Socio-Cultural Impact of Eco-Tourism
Socio-cultural Impact of Eco-Tourism Dr. Anjani Kumar
Abstract
Ecotourism is entirely a new approach in tourism. Born in its current form in late 1980s, ecotourism came of in age in 2002, when the United Nations celebrated the “International year of Ecotourism. Today’s market place is becoming greener and more environmentally sensitive than ever, with 85 percent of the industrialized world does citizen believe that the environment is the number one public issue. This attitude has evidently had an effect on the rise in popularity of ecotourism. Ecotourism has emerged as one of the most important sectors of the international tourism industry. It is a responsible travel to natural areas that safeguards the integrity of the ecosystem and produces economic benefit for local communities. The earnings from ecotourism industry results in socio-economic status of the host community.
Destination communities are the basic element of ecotourism. They are the focal point for the supply of accommodation, catering, information, transport and services. Over the last three decades, there has been growing debate on the magnitude of tourism in developing countries, and its impacts and implications in the host regions are enormous. Due to tremendous growth and its adverse consequences in the host region, the concept of tourism has now changed from mass tourism to ecotourism/responsible tourism/nature oriented tourism. Eco-tourism holds a very bright future in Uttaranchal (Uttarakhand) and has acquired great significance in the recent times but this potential has not been tapped effectively. Due to tremendous growth and its adverse consequences in the host region, the concept of tourism has now changed from mass tourism to ecotourism/responsible tourism/nature oriented tourism. Seeing this, the present study has focused on the perceptions of socio-cultural impact of ecotourism in Uttarakhand.
Keywords: Ecotourism； Local communities;
Abstract
Ecotourism is entirely a new approach in tourism. Born in its current form in late 1980s, ecotourism came of in age in 2002, when the United Nations celebrated the “International year of Ecotourism. Today’s market place is becoming greener and more environmentally sensitive than ever, with 85 percent of the industrialized world does citizen believe that the environment is the number one public issue. This attitude has evidently had an effect on the rise in popularity of ecotourism. Ecotourism has emerged as one of the most important sectors of the international tourism industry. It is a responsible travel to natural areas that safeguards the integrity of the ecosystem and produces economic benefit for local communities. The earnings from ecotourism industry results in socio-economic status of the host community.
Destination communities are the basic element of ecotourism. They are the focal point for the supply of accommodation, catering, information, transport and services. Over the last three decades, there has been growing debate on the magnitude of tourism in developing countries, and its impacts and implications in the host regions are enormous. Due to tremendous growth and its adverse consequences in the host region, the concept of tourism has now changed from mass tourism to ecotourism/responsible tourism/nature oriented tourism. Eco-tourism holds a very bright future in Uttaranchal (Uttarakhand) and has acquired great significance in the recent times but this potential has not been tapped effectively. Due to tremendous growth and its adverse consequences in the host region, the concept of tourism has now changed from mass tourism to ecotourism/responsible tourism/nature oriented tourism. Seeing this, the present study has focused on the perceptions of socio-cultural impact of ecotourism in Uttarakhand.
Keywords: Ecotourism； Local communities;
References: 8. Vogelsong, H; 2001, Assessing the Economic Impact of Ecotourism Developments on the Albermarle/Pamlico Region; Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies East Carolina University, United States. (2001).www.cabi.org. [Retrieved on 23.06.2005] 9