Understanding Real Ecotourism

Ecotourism is been initiated in Maharashtra and Nagpur District, credit goes to the Maharashtra State- Nagpur Forest Department Staff who are doing exemplary work in forest conservation and ecotourism development to some extent. Ecotourism development at Nagpur District can be prominently noticed at Pench Tiger Reserve and just introduced in Bor Wildlife Sanctuary and Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary (UKWLS). Subsequently to some studies here at these sanctuaries it was observed and requested by the local people and Guides of Bor Wildlife Sanctuary and UKWLS that they need more socio- economic welfare considerations for their community development. Guides have appealed for their further safety and security deep inside the forest due to no network, quality of uniform and no jobs during off–season. More informative training programs related to conservation, sustainable practices, and social wellbeing of the participants should be arranged for the tourists and local people. What...

In developing countries and in India Ecotourism is mostly believed as ‘visiting to natural areas specially bestowed with wildlife i.e. to forest, sanctuaries and national wildlife parks’. Hence many state governments have tendered ecotourism custody to their respective forest departments due to the growing trend of traveling to National parks and Wildlife sanctuaries. Many Sanctuaries in India are  now getting the Ecotourism boost. Ecotourism is in its nascent stage in India and started taking shape in various states i.e. in Kerala- Thenmala which is the first planned ecotourism destination in India, Karnataka- Coorg well known Ecotourism destination, Madhya Pradesh, Uttranachal and Himalayas. Other states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, etc have initiated Ecotourism through their various wildlife sanctuaries. The Ministry of Tourism,  Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government  of India along with the stake holde...

Many scholars, authors have categorized  tourists visiting to eco spots based on their criteria of visits. As noted by author Weaver David (2013), they are  hard or soft ecotourists. Hard Ecotourists are active with strong environmental commitment who do not rely on facilitating factors like travel agents or services at the destination. They take up long trips  into relatively undisturbed settings where opportunities for physically and mentally challenging experiences are available. Soft ecotourists are associated with a more conventional tourist market that engages in mentally and physically unchallenging/ comfortable ecotourism experiences as a short duration component of a multi-purpose trip. They generally prefer a high level of comfort and facilitation during these experiences. Hard Ecotourists are rare in the tourist market, they are the responsible class who are well aware of the outcomes of careless tourism. Thus ecotourism awareness is required to a l...

Different people use different definitions for ecotourism itself, and hence draw different boundaries between ecotourism and relevant sub-sectors like Nature based tourism, Adventure tourism, Wildlife tourism, Cultural Tourism. Term Meaning Nature or Nature- Based Any kind of tourism where features of the natural attraction provide the primary attraction Wildlife Tourism where the main attraction is the opportunity is to watch the wild animals Adventure Tourism where the main attraction is an outdoor activity with an excitement- based component Cultural Tourism that focuses on exposing or  introducing tourists to different local cultures ACE Aggregate  term: Adventure- Culture- Ecotourism NEAT Aggregate term: Nature, Eco and Adventure- tourism Outdoor All forms of tourism that take place outdoors: essent...