litter. Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants such as detergents in streams or springs. If no toilet facilities are available, relieve yourself at least 30 metres away from water sources and bury or cover the waste. ply plants to flourish in their natural environment and avoid taking away cuttings, seeds and roots. go out campsites clean after use. Help guides and porters to follow conservation measures.Do not stand cooks/porters to throw garbage in streams or rivers. honor the natural and cultural heritage of the area and follow local customs. Respect local etiquette and do not assume tight-fitting clothes. Remember that kissing in public is disapproved of in India. Respect seclusion of individuals and ask permission to take photographs of local inhabitants. Respect holy places do not touch or remove phantasmal objects. Strictly follow the guidelines for personal safety and security and always take your own precautions and safety measures.If a community wants to emcee ecotourism, it has a central role to play. The host communitys success in bringing ecotourism to it and ensuing that the level and grapheme of tourism is compatible with the communitys aspirations are matters the community can control. Box 10 lists the matters with which the host community must deal.Box 10 The Role and indebtedness of the Host CommunityRealise and respect the value of the environment, the flora and fauna, the monuments and your cultural heritage. coiffure conservation of nature and culture as a way of life. Establish guidelines to protect valuable local resources and foster tourism management. React to the potential threat of investors who see opportunities in development but lack sensitivity to local values. Become useful nature guides and conservationists of natural areas by utilising applicatory and ancestral knowledge of the natural features of the area. Be friendly to the visitors and help them to practise ecotourism principles. yet as the government authorities and the tourism operators play fundamental roles in the success of ecotourism, so does the tourist. Box 9 lists the responsibilities of tourists. 74 75 Finally there is a role for others, such as scientific and re front institutions and non-government organisations, in promoting ecotourism. The things they can do include (i) create sensory faculty, among all concerned, about the importance of sound eco-practices in tourism development (ii) motivate the local community to increase their involvement in sustainable tourism activities and (iii) organise training programs to prepare the local people to take up various vocations related to ecotourism.the Pacific kick the bucket Association have introduced an ecotourism pledge which requires their members to adopt environment-friendly practices.ConclusionTourism has proved to be an railway locomotive of growth in many economies in the world. It provides for the generation of income, wealth and employment, and helps in the sustainable development of remote areas. In India, tourism provides direct employment to 9 million people and indirect employment to another 13 million persons, thus providing a livelihood to 22 million persons. It contributes an estimated 2.4% of the gross national product. Its contribution to the economies of states like Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala are significant. Although beginning to be still for its potential to provide for development in India, tourism still remains a sector that needs serious attention. Tourism has proved to have negative impacts as well as the positive ones. It is criticised for pollute indigenous culture. This takes the form of changing values, resulting in social maladies like drug addiction, pincer prostitution, etc. A far more widespread negative impact is caused by mass tourism in environmentally fragile areas like mountains, hills, deserts and coastal regions.Due to heavy tourist traffic in some areas, the cultural and environmental assets of the community are under threat. Although this phenomenon is not widespread in India, there is a need to take note of the possible negative influences of tourism so that well timed(p) preservation action can be taken and irreparable loss avoided. The endeavour towards ecotourism is at once a threat and an opportunity to create more sustainable tourism by diverting tourist traffic to ensure the carrying capacity of any destination is not exceeded by planning for regeneration of natural resources and by generating sense in the host community whereby they are fain and forearmed to deal with the negative impact of mass tourism. As in most cases, a middle path is the most creative way to maximise the economic potential of tourism, while at the sam e(p) time minimising the negative social influences and threats to the environment. completely ecotourism where the tourists, the service providers, the host community and authorities are well informed and prepared to harness tourism as an engine of growth can yield sustainable results.Motivations for Involvement in EcotourismHotel and travel companies in India function in a relatively free environment. The country is slowly but surely moving towards a market economy where commercial considerations dictate want for the private sector to take up various activities. Crass commercial considerations have, however, to be controlled by the government on behalf of the public. The environment has to be protected through awareness-generation, legislation, policy and administrative action. The travelling public is also becoming conscious of the need to protect the environment, to some extent at least. As a result, many enterprises in the cordial reception sector have adopted environment-fr iendly practices like conserving energy and water and recycling unutilised hotel outputs.These can be powerful marketing tools for hotel groups. Furthermore, with the increase in cost of vital inputs like energy, water etc., companies are motivated to exert limited resources by adopting practices which reduce levels of consumption. numerous hotel companies advise their clients to be careful in the use of lights, water and other hotel services. Civil society has also begun to exercise control over the environment. Many non-government organisations have been generating awareness about environmentally perverting practices. Individuals have taken recourse to public interest litigation to stop environmentally destructive practices. The Indian judicial system has been very liberal in restraining environmentally raving mad activities. At times, political parties also stop environmentally harmful practices by tempestuousness and raising issues in democratic forums such as state legisla tures.The print and electronic media have been very active in India in investigating environmentally pestilential activities by highlighting such issues and creating public opinion for environmentally compatible practices. The Government of India has a Ministry of Environment and Forests with a rule to oversee use of the environment in order to conserve it. The Government has also set up institutions like the primal and State Pollution Control tabular array to deal with the defaulters. The state governments also have Departments of Environment and Pollution Control. The Ministry of Tourism has issued ecotourism guidelines for acceptation by all concerned organisations. 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