1 ecotourism

ECO TOURISM IN INDIA

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTIONEco-tourism is about conserving resources, valuing the local culture and contributing

to the local economy. It focuses on local traditions, wilderness conservation,

volunteering, personal growth and discovering constructive ways to experience our

fragile planet. Recycling, energy efficiency and the creation of economic

opportunities for local communities are integral elements of eco-tourism. Its purpose

is to make the development of tourism ecologically supportable and sustainable Eco-

tourism however involves more than providing suitable vacations for the "tree-

hugging" traveller. Its objective is to preserve the diversity of the world's natural and

cultural resources. The International Eco-tourism Society defines eco-tourism as

"responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the

welfare of local people." It accommodates travellers in a way that limits their impact

on the environment and cultural heritage while supporting the growth of local

economies. Eco-tourism strives to maximize the economic, environmental and social

benefits of tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization, eco-tourism is

considered to be the fastest growing market in the tourism industry.

In India, eco-tourism is still at a nascent stage but the potential is vast. India is a land

of diverse geography and culture. Its topography boasts a varied range of flora and

fauna. It is home to numerous rare and endangered species. There are currently about

80 national parks and 441 sanctuaries in India. Numerous botanical and zoological

gardens are working towards the enhancement of the ecosystem. Poaching has been

curbed to a large extent. There are severe punishments for poachers, hunters and

illegal traders of flora and fauna. Several organisations work for the protection of the

natural and cultural resources. Thenmala in Kerala was the first planned eco-tourism

destination in India. There are also determined efforts to save the vulnerable

Himalayan ecosystem as well as the heritage of its indigenous people. Resorts tucked

deep within the jungles of Karnataka, the house-boats of Kerala and the varied

wildlife of Assam all combine to make India one of the most diverse eco-tourism

destinations on the planet.

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Regardless of your nationality, everyone is a stakeholder in this pursuit. Travelling

could mean a long-haul flight to the opposite end of the world or hitchhiking across

your state. As a traveller, you will undoubtedly have an impact on the people and

environment of your destination. Here are some suggestions to make this impact more

positive!

Learn about your destination. Read guidebooks, travel articles, novels by

local authors and pay particular attention to customs such as greetings,

appropriate dress and eating behaviours. Being sensitive to these customs will

increase local acceptance of you as a tourist and enrich your journey.

Follow established guidelines. Ask your tour operator, guide or the local

authorities what their guidelines are for limiting tourism's impact on the

environment and local culture.

To minimize your impact in sensitive areas, stay on marked trails, properly

dispose off waste material and remain set distances away from wildlife.

Support locally-owned businesses. This ensures maximum benefit for the

local community from your spending.

Carry back all non-degradable waste such as empty bottles, tins and plastic

bags. These must not litter the environment or be buried. These must be

disposed of in municipal dustbins only.

Observe the sanctity of holy sites, temples and local cultures. Respect local

traditions.

Reduce noise pollution. Do not blare aloud radios, tape recorders or other

audio equipment in nature resorts, sanctuaries and wildlife parks.

Respect people's privacy while taking photographs. Ask for prior permission

before taking a photograph.

Do not remove flora and fauna in the forms of cuttings, seeds or roots. There

are laws prohibiting this practice. Most ecosystems are extremely delicate and

the protection of bio-diversity is imperative.

Polythene and plastics are non-biodegradable and unhealthy for the

environment. They must not be used.

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No littering. No exceptions.

Do not use pollutants, such as detergent, in streams and springs while

washing.

Do not use wood as fuel to for cooking at campsites.

Do not leave cigarettes butts or make open fires in the Forests.

Do not tempt the locals, especially children by offering them foodstuff or

sweets

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Chapter 2

Research methodology

5


Research methodology

The following Flow-chart or schematic representation shows the methodology of

study:

6

OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

ARTICLES PUBLICATIONS

SOURCES

RELATED LITERATURE

OUTPUT

CONCLUSION

ANALYSIS

EXAMPLES

METHOD OF STUDY

STUDY TOPIC

INPUT


2.1 Objectives of the Study To study the concept of travel and tourism and India as a Tourist destination.

To study the concept of ecotourism and development of ecotourism in India.

To study ecotourism projects implemented in India.

To study the concept of eco hotels with an example of Orchid- An eco-hotel.

2.2 Methodology The information collected was mainly through secondary data, namely from

reference books, research journals newspapers articles and other articles.

The project is purely based on the secondary information obtained from various

sources.

2.3 Limitations of the Study

The present project focuses on Eco Tourism. However many states of India have

adopted eco tourism, but it was difficult to present information of all the states. Hence

few popular eco projects implemented by few states have been discussed.

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Chapter 3TRAVEL AND TOURISM

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3.1 History It is difficult for us to have a command on the cyclic movement of fashion, needs and

requirements and the lifestyles. The process of change is, of course, influenced by the

law of nature which forces us to welcome change. If we delay, the seeds of

dissatisfaction and monotony, get a conducive nexus for their germination and

development. Hence to control or regulate the process, we allow a change which

influences our decision making behaviour and forces us to welcome a change of

place. It was against this bankground that the tarvelling was transformed into business

and of late is an industry. The process of transformation has witnessed a number of

ups and downs in almost all areas. Right from the very beginning of culture and

civilization, we find process of change continuing, of course as a pilgrimage. There is

no dought in it that the Roman Empire injected life, strenght and continuity to

travelling and therefore, the credibility for development of tourism industry

ultimately goes to them.

During the rule of Alexander the Great, 700,000 tourists visited what is now a part of

Turkey. This was considerably helped by the well built and organized roads, whilst

on the journey groups had the ability to change a team of horses, stay at rest houses,

and refreshments were available along the trip. During this time, the roads were

crowded. Alexander the Great traveled to India and found the road systems and

facilities well arranged. It was during the same period that pleasure travel begun

taking place in China and Japan. The Chinese emperor, Wu Di traveled plenty in the

2nd century. His adventures were well described in his writing.

During the reign of Elizabeth the 1st tourism reached a high. Coach travel had

become popular because of its style. Young gentlemen who came from wealthy

backgrounds undertook the Grand Tour in this era. They would travel to parts of

Great Britain, France, and Italy, it was considered crucial for the education of the

young men. The tour was used improperly on many occasions, the youngsters would

go on major shopping sprees and a lot of the time they would meet local ladies and

generally behave badly. During the 18th Century, the Industrial revolution changed

tourism considerably. A great deal of the rural folk joined the urban society, which

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allowed them more time and money to spend on travel. Thomas Cook was the first

person around the world to begin chartered travel and open travel agents. His first

chartered trip was a rail trip in which he offered two brass bands, a gala, tea and buns,

and speeches for the guests. Thomas cook was of the view that beauty is for the

people. The opinion of Mr. Cook generated new dimensions in the tourism business

which paved copious avenues for the development of tourism as an industry.

The developed, less developed and even the developing countries have assigned due

weightage to the tourism industry in their national development agenda. With

tremendous socio-economic potentials, the tourism industry is considered to be an

economic bonanza which paves avenues for the development of allied industries, such

as hotels, communication banking, and transportation and so on. In addition tourism

is a potential source for making possible world peace through mutual appreciation

and international understanding.

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3.2 ConceptTourism is the act of travel for the purpose of recreation and business, and the

provision of services for this act. Tourists are people who are "travelling to and

staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive

year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity

remunerated from within the place visited". The distance between these two places is

of no significance.

