The World Tourism Day (WTD), celebrated on September 27, highlights tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value. WTD 2014 has the theme ‘Tourism and Community Development’ focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve changes in their local communities.
Tourism is the largest industry in the world according to figures on employment and expenditures. Over 800 million people travel internationally each year, and many more travelling within their countries.
Travel and Tourism in India is an integral part of Indian tradition and culture. India is ranked 68th among the world’s 139 most attractive destinations and scores very high on natural resources (ranked 8th) and cultural resources (24th); with 30 world heritage sites.
Tourism that features ‘nature’ is generally termed environmental or ‘nature-based tourism’, a broad term that includes a range of tourism experiences including adventure tourism, ecotourism and aspects of cultural and rural tourism. Nature-based tourism is distinguished from other tourism forms by its natural area setting. More and more people are living an urban life and the amenities and conveniences that come with globalisation increasingly lead to a near complete disconnect from nature. For many people, getting back in touch with nature tourism provides a different experience to enjoy natural heritage. Natural heritages include all natural features like mountains, valleys, forests, deserts, water bodies, landscapes, flora and fauna.
Odisha is an ideal place for nature tourism as nature has given it everything like beautiful beaches, rivers, water streams, falls and wide varieties of flora and fauna. The widespread sea beaches at Puri, Gopalpur and Chandrabhaga and the charming Chilika lake have a special attraction. Odisha is rich with sacred rivers like the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Rushikulya. Mountains like Deomali and Gandhamardan are well-known. There are a number of beautiful waterfalls, Bada-Ghagara, Sana-Ghagara and Khandadhar in Keonjhar district, Koilighugar in Jharsuguda, Barehipani in the Similipal National Park. The natural hot springs are Atri (Khordha), Taptapani (Ganjam) and Deuljhari (Angul). To maintain the eco-balance and protect the flora and fauna, national parks are earmarked at Similipal and Bhitarakanika of Odisha. Besides, the State has a number of wildlife sanctuaries.
Tourism in Odisha has developed considerably in recent years due to various attractions ranging from natural scenery, wildlife reserves and beaches to temples and monuments and the arts and festivals. Nature tourism provides a high scope for rural tourism and a degree of alternate employment to the local community and generates environmental awareness among local residents as well as visitors. Nature tourism is responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people. Examples include bird-watching, photography, visiting natural areas, etc.
Social, economic and cultural sustainability depend on the impacts of nature tourism on local residents and communities and also the experiences of visitors. Nature tourism has the potential to improve both economic and spiritual wellbeing.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report on the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism notes that tourism policies should be applied in such a way as to raise the standard of living of the populations of the regions visited which is particularly important for the deprived or remote communities in their fight against poverty. The UNWTO has vast experience in providing technical assistance to countries and destinations in their efforts to develop tourism as an engine to foster socioeconomic development, especially for disadvantaged groups. The UNWTO launched the ST-EP Programme (Sustainable Tourism for the Elimination of Poverty) at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Its aim is to reduce poverty levels through promoting sustainable forms of tourism.
Community involvement in decision-making and residents’ receipt of benefits from tourism is expected to play a vital role in sustainable tourism as well as preservation and conservation of biodiversity. The development of infrastructure in areas having potential for nature tourism is highly needed. The intention is to benefit the local community economically and socially.
However, the local communities are not benefited much from nature tourism projects in Odisha. The level of participation of community residents in nature tourism is very low. In many cases, the residents are neglected while preparing action plan and evaluation and monitoring process of projects. Community-based nature tourism can provide a more sustainable nature tourism development. There is a need to study how communities can benefit from nature tourism in a sustainable way. It can be done by extending need-based tourism education and short and long-term tourism manpower development strategies.
The Odisha Tourism Policy has been formulated as a promoter and catalyst to create an environment for planned and sustained development of tourism. It also welcomes and encourages non-government sectors to participate in development of tourism. Besides government effort, private-sector participation, administrative improvement, travel and tourism research, adoption of integrated and coordinated tourism development plan can be developed for sustainable nature tourism in Odisha.
(Dr Mayarani Praharaj teaches in the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar)