Eco-tourism can prove to be the solution to some of the problems facing the Himalayas because tourim and environment have an intimate relationship. Eco-tourism is growing steadily.
Recent research suggests that eco tourism is growing three times faster than conventional tourism. It is predicted that by 2024, eco tourism will represent five per cent of the global tourism market.
Conventional tourism is aimed at tourist satisfaction while eco tourism has conservation and livelihood as essential components. Eco-tourism is nature based tourism that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
This has been stressed by well–known environment activist and writer from Darjeeling Umesh Dwivedi in a paper presented by him recently at Kathmandu at an international conference on globalisation and cultural practices in mountain areas.
He says that there are all kinds of tourist attractions in the Himalayas; religious shrines, snow clad mountains, rivers, springs, waterfalls, natural lakes, breath taking bugyals, picturesque landscape, tea gardens, unique flora and fauna, temples and monasteries, which lure the tourists from all over the world. “Tourism is the most important industry in the Himalaya and it has certainly brought employment opportunities and economic prosperity to the people living in the Himalaya but its negative aspects cannot be ignored. “The pressure of increasing tourist activities are very clear,” says Dwivedi.
He goes on to say that the construction of high rise hotels, resorts and residential complexes have completely transformed the landscape of Himalaya. “Himalayan cities and towns are now facing serious urban problems like pollution, traffic jams, lacks of parking space, shortage of water and other civic amenities and problems of waste disposal.”
He writes that Eco tourism, if managed well, brings the different cultures of the world together and promotes national integration and international understanding.
In recent times, tourists want to experience peace and tranquility and are looking to the countryside. In the wake of the increasing demand for such experiences, the local communities in the villages are opening their doors for tourists which is contributing to their economic prosperity and also creating vital employment at the village level and preventing the exodus to the cities. The conventional tourism has created environmental and socio economic problems like pollution, deforestation, overcrowding and resource depletion because the conventional tourism has not been sustainable “Eco-tourism can reverse this trend”, points out Dwivedi.
However, eco-tourism should not be a top down initiative. There is a need to strengthen the community ‘s participation in eco-tourism so that the benefits could percolate down to the locals.
“Eco-tourism has the potential to reduce and undo the threats posed by conventional tourism. Eco tourism should aim at employment generation, Biodiversity conservation, cultural exchange, protected area preservation and income generation. Proper planning, execution and monitoring are required to achieve the goal of successful ecotourism.
The paper says eco-tourism should be used as a tool for conservation and development. It should help the local communities to improve their livelihood and it should be sustainable. Eco-tourism should link conservation and development.
Eco-tourism should ensure hat there is no destruction to the natural and cultural environment. The infrastructure for eco- tourism should be developed in harmony witn nature and the benefits should go to the locals. The emphasis should be on harnessing solar energy, wind energy, conserving local flora and fauna and proper disposal of waste and carbon credit. Community based eco-tourism (CBET) should be planned, managed and regulated by the local communities themselves.
Eco-tourism has great future in the Himalaya. It should be properly planned, managed and monitored. “We need to build segments like Flower tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions) ethnic tourism, wellness tourism (Naturopathy, Yoga, Spa etc.)tea tourism, bird watching, adventure tourism, mountaineering, canoeing, white water rafting, rock climbing, academic tourism, trekking and hiking, mountain biking, educational excursions, nature and adventure camps for school and college students and heritage tourism.”
Eco-tourism is the most efficient method to protect the biodiversity and culture and bring economic returns. There are many unexplored spots all over the Himalayas which can be developed for Eco-tourism. Eco-ourism is sustainable tourism which keeps the biodiversity intact. There should be a set of guidelines for Eco-tourism. There should be guidelines to ensure that there is no mushrooming ofresorts and overcrowding. There should be guidelines to conserve nature, to reduce carbon emission and to deal with waste and garbage.
Dwivedi writes that many new tourist destinations have been created in the Darjeeling and Sikkim hills which are attracting tourists from all over the world. These destinations are providing the tourists with a real rural experience to live with the people of different mountain communities of the hills and learn about the traditional life styles of people.