A more comprehensive definition would be that tourism is a service industry,

comprising a number of tangible and intangible components. The tangible elements

include transport systems — air, rail, road, water and now, space; hospitality services

— accommodation, foods and beverages, tours, souvenirs; and related services such

as banking, insurance and safety and security. The intangible elements include: rest

and relaxation, culture, escape, adventure, new and different experiences.

3.3Definitons

One of the earliest definitions of tourism was given by the Austrian economist

Hermann Von schullard in 1910. He defined it as, “sum total of operators, mainly of

an economic nature, which directly relate to the entry, stay and movement of

foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city or a region.”

Hunziker and Krapf, in 1943, defined Tourism as, “Tourism is the totality of the

relationship and phenomenon arising from the travel and stay of strangers, provided

that the stay does not imply the establishment of a permanent residence and is not

connected with a remunerative activities.”

In 1981 International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism defined Tourism in

terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home

environment.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_services

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_industry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel


3.4 TYPES

Tourism may be classified into the following types:

1. Domestic tourism :- This takes place when the residents/citizen of one country

travels only withen the country. Thus the Ramanathan family from Madurai making

an itinerary that includes the Golden Triangle of delhi, jaipur and agra would de

considered as domestic tourism. For India, domestic tourists are the largest- over 100

million and growing fast- and cannot be ignored in any tourism strategy.Major hotel

chains like the Taj group, the Oberois, Day,s Inn, the Mahindras with their gateway

hotels- all have started catering to this vast market.

2. Inbound tourism:- Yhis involves the travel of a non-resident- be she a foreigner or

a national resident in the given country – in that country, after arrival from another

country. Thus a group of Germans coming in on a charter flight of UVI Holidays and

having a 23-day itinerary in India would be inbound tourism.this is growing and at

the best of times has reach a figure of 2.5 million for India.

3. Outbound tourism:- this takes place when residents of a country travels to another

country or countries. Thus when Chatterjees of Kolkata take up package tour offer of

SOTC for a 15-days sojourn to the far east and Australia , they would be classified as

outbound tourists.

The outbound and Inbound Tour operators have handling agents in the destinations

countries; i.e. tie-ups, counterparts etc.

The three basic forms can be combined in various ways to derive the following

categories of tourism,viz.:

Internal Tourism:- This comprises Domestic Tourism and Inbound Tourism.

National Tourism:- this comprises Domestic Tourism and Outbound Tourism.

International Tourism:- This consists of Inbound Tourism and Outbound Tourism.

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3.5 Special Forms of Tourism

For the past few decades other forms of tourism, also known as niche tourism, have

been becoming more popular, particularly:

Adventure tourism : tourism involving travel in rugged regions, or adventurous

sports such as mountaineering and hiking .

Agritourism : farm based tourism, helping to support the local agricultural

economy.

Ancestry tourism : is the travel with the aim of tracing one's ancestry, visiting the

birth places of these ancestors and sometimes getting to know distant family.

Armchair tourism and virtual tourism : not travelling physically, but exploring the

world through internet, books, TV, etc.

Audio tourism : includes audio walking tours and other audio guided forms of

tourism including museum audio guides and audio travel books.

Bookstore Tourism is a grassroots effort to support independent bookstores by

promoting them as a travel destination.

Cultural tourism : includes urban tourism, visiting historical or interesting cities,

such as Berlin, Kathmandu, Lahore, Lima, Buenos Aires, London, Paris, Delhi,

Rome, Prague, Dubrovnik, Beijing, Istanbul, Kyoto, Warsaw, and experiencing

their cultural heritages. This type of tourism may also include specialized

cultural experiences, such as art museum tourism where the tourist visits many

art museums during the tour, or opera tourism where the tourist sees many operas

or concerts during the tour.

Dark tourism : is the travel to sites associated with death and suffering. The first

tourist agency to specialise in this kind of tourism started with trips to Lakehurst,

New Jersey, the scene of the Hindenburg airship disaster.

Disaster tourism : travelling to a disaster scene not primarily for helping, but

because it is interesting to see. It can be a problem if it hinders rescue, relief and

repair work.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_(airship)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubrovnik

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmandu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookstore_Tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Audio_walking_tours&action=edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armchair_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agritourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountaineering

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_tourism


Drug tourism : travel to a country to obtain or consume drugs, either legally or

illegally.

Ecotourism : sustainable tourism which has minimal impact on the environment,

such as safaris (Kenya), Rainforests (Belize) and hiking (Lapland), or national

parks.

Educational tourism : may involve travelling to an education institution, a

wooded retreat or some other destination in order to take personal-interest

classes, such as cooking classes with a famous chef or crafts classes.

Extreme tourism : is associated with high risk

Gambling tourism , e.g. to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, California,

[1], Macau or Monte Carlo for the purpose of gambling at the casinos there.

Garden tourism visiting botanical gardens famous places in the history of

gardening, such as Versailles and the Taj Mahal.

Heritage tourism : visiting historical (Rome, Athens, Cracow) or industrial sites,

such as old canals, railways, battlegrounds, etc.

Health tourism : usually to escape from cities or relieve stress, perhaps for some

'fun in the sun', etc. Often to "health spas".

Hobby tourism : tourism alone or with groups to participate in hobby interests, to

meet others with similar interests, or to experience something pertinent to the

hobby. Examples might be garden tours, amateur radio DX-peditions, or square

dance cruises.

Inclusive tourism : tourism marketed to those with functional limits or

disabilities. Referred to as "Tourism for All" in some regions. Destinations often

employ Universal Design and Universal Destination Development principles.

Medical tourism , e.g.: for what is illegal in one's own country, e.g. abortion,

euthanasia; for instance, euthanasia for non-citizens is provided by Dignitas in

Switzerland,for advanced care that is not available in one's own country,in the

case that there are long waiting lists in one's own country , for use of free or

cheap health care organisations

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_dance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_dance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DX-pedition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gardening

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gardening

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau

http://palmsprings.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Springs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,_Nevada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City,_New_Jersey

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gambling_tourism&action=edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainforests

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safari

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_tourism


Pop-culture tourism : tourism by those that visit a particular location after reading

about it or seeing it in a film.

Perpetual tourism : wealthy individuals always on vacation; some of them, for tax

purposes, to avoid being resident in any country.

Pilgrimage Tourism : pilgrimages to ancient holy places (Rome and Santiago de

Compostela for Catholics, Temples and stupas of Nepal for the Hindus and

Buddhist, Mount Athos or Painted churches of northern Moldavia for the

Orthodox), religious sites such as mosques, shrines, etc.

Solo Travel : travelling alone

Sport travel : skiing, golf and scuba diving are popular ways to spend a vacation.

Also in this category is vacationing at the winter home of the tourist's favorite

baseball team, and seeing them play everyday.

Space tourism : Vacilando is a special kind of wanderer for whom the process of

travelling is more important than the destination.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacilando

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuba_diving

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiing

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sport_travel&action=edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Solo_Travel&action=edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_churches_of_northern_Moldavia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Temples_and_stupas_of_Nepal&action=edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_traveler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop-culture_tourism


Chapter 4A PERFECT TOURIST DESTINATION-INDIA

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4. India – A Perfect Tourist Destination

India:-

The land to travel to, a haven of tourism delights, a civilization to tour through.

