Dr. Rakesh Narayan
Reader and Head
Deptt. of Geography
Doranda College, Ranchi.
Abstract Tourism, the Sun-rise industry of the millennium has emerged as the largest economic activity of the world. Tourism is now recognised as an industry that generates a number of Social and economic benefits. Its importance as an important instrument for economic development and employment generation, particularly in remote and backward areas, has now been well recognised all over the world. A glimps through the tourism activity in this country, it appears, has been suffering from a very narrow Connotation in the sense that domestic and foreign tourists make a short visit to places of historical, Archaeological and religious importance. Adventure tourism is also being promoted in some parts of the country. It will not be out of place to mention that tourism also offers immense opportunities for economic activities of the local population and thus, can be rightfully treated as an industry with people's participation, Govt. Support and involvement of NGOs. Much is needed in this area. Eco-tourism is an advanced thought on development of tourism in the natural surroundings of forests, wild animals, local population preserving the scenic beauty of the area and also the cultural background of human population. It may be mentioned here that farming and forests are the two main planks of the cultural ethos of the tribal people of Jharkhand and may be regarded as a positive and helpful human factor. The beauty of this concept is the active participation of people inhabiting the area for promoting tourism without degrading the natural surroundings. In this way many income generating activities for the local population will emerge and they will be benefited economically and socially also mixing with the domestic and foreign visitors.
ECO Tourism : The Concept :- The term ECO-Tourism was first coined by a Mexican environmentalist