Now Reading: Indian ecotourism becomes commercialised, loses conservation focus
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Indian ecotourism becomes commercialised, loses conservation focus
Ecotourism in India, valued at an estimated USD 11.09 billion (around Rs 92,500 crore) by 2025, has strayed far from its original conservation goals, according to a report. The sector, which began…
Ecotourism in India, valued at an estimated USD 11.09 billion (around Rs 92,500 crore) by 2025, has strayed far from its original conservation goals, according to a report. The sector, which began as a Rs 15.5 crore business in the early 2000s focused on tiger reserves, now sees luxury resorts built near fragile ecosystems, branding themselves as eco-friendly while consuming excessive groundwater and generating unmanaged waste.
Instead of low-impact educational trips, unlimited visitors are allowed into wilderness areas, causing pollution, wildlife disruption, and traffic jams of safari vehicles inside national parks. The report notes that state forest departments have also replaced science-based nature interpretation with unscientific fibreglass animal sculptures in inappropriate locations.
Originally promoted through United Nations initiatives and public-private partnerships like the Thenmala Ecotourism Project in Kerala, the focus has shifted from resource protection to revenue generation. The report highlights that the initial visionary aims of ecotourism, which included conservation and local community well-being, have been corrupted over time.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The shift from conservation to commercialisation in Indian ecotourism mirrors a global tension between market growth and environmental protection. India's Ecotourism Society and state forest departments set guidelines, but enforcement remains weak. The real losers are local communities who see few benefits from the multi-billion-rupee industry, and biodiversity that suffers from unchecked tourism. A key signal to watch is whether the proposed National Ecotourism Policy, pending for years, will introduce binding visitor limits and waste management rules, or remain another voluntary framework.
Source: frontline.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