Tourists come to India for its wealth of sights, cultural exuberance, diversity of

terrain and in search of that special something, an extra punch that only India

promises and delivers. Teeming with over a billion people who voice over a million

concerns in fifteen hundred different languages, India is where people live with

variety, thrive on diversity and are too familiar with largeness to let it boggle them.

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Culture:-Few countries of the world have such an ancient and diverse culture as India’s.

Stretching back in an unbroken sweep over 5000 years, India’s culture has been

enriched by successive waves of migration, which were absorbed into the Indian way

of life. It is this variety that is the hallmark of India. Its physical, religious and racial

variety is as immense as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the

continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until

the present day. Modern India represents a picture of unity in diversity to which

history provides no parallel.

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Religion:-India probably has the most religious diversity in any country. It’s the birthplace of

Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. It’s among the few places to have a

resident Zoroastrian population. The Syrian Christian Church is well established in

Kerala; the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, old churches in Calcutta and Delhi,

synagogues in Kerala, temples from the tiny to the tremendous, ‘stupas’, ‘gompas’

and the Bodhi tree, the Ajmer Sharif and Kaliya Sharif in Bombay, all reflect the

amazing multiplicity of religious practice in India. Tribal people in the northeast,

Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat practice forms of nature worship.

Secularism is enshrined in the Constitution.

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Language:-The national language of India is Hindi, which in one form or another is spoken all

over the north. In the Deccan (south India), the languages are completely different.

The states were formed on the basis of language so each has its own. On the whole

though, dialects, accents, idioms and linguistic flourishes change every few miles.

There are 18 official languages but over a thousand recognized dialects. English is

widely spoken.

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Clothing:-To the foreign traveler, one of the most powerful attractions in India is the colorful

and diversified attire of the people. The silk saris, brightly colored mirrored cholis,

colorful lehangas and the traditional salwar-kameez have fascinated many a traveler

over the centuries.

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Festivals:-The Indian calendar is one long procession of festivals. These are as varied in origin

as they large in number. There are innumerable national, regional, local, religious,

seasonal and social festivities. This is not surprising considering the fact that India is

the land of gods, goddesses, saints, gurus, and prophets. Colour, gaiety, enthusiasm,

feasts, and a variety of prayers and rituals characterize festivals here. The scale and

multiplicity of the festivities that populate the cultural scene of this land strike

travelers as singular.Some of the popular festivals are baisakhi, Buddha purnima,

Christmas, deepawali, holi, Ram Navami etc.

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Pilgrimage :-

The Multi hued country, India is probably the ultimate destination of all kinds of

pilgrims following any faith around the world. The great religion like Hinduism,

Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism are the integral part of Indian

culture and heritage whose values and faiths are mingled with the air, soil and the sky

of India. A pilgrimage tour in the divine land of India will surely bring all the faces of

Indian devotions and you will be moved by seeing the unconditional faiths and beliefs

of the Indians for God, who may have any name or identity. Your spirituality and

devotion is sure to attain a new height after a pilgrimage tour in India and who

knows, you may return home with an enlightenment which you have searched for all

your life.

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Food:-From DC to Dakota, Warwick to what-have-you, Indian spices are letting off steam

everywhere in the whole wide world. And you come to India and realize......hey,

there’s nothing authentic about it! Every kitchen, every man, woman, cook, chef does

it different.

A meal in the north would typically constitute chapattis or rice with dal (lentil curry)

and a dish of vegetables or meat. Pappads (wafers fried or toasted to a crisp), yoghurt

and pickle are usual accompaniments.

Idli, dosa, vada, sambar, uppama! In the south, too, a meal centers on a base of rice,

or as in the South –Indian case, semolina preparation. Eaten alongside is the South-

Indian dal - "sambhar", sour, hot, souped -up with vegetables. Savory snacks like

pakoras pep the evening cuppa. Anything coated in batter (of chickpea, flour et al)

and deep-fried will pass for pakora. Also, readily available on the roadside are snacks

like bhel puri and paapri chaat. Vegetarians will feel like they’ve come home,

especially in the south. But no matter where you are, in a plush restaurant or a

roadside ‘dhaba’, in Kunnur or Kullu, you can be sure of sumptuous vegetarian

meals. All along the coast and extensively in the northeast fish is consumed almost as

a staple. Both fresh water and sea fish are popular. Indians love their sweets. There is

great regional variety and among the most popular types is the Bengali "mishti".

There’s also a huge variety in drinks. Besides ‘chai’ (tea) and coffee, sweetened/salty

churned yoghurt called lassi, the ubiquitous ‘neemboo-pani’ or lemon-water, fruit

juice in tetra packs and aerated drinks are readily available in India. IMFL expands

into Indian made Foreign Liquor and spans the entire range from beer to whiskey.

Some examples of local brews are ‘chaang’ in Arunachal, toddy in the South and

Goa’s famous ‘feni’.

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Art:-The earliest specimens of Indian painting are the ones on the walls of the Ajanta

Caves dating back to 2nd century BC. The typical ‘figures in profile’ art of India came

to be when the Jain manuscripts were being illustrated. The Mughals had a huge

impact on Indian art. The miniature, which had been only on palm leaves in the

northeast, came into prominence. The influence of Persian art brought placid garden

scenes, illustrations from myths, legends and history into Indian art. Later schools

include the Bengal School of Tagore and the Company School of European influence.

More recently the opulent paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the paintings of M.F.

Hussain, Jamini Roy and Ganesh Pyne among others rule the art scene.

25


Dance:-The legacy of dance in India is tremendous. On temple walls, on an urban stage, in

impromptu bursts by a mellow evening fire, men and women twinkle their toes in

expression of joy. The classical dances of India are numerous. Characterized by

stylized movements and elaborate costumes, these dances communicate age-old tales

of love, longing and rage. Kathakali of Kerala, Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu,

Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri and Odissi from Orissa are the prominent

dance forms in this country that sways to an altogether novel beat. The robust

bhangra of Punjabi men, the graceful whirling of Rajasthani women, the gentle sway

of northeastern dancers, vigorous tribal dances, every corner has developed its own

unique form.

26


Monuments:While most written records and entire edifices that testify to India’s contribution to

civilization have been obliterated over time, some of them from the close of last

millennium are an eloquent reminder of the vitality of a civilization that has

continued and endured for at least 5000 years. The meeting of different cultural

traditions can be seen in the innumerable forts, palaces, monuments and tombs that

dot the Indian landscape. Some of the famous monuments are Agra Fort, Charminar,

Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Qutub Minar etc

27


Chapter 5TOURISM IN INDIA

28


5. Tourism in India Over the last 40 years, international arrivals worldwide rose dramatically from 70

million to 710 million. The tourism industry as a whole is currently estimated to earn

over US$ 3.5 trillion worldwide creating a job every 2.4 seconds with every one of

those direct jobs creating another 11 indirect ones. Spending on tourism amounts to

5%-10% of total consumer spending in a year, worldwide.

India was one of the first countries to become a member of the World Tourism

Organization in 1951. The government of India also took note of the new

phenomenon of international tourism and appointed a committee in 1946 under the

chairmanship of Sir John Sargent, Secretary, and Department of Education. In

pursuance of its recommendation, the government set up a small tourist branch under

ministry of transport in 1949 and in 1951 established four field offices in Mumbai,

Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai. In 1955, the Estimates Committee recommended the

starting up of a separate Department of tourism, and this was done in 1957. A

national apex body, the Tourism Development council, was set up in 1958.in 1951,

there were 17,000 tourists who visited India; and in 1980, the number has gone up to

80,150. In 1980, the share of India in international tourism was 0.39 %.the average

length of stay, which determines the volume of tourism and foreign exchanged earned

from it, is 25 days for India, one of the highest in the world. It is estimated that in

1980 tourist spent between Rs. 5,500 and Rs. 6,000 million in foreign exchange in

India. This was 0.79 percent of the estimated total world revenues of US $ 95.3

billion at the 1980 exchange rate.

India’s share of the total market is a pittance at 0.15%. Nevertheless, tourism has the

distinction of being the third largest export industry after gems and jewellery and

readymade garments in India. The significance of tourism in terms of employment

generation is rising too. In 1996-97, direct employment in the sector was estimated at

about 7 to 9.1 million people, accounting for around 2.4% of the total labour force.

29


The subcontinent of India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, china, and Nepal.

To the north it is bordered by the world’s highest mountain chain, where foothill

valleys cover the north most of the countries states. Further south, plateaus, tropical

rain forests and the sandy deserts are lined by palm-fringed beaches. Side by side

with the country’s staggering topographical variation is its cultural diversity, the

result of the coexistence of a number of religions as well as local traditions. Thus, the

towering temples of south India, easily identifiable by their ornately sculptured

surface, are associated with a great many crafts and performing arts of the region.

In the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the other hand, a scattering of villages pit

themselves against the awesome forces of nature, resulting in Spartan lifestyles made

vibrant by a profusion of jewellery and ornamental embroidery. Used to adorn

apparel and household linen. In the extreme north is the high- altitude desert of

ladakh. Local culture is visibly shaped by the faith of Buddhism as well as by the

harsh terrain. Yet another facet of Indian culture is observed in the colourful tribal

lifestyles of the North-eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur

with their folk culture.

In the central Indian states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, tribal village life has

resulted in a variety of artistically executed handicrafts. India’s mountains provide

lazy sunbathing as well as wind-surfing and snorkeling, and its jungles provide

shooting wildlife with a camera.

In creative arts, India’s sculpture, architecture and painting have had a rich history.

The cave architecture of Ajanta and cave wall painting of Ajanta and Ellora, the

temples of Khajuraho, the Mughal and Rajasthani paintings and the Taj Mahal are but

a few examples of India’s culture heritage. The history of accomplishments in dance,

drama and music is equally formidable and impressive. The classical dances still

thrive in India, especially in their major forms- Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak

and Manipuri. Traditional crafts and textiles have been equally famous from times

ancient. They also served to carry forward myths, legends, motifs and other aspects of

a culture peculiar to a region. Some famous examples of the craft and art are the

warp-weft type of dyeing as seen in textiles from Orissa, embroidery from Bengal and

Banarasi silk-brocade from Varanasi.

30


Chapter 6ECOTOURISM

31


6.1 Ecotourism

6.1 An Introduction In the 1990s, tourism received increasing attention especially in developing countries

as it is has potential for generating income while creating incentives for conservation.

It is argued that tourism allows for the use of areas, which are otherwise of low value,

such as remote beaches, but perfectly meet the demands of the growing travel

industry (WWF, 1995). In India, for instance, there has been a large increase in

international tourism in the last few years. In the year 2002, there has been a 14.6%

increase in international tourist arrivals along with 22.4% growth in foreign exchange

and most of this increase is due to India’s system of national parks and variety of

biodiversity present in these parks. Nature-based tourism a sub-sector of tourism can

be an important channel for redistributing resources from countries who demand

higher nature based vacation to developing countries, which comprise mega-

biodiversity regions and protected parks (Gossling, 1999). This is because an

overwhelming majority of species are located in developing countries. But these

developing countries face more serious problems like rapid population growth, debts,

over-exploitation of wild resources, agricultural expansion, deforestation etc., which

result in the loss of valuable biodiversity and degradation of national parks.

Industrialized countries on the other hand are characterized by high and increasing

demands for nature-based vacations, with protected areas representing first-rate

attractions (WWF, 1995). Tourism could therefore be a means of redistributing

economic resources, mitigating the socio-economic situation both at local and

national scale and contributing to biodiversity conservation.

For nature tourism to be sustainable – a number of environmental, economic and

social requirements have to be fulfilled. This has led to the introduction of

‘ecotourism’, as a nature tourism eco-label. Given the important role played by

nature-based tourism, the year 2002 has been declared as the International Year of

Ecotouris

32


6.2. Meaning and Concept

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and ecotourism society define ecotourism as

“responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the

well-being of the local people. “ However for tourism to be called ecotourism, it

should be fully compatible with the conservation goals of the country, while at the

same time pose minimum threat to the continuation of local culture and society.

Moreover, it should contribute by means of income and education to the contribution

of ecosystems (Brown et al. 1997).

Ecotourism means ecological tourism, where ecological has both environmental and

social connotations. It is defined both as a concept-tourism movement and as a

tourism (specifically sustainable tourism) section. Born in its current form in the late

1980's, Ecotourism came of age in 2002, when the United Nations celebrated the

"International Year of Ecotourism". The International Ecotourism Society defines

ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and

improves the well-being of local people".

Eco-tourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal

growth and learning new ways to live on the planet. It is typically defined as travel to

destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the adverse effects of

traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of

local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors,

initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy efficiency, water re-

use, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities are an integral

part of ecotourism.

33

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism


This industry now recevies rave reviews from environmentally-conscious travellers

who immerse themselves in pristine places and authentic experiences. Unlike

traditioal tourism, ecotourism promotes environmentally responsible travel and seeks

to ensure these visitors ‘take nothing but photographs and leave behind nothing but

footprints.’

An equally important part of the ecotourism equation is ‘sustainable’ tourism that

enables local people to protect their natural and cultural resouces and profit for them

at the same time. The truly ‘green’ traveller also emphasizes the necessity for tours

that stictly limit group size, co-ordinate with native guides, and denote a percentage

of tour profits to community projects or reseach.

The ecotourism umbrella seems to shelter all kinds of outdoor travel-related products-

from beach hotels that happen to be near a rain forest to a national park visit, guided

bird watching, or scientist-led Antatartic cruising. It also encompasses adventures,

such as trekking, andrivir rafting, as well as rigorous trips to culturally exotic or

archaeologically important locations.

The general concept of ecotourism arose when conservationists realized the potential

benefits in combining people’s interest in nature with their concern for the

environment. An early model for ecotourism came from East Africa in the 1970s,

when Kenya began collecting fees from safari-bound tourist heading into its natioal

parks. Those revenues were earmarked to support conservation and aprk maintenance

in its vast wildlife preserves. Another popular destination was the Galapagos Islands,,

perhaps the worlds most renowned natural ‘laboratory’ of flora and funa unique to the

region.

Ecotourism is considered the fastest growing market in the tourism industry,

according to the World Tourism Organization with an annual growth rate of 5%

worldwide and representing 6% of the world gross domestic product, 11.4% of all

consumers spending.

34


Around the globe, eco-tourism is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of

vacationing. In an era of heightened environmental consciousness and accessibility to

exotic locales, countries are busily promoting their natural resources as lures for

tourists. The trick with ecotourism is to preserve the natural resources while also

promoting them and accommodating volumes of tourists.

Businesses are creating camps and eco-lodges, and natural resource managers are

designing trails and tours. Most of the popular eco-travel destinations have fragile

eco-systems, however, so it is important to maintain a careful balance between

preservation and promotion -- "sustainable development" -- in order to ensure the

long-term health of both the eco-systems and the tourism economies.

Why consider ecotourism:-

Orange or banana peels that we throw out of car window take almost 2 years

to decompose.

Plastic bags and aluminum cans take a whole 100 years to become

biodegradable.

Glass bottles take a million years to biodegrade, and we still don’t know how

long plastic containers take.

Three times as much rubbish is dumped into oceans as the weight of fish

caught.

Discarded fishing nets and bait ties trap and drown birds.

Turtles swallow plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish.

Cigarette butts thrown in forest and parks can cause forest fires; less than 20%

of India’s is under forest cover.

Ideally, true ecotourism should satisfy several criteria, such as:-

Conservation (and justification for conservation) of biological diversity and

cultural diversity, through ecosystems protection.

Promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local

populations.

35

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_use

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_diversity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_diversity


Sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous

people by having their informed consent and participation in the management of

ecotourism enterprises.

Increase of environmental & cultural knowledge.

Minimisation of tourism's own environmental impact.

Affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury.

Local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions.

How to travel in eco friendly way:-

1. Do nothing that will harm the social, environmental and ecological wealth of a

place.

2.Be sensitive to and respect the customs of the people you are visiting.

3. do not crowd and Gwak at Tribals, aborigines and isolated communities they are

people with feelings and value privacy as much as we do.

4. Walk, walk and walk-it’s the best way to enjoy nature. Besides nothing can be

more eco friendly.

5. leave every place cleaner than you found it, even if it means picking up rubbish left

by others.

6. While choosing hotels, go for those that support the green hotels-eco-hotels.

7. Buy curios and handicrafts directly from antive people rather than from showrooms

and emporia.

8. Do not buy animal skin, ivory products made from endangered species.

36

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_people

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_people


Chapter 7ECO TOURISM IN INDIA

37


7. Ecotourism in India.

7.1 An Introduction.

To be with nature and enjoy its creations in the most natural way without endangering

it is known as ecotourism. It can take several forms: to be in a beautiful natural forest

or landscape; to enjoy watching animals, Birds and trees or corals and marine life in a

sea; to engage in trekking, boating or rafting; and to wander into sand dunes. These

are some of the common forms of ecotourism. Eco tourism also means opening up

various possible places for human visit and generate employment and business in

process. Though the word ecotourism has gained importance only recently, India has

been experiencing it through the ages.

India is a rich land in terms of both natural beauty as well as cultural heritage, and

this is what eco tourists actually look for in their trip. Hence, those interested in eco

tourism have tremendous scope in India. An eco tourism trip in India will not only

bring tourist face to face with the exemplary creations of nature and man but will also

cultivate an awareness about the importance of all these elements in our lives. It will

also arouse an understanding of the importance of keeping our environment clean and

beautiful.

And all this is not without fun as the eco tourism destinations in India have numerous

ways to make a trip entertaining and memorable. All these places have a very

different terrain and style of living as such a visit to these places definitely makes the

trip enjoyable. Nothing else can be a better option for those who love nature and

environment as dearly as their own entertainment.

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Geographical diversity of India

India is a country of continental dimensions consisting of four distinct regions,

namely, the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus rivers, the desert

region and the southern peninsula.

Almost two-thirds of the Himalaya is in the mountain zone of India, including large

plateaus and valleys. The plains of the Ganga and the Indus are formed by basins of

three distinct river systems, the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. The desert

region consists of the great desert and the little desert.

The great desert extends from the Rann of Kachchh and runs through the Rajasthan-

Sind frontier. The little desert extends from the Luni River between Jaisalmer and

Jodhpur up to the northern wastes.

The peninsular plateau is flanked on one side by the Eastern Ghats and on the other

by the Western Ghats. Between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea there is a

narrow coastal strip, while between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal lies a

broader coastal area. India is thus endowed with every land form, mountains, plains,

deserts and sea coasts.

39


7.2 Ecotourism resources in India The geographical diversity of India has also given it a wealth of eco-systems

which are being protected and preserved. They have also become the major

resources for ecotourism. One specific element is bio-sphere reserves. These are

multi-purpose areas protected in order to preserve the genetic diversity and

integrity of plants, animals and micro-organisms in representative eco-systems.

There are seven such reserves in India at present: Nilgiri; Nanda Devi; Nokrek;

Great Nicobar; Gulf of Mannar; Manas and Sunderbans.

A second element is mangroves, which are specialized forest eco-systems in

tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world bordering sheltered sea coasts and

estuaries. Major mangrove areas are: Northern Andaman and Nicobar;

Sunderbans; Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi Delta; Coringa, Godavari Delta and

Krishna Estuary; Pichavaram and Point Calimar; Goa; Gulf of Kutch; Coondapur;

Achra/Ratnagiri; and Vembanad.

The third element is coral and coral reefs. There are four coral areas identified in

India so far: Gulf of Mannar; Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Lakshadweep

Islands; and Gulf of Kutch.

The fourth element is the great and little deserts in the North-Western region of

the country. This is a distinct eco-system which has attracted the fascination of

tourists.

The fifth element consists of mountain and forests, including great Himalayas and

other mountain ranges in the country. Along with their forests, rivers and snow,

they have also become great attractions for eco-tourists. The country has an area

of about 752 million hectares designated as forests, and of which about 406

40


million hectares are classified as reserve forests and 215 million hectares as

protected forests.

India's sixth element is the flora and fauna which are very abundant. There are

about 45,000 species of plants, including shrubs. The country also has a great

variety of fauna, numbering a little over 65,000 known species, including 1,228

species of birds, 428 species of reptiles, 372 species of mammals, 204 species of

amphibians and 2,546 species of fishes.

In order to protect and preserve these genetic resources, India has created 75 national

parks and 421 wildlife sanctuaries in different parts of the country. Some have

already become popular with tourists, such as Kaziranga and Manas in Assam; Jim

Corbett Park in Uttar Pradesh; Bharatpur, Ranthambore and Sariska in Rajasthan;

Kanha and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh; Bandipur in Karnataka; and Simlipal in

Orissa.

41


7.3 Development of ecotourism in India

India has consistently included environmental and ecological safeguards in the

development of ecotourism in order to avoid gross commercialism. Opening

ecological areas for tourism is generally done after careful assessment of carrying

capacity to ensure that nature's bounty is not destroyed. India has also always tried to

ensure that tourism does not impinge on the culture and heritage.

In general, a sound and sensitive environmental approach is adapted to tourism

development planning and is integrated with other activities to ensure the following:

a) Levels of development are to be compatible with the general capacity of the

physical environment and resources.

b) Sufficient facilities and services need to be provided to serve tourists and the local

population.

c) Hotel rooms must be distributed in such a manner that the natural characteristics

and qualities of the area are enhanced.

d) The three dimensional manifestation of tourism development should be designed

carefully and with a sensitivity that merges with the surroundings and enhances the

natural beauty.

e) Architectural heritage sites and other areas of historic value are to be adequately

protected.

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In the initial years of ecotourism development, greater emphasis was given to the

development of tourism in the Himalayas and the deserts. One of the earliest projects

was the Gulmarg Winter Sports Resort. However, the focus has been on the provision

of basic minimum facilities for visits by eco-friendly tourists to the hills, national

parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Forest lodges and viewing towers were provided in

some of the important sanctuaries along with transport facilities in the form of jeeps

and elephants.

There are several interesting trek routes of varying difficulty in the Himalayas.

Facilities like camping sites, trekkers' huts, tents and trekking equipment are provided

to encourage the development of a few of these routes and promote trekking tourism.

Several bodies of water including lakes, back waters and seas constitute major

sources of tourist attractions. Facilities like houseboats, water sports equipment, glass

bottom boats, hovercraft, etc. are provided to benefit tourists.

Landscaping and upgrading the environment of parks, gardens and other natural areas

has been another stream of developmental activity associated with ecotourism.

Creation of public conveniences and road side amenities was also given considerable

importance in the development process.

Some recent initiatives in the development of ecotourism include the establishment of

a resort in 1988 with 70 beds at Bangaram Island in Lakshadeep with private sector

participation. The crystal clear sea water, abundant marine life and corals provide an

ideal setting for enjoying nature's beauty.

The Coconut Grove at Kumarakam and Spice Village at Thekady in Kerala are some

new additions to India's ecotourism resorts. These are private enterprises which

specialize in providing experiences with nature in full measure.

India has also been aware of the importance of preparing master plans for the

sustainable development of tourism. A study on the sustainable development of

tourism at Andaman and Nicobar Islands is now underway with the assistance of

UNDP and WTO. Similar studies are also being considered in other areas identified

for resort development.

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7.4 Promoting ecotourism in India

The key players in the ecotourism business are governments at levels, the local

authorities, the developers and the operators, the visitors, and the local community.

Each one of them has to be sensitive to the environment and local traditions and

follow a set of guidelines for the successful development of ecotourism. In addition,

non-governmental organizations and scientific and research institutions also have to

play a key role in the development of ecotourism.

A management plan for each ecotourism area should be prepared by professional

landscape architects and urban planners, in consultation with the local community as

well as others directly concerned. Integrated planning should be adopted to avoid

inter-sectoral and cross-sectoral conflict. A first step should be to prepare 20-year

Master Plans for each state.

The architectural program for ecotourism centers should include controlled access

points, roads, self-guided nature trails, transportation options, interpretation centers,

signs, observation towers and adequate but unpretentious lodging and dining

facilities, docks, garbage disposal facilities and other utilities as needed. If required,

suitable living quarters and facilities for project personnel should be provided.

44


7.5 Role and responsibilities

Government Responsibilities for Ecotourism

1. Regulate structures that create visual pollution, unaesthetic views and are non-

compatible architecture; and encourage use of local building material and structures

befitting the local environment.

1. Exclude developments in geologically unstable zones and define development and

buffer zones after proper environmental impact assessments.

2. Establish and enforce standards, building codes and other regulations.

3. Specify environmental, physical and social carrying capacities to limit

development.

4. Ensure continuous monitoring of adverse effects of tourism activities and initiate

suitable corrective measures.

5. Recognize and award quality by accreditation of ecotourism operators.

6. Provide visitor information and interpretation services covering particularly (i)

What to see; (ii) how to see it; and (iii) how to behave. This can be by way of

brochures, leaflets, specialized guides, visitor information centers and such.

7. Prepare and distribute codes of conduct to all visitors.

45


8. Launch training programs on ecotourism for tourism administrators, planners,

operators and the general public.

The roles and responsibilities of tourism developers and operators are fundamental to

the achievement of ecotourism and the long-term success of the businesses.

Role and responsibility of tourism developers and operators:

1. Respect and follow the planning restrictions, standards and codes provided by the

government and local authorities.

2. Implement sound environment principles through self-regulation.

3. Undertake environmental impact assessment for all new projects and conduct

regular environment audits for all ongoing activities, leading to development of

environmental improvement programs.

4. Be aware of, and sensitive to, protected or threatened areas, species and scenic

amenity; undertake landscape enhancement wherever possible.

5. Ensure that all structures are unobtrusive and do not interfere with the natural

ecosystem to the extent possible.

6. Recognize the optimal environmental capacity and sociological use-limits of the

site in creating tourist facilities; also take into account the safety and convenience of

tourists.

7. Design buildings strictly on functional and environmental considerations and avoid

over-construction.

46


8 Use local material and designs to the extent possible in construction.

9.Employ eco-friendly physical planning, architectural design and construction of

tourist facilities, for example use solar energy, capture and utilize rainwater, recycle

garbage, use natural cross-ventilation instead of air conditioning, ensure a high level

of self-sufficiency in food through orchards, ecological farms, aquaculture and such.

10. Employ energy and water-saving practices to the extent possible; freshwater

management and controlled sewage disposal should also be practiced.

11. Control air emissions, chemical pollutants and noise.

12. Control and reduce environmentally unfriendly products such as asbestos, CFCs,

pesticides and toxic, corrosive, infectious, explosive or flammable material.

13. Respect and support historic or religious objects and sites.

14. Provide information and interpretive services to visitors especially on attractions

and facilities, safety and security, local customs and traditions, prohibitions and

regulations and expected behavior.

15. Ensure adequate opportunities for visitors to commune with nature and native

cultures.

16. Provide correct information in marketing ecotourism products, as visitors who

appreciate ecotourism products usually belong to environmentally- aware groups.

17. Include training and research programs on environmental issues for company

staff.

47


18. Prepare tourists before their visit to minimize possible negative impacts while

visiting sensitive environments and cultures.

19. Ensure safety and security of visitors and inform them of precautions to be taken.

20. Exercise due regard for the interest of the local population, including its history,

tradition and culture and future economic development.

21. Involve the local community to the extent possible in various activities and

vocations.

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Just as the government authorities and the tourism operators play fundamental roles in

the success of ecotourism, so does the tourist.

The Responsibilities of Ecotourists

1. Help conserve habitats of flora and fauna as well as any site, natural feature or

culture, which may be affected by tourism.

2. Make no open fires and discourage others from doing so. If water has to be heated

with scarce firewood, use as little as possible. Where feasible, use kerosene or fuel-

efficient wood stoves.

3. Remove litter, burn or bury paper and carry back all non-degradable litter.

4. Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants such as detergents in streams or

springs. If no toilet facilities are available, relieve yourself at least 30 meters away

from water sources and bury or cover the waste.

5. Leave plants to flourish in their natural environment and avoid taking away

cuttings, seeds and roots.

6. Leave campsites clean after use.

7. Help guides and porters to follow conservation measures. Do not allow

cooks/porters to throw garbage in streams or rivers.

8. Respect the natural and cultural heritage of the area and follow local customs.

9. Respect local etiquette and do not wear tight-fitting clothes. Remember that kissing

in public is disapproved of in India.

10. Respect privacy of individuals and ask permission to take photographs of local

inhabitants.

11.Respect holy places; do not touch or remove religious objects.

12. Strictly follow the guidelines for personal safety and security and always take

your own precautions and safety measures.

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If a community wants to host ecotourism, it has a central role to play. The host

community’s success in bringing ecotourism to it and ensuing that the level and type

of tourism is compatible with the community’s aspirations are matters the community

can control.

The Role and Responsibility of the Host Community:-

1. Realize and respect the value of the environment, the flora and fauna, the

monuments and your cultural heritage.

2. Practice conservation of nature and culture as a way of life.

3. Establish guidelines to protect valuable local resources and foster tourism

management.

4. React to the potential threat of investors who see opportunities in development but

lack sensitivity to local values.

5. Become effective nature guides and conservationists of natural areas by utilizing

practical and ancestral knowledge of the natural features of the area.

6 Be friendly to the visitors and help them to practice ecotourism principles.

Finally there is a role for others, such as scientific and research institutions and non-

government organizations, in promoting ecotourism. The things they can do include:

(i) create awareness, among all concerned, about the importance of sound eco-

practices in tourism development;

50


(ii) Motivate the local community to increase their involvement in sustainable tourism

activities; and

(iii) Organize training programs to prepare the local people to take up various

vocations related to ecotourism.

7.6 Motivation for Involvement in Ecotourism

Hotel and travel companies in India function in a relatively free environment. The

country is slowly but surely moving towards a market economy where commercial

considerations dictate motivation for the private sector to take up various activities.

Crass commercial considerations have, however, to be controlled by the government

on behalf of the public. The environment has to be protected through awareness-

generation, legislation, policy and administrative action.

The traveling public is also becoming conscious of the need to protect the

environment, to some extent at least. As a result, many enterprises in the hospitality

sector have adopted environment-friendly practices like conserving energy and water

and recycling unutilized hotel outputs. These can be powerful marketing tools for

hotel groups. Furthermore, with the increase in cost of vital inputs like energy, water

etc.; companies are motivated to conserve limited resources by adopting practices

which reduce levels of consumption. Many hotel companies advise their clients to be

careful in the use of lights, water and other hotel services.

Civil society has also begun to exercise control over the environment. Many non-

government organizations have been generating awareness about environmentally

destructive practices. Individuals have taken recourse to public interest litigation to

stop environmentally destructive practices. The Indian judicial system has been very

liberal in restraining environmentally hazardous activities. At times, political parties

also stop environmentally harmful practices by agitation and raising issues in

democratic forums such as state legislatures. The print and electronic media have

51


been very active in India in investigating environmentally injurious activities by

highlighting such issues and creating public opinion for environmentally compatible

practices.

The Government of India has a Ministry of Environment and Forests with a mandate

to oversee use of the environment in order to conserve it. The Government has also

set up institutions like the Central and State Pollution Control Board to deal with the

defaulters.

The state governments also have Departments of Environment and Pollution Control.

The Ministry of Tourism has issued ecotourism guidelines for adoption by all

concerned organizations. Some tourism bodies and associations like all concerned

organizations. Some tourism bodies and associations like the Pacific Travel

Association has introduced an ecotourism pledge which requires their members to

adopt environment-friendly practices.

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7.7 Approaches to Ecotourism in India

Environmental conservation, which is the philosophy behind ecotourism, is deeply set

in the minds of the common Indian. As per the Hindu religious scriptures, one is

expected to follow certain rules, or Dharma, regarding sanctity to be maintained in

hills, sanctuaries, water bodies, villages and marketplaces. By and large these are

followed in rural and tribal settlements.

With growing urbanization and industrialization, coupled with increased pressure on

natural resources due to the population explosion, and the state having the

responsibility to make available water and food grains and other essential

commodities in the markets, it has become imperative to involve citizens in natural

resource management. Environmental management is not only the responsibility of

the state, but also a duty of each and every citizen.

The Government of India has decided to involve citizens in environmental

management. As a part of this campaign, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks

where people can cohabit with the other living things and learn about environmental

management are being established in all parts of India.

More and more Marine National Parks, Bird Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves are

contemplated, not only as a conservation measure but also to inculcate a sense of

compassion for flora and fauna. Nature interpretation centers are in vogue in all parts

of the country.

Floating accommodation in the form of house boats prevalent in Dal Lake, Kashmir

and the back waters of Aleppy, Kerala are famous throughout the world. This type of

accommodation brings tourists close to nature. This kind of informal education will

53


go a long way in promoting ecotourism in India, a country where financial and other

resources are limited.

Trekking tours are being organized by not only the private tour operators but also by

the state-run corporations and other bodies. Similarly skiing, rowing and other water

sports are being organized by the state to promote “soft” adventure tourism in the

country.

Major sections of the society (urban, rural, students, employees, workers, employers)

are encouraged to undertake tours in different parts of India. The government,

academic institutions and private sector provide funds or concessions for this purpose,

with the objective of better binding the country’s multiethnic, multi linguistic, and

multicultural people together, while helping them understands their country better and

appreciate each others problems.

54


Chapter 8

ECO TOURISM PROJECT

55


8. Ecotourism projects

8.1 Ecotourism project in Kerala: Eco-Development Project in

Periyar Tiger reserve

IntroductionThe Ministry of Environment has undertaken to promote local community

participation in forest management, through the “India - Eco – Development”

programme in seven states. In Kerala, the ‘Thekkady Tiger Trail’ project was

launched a couple of years ago in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. In the Periyar Tiger

Trail project, the members involved are the former inhabitants of the forest, who use

to make a living by illegal trading of forest goods. Their activity was thus detrimental

to the conservation of the forest. However, their intimate knowledge about the plants

and animals, and their survival instincts could be best used for participatory

ecotourism activities. Besides the Tiger Trail, other ecotourism products of the

Periyar Tiger Reserve are: Bamboo Rafting, Day Trekking Programme, Tribal

Heritage, Bamboo Grove, Jungle Inn and Wild adventures.

Ecotourism in Kerala

The state of Kerala, forming part of the Western Ghats, contains a protected area of

2,324 sq.km in two National Parks and 12 Wildlife Sanctuaries. The Western Ghats

of Kerala, with its tropical forest ecosystem, provides a natural advantage for

development of Ecotourism. The Western Ghats regions of Kerala can be projected as

an Ecotourism Zone in the true sense. It has now become necessary to evolve

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appropriate location specific strategies for sanctuaries in Kerala, in the sphere of

ecotourism development. Proper ecotourism product development, it’s marketing,

environmental impact assessment, monitoring etc. are to be done in a systematic way.

The Tourism Department of Government of Kerala has taken steps to give focused

attention to ecotourism in the State. A separate ecotourism wing has been created to

give policy support for the development of the ecotourism destinations in the State.

Thenmala ecotourism project was established in and around Shenduruney Wildlife

Sanctuary with the co-operation of departments such as Forest, Irrigation and

Tourism. It is considered to be the first planned ecotourism destination in India.

Thekkady is another ecotourism destination, which offers the visitor an unforgettable

experience. Except Thekkady, all other sanctuaries in Kerala are practically unknown

to tourists. What is needed is a more focused strategy which is supply-driven and

small group - oriented. Ecotourism activities, in an ecologically sensitive area need

close monitoring. Tourism in these natural areas should be ecologically sustainable.

There should be provision for the visitor to be educated about the environment. The

economic benefit of such an activity should accrue to the local population to ensure

sustainability. Ecotourism projects the concept of sustainability in tourism, that is, the

needs of today's visitor should not be met at the expense of future generations.

Ecotourism in Periyar Tiger Reserve

In 1899, the core area of what today is the Periyar Sanctuary was declared a reserved

forest in order to protect the catchment area of the Periyar River. This river had been

dammed in 1895, resulting in several small lakes and a reservoir. In 1934 the area,

including the reservoir, was declared a Sanctuary. The total area of the present

Sanctuary is 777 square kilometers and it is located in the southernmost part of

Western Ghats. 70% of it includes tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.

What make Thekkady a unique destination on the tourism map are its climate,

landscape and possibility of watching wildlife closely on the lakeshore while taking a

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boat cruise. The prime attraction of tourists visiting Thekkady is a boat cruise in the

Periyar Lake. This lake is artificially formed, due to the submergence of low-lying

forest areas, following the construction of the Mullapperiyar Dam in 1895. It offers a

variety of opportunities to cater to the needs of various classes of tourists. Tourism

has become an important management issue ever since the area was declared a Tiger

Reserve in 1978 (tenth of its kind in India) and there has been tremendous increase in

the number of tourists visiting the park year after year.

An experiment in forest management called “India Eco-development Project” at

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady developed an ecotourism component, the

Thekkady Tiger Trail late in 1998. The concept and implementation of the “India

Eco-development Project” made the managers of Periyar Tiger Reserve think

seriously in order to identify sustainable tourism activities that ensure local

participation in its fullest sense.

The Project at Periyar has two basic objectives:

To manage protected areas and to get local people involved in it.

To implement the project initially, local communities living off the forest were

organized into eco-development committees (EDCs).

Two basic objectives for the EDCs were to reduce the negative impact of local people

on the Sanctuary and to involve encroachers in conservation, instead of exploitation.

This was done by addressing the economic needs of those living in and around the

park (about 250,000 people) by finding viable and innovative livelihood alternatives

for them. The project has so far benefited about 40,000 people of 5,540 families.

Ex-Vayana Bark collectors, who were involved in the illegal de-barking of Cinnamon

trees (Vayana) as well as in Sandalwood smuggling and poaching formed an eco-

development committee (EDC) in 1998. 23 smugglers came forward to begin life

anew. They pledged to protect the very forests that they had plundered in the past and

in return, the Forest Department withdrew all the cases against them. They initiated a

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Bamboo Rafting programme for tourists in November 2002 and major part of the

earnings from this goes to a community development fund. The Tribal Trekkers Eco-

Development Committee (a group of 20 tribal youths), and the Periyar Tiger

Samrakshan (PETS) (a group of 70 members who were earlier employed by the

Forest Department as watchers), have an involvement in the tourism. They provide

services like day treks through the forest, arranging nature camps, horse riding and

special programmes for the tourists. The members of all the committees help the

Forest Department in undertaking the census of animals in the reserve.

Members of the Tribal Trekkers group have added four species of birds to the

checklist of the reserve. There is also clear evidence for a significant increase in the

number of animals in the sanctuary.

Periyar Tiger Trail

It is an adventurous trekking and camping programme in dense forest. It is offered in

two packages, one- night and two-night stays, depending upon the preference and

wallet of guests. Trekking in the Thekkady Tiger Trail is in reality participation in

forest patrols within Periyar Sanctuary and National Park. Trekking with tourists

during peak season is normally limited to two occasions a week. Each trekking is

unique in the sense that different paths are chosen randomly. The physical condition

of the trekking tourist determines to some degree the difficulty of the path chosen. As

the terrain is undulating, every trekking program demands that each participant is in

good physical condition. From the beginning, the trekking follows an easy footpath,

but then the team enters terrain and vegetation of varying difficulty to penetrate, in an

untouched landscape without tracks. There are no facilities within the Sanctuary, so

everything needed has to be carried along. Under the scheme, a maximum number of

five tourists will be accompanied by five guides and one armed forest guard. The

guides are very knowledgeable on every nook and cranny of Thekkady forest, and on

wildlife behavior.

During the night, the guests are put up in temporary erected tents right in the interior.

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Guests feel at the lap of Mother Nature and can have a close-up view of wildlife and

observe their behavior. Considering the vulnerability of biodiversity the number of

slots has been limited.

Although much publicity has been given to the project recently and its popularity is

increasing, the number of trekking is limited to not more than a couple of tours per

week. This is typical of ecotourism. An ecotourism project is never meant to be

expanding with increasing popularity - then it ceases to be a true ecotourism project,

which entails a minimum of damage and disturbance of the environment. One very

important result of the project so far, is that the former poachers have been converted

to devoted trackers with a genuine interest in conserving the Sanctuary. Some

trackers have reported that the number of wild animals is already increasing. One

national award for ecotourism was given to this project by The Ministry of Tourism

for excellence in environmental concern in January 2000. A state award (Kerala) was

also given recently for innovation in tourism.

Other Ecotourism products of Periyar Tiger Reserve

Bamboo Rafting: Ex-Vayana Bark collectors initiated a Bamboo Rafting program for

tourists in November 2002. A full day nature trail package is offered to nature lovers

to enjoy the panoramic beauty of Periyar Lake and undulating surroundings. A

maximum of ten tourists can be accommodated in one slot. They will be accompanied

by five guides and one armed guard. Only one slot will be allotted per day. Under this

package the guests can enjoy two-hour long trekking, one and half hours long rafting

upwards, and then after lunch break the party returns in the same manner. During the

trail the party can have a feeling of pristine forest, see even large mammals, birds and

indigenous people fishing in the lake. The guests will be helped to identify flora and

fauna.

Day Trekking Programme: Trekking programme, conducted by EDC, an Eco-

development Committee (involving Tribal trekkers cum Guides), formed by 20

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selected youths from the nearby tribal hamlets, and offers a possibility to know the

richness of an ideal tropical evergreen forest within a short span of time. The trekking

duration is 3 hours. Five guests will be accommodated in one slot and they will be

accompanied by one tribal youth. Born and brought up right in the lap of forests, the

guides are well familiar with the forest life. The guest will be taken through selected

nature trails. The programme is also ideal for bird enthusiasts as it starts early

morning.

Jungle Inn: A well furnished hut-like building right inside the forest, near by a vast

expanse of wetland, is open to the tourists for night-stay. Two tourists will be

accommodated and one guide will accompany them. During the stay in the inn they

can have a close watch of the movement of wildlife and if it is a full moon day their

experience in the jungle will be unforgettable. The guests will complete short

duration trekking to and from their destination. The accompanying guide will serve

light food during the stay in the inn.

Learning Program in Bamboo Grove: Typical tribal like huts and tents erected right in

a vast bamboo grove are offered to serious nature lovers for their experiential learning

programme. In addition to the huts and tents, a seminar hall also exists for conducting

sensitization programs. These programs include interactive lectures by topic specific

faculties/ professionals, simple food, accommodation in the tent etc.

Tribal Heritage: Under this programme tribal life and culture of 50 years ago has been

recreated in an exhibition centre right in the tribal hamlet. It is a 2-hour program and

includes an exhibition and interpretation of the heritage and a nature trail in the

hamlet.

The guest can get acquainted with their traditional life, such as medicinal herbs,

weapons, musical instrument, household articles etc.

Wild Adventures: This programme involves a close interaction with the nature in the

midst of a typical evergreen forest in Gavi, about 40 Kms. from Thekkady. The full

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programme is conducted by the eco-development committees of Meenar, Gavi and

Kochupanpa. The package includes vehicle safari from Thekkady to Gavi and

trekking in the forest. Animal sighting is common and abundant. Night-stay is also

facilitated for a limited number of tourists. Rowing, bird watching, outdoor camping

in the forest, tree-top stay and night safari are also arranged on request.

Review of Eco-development Project

The Eco-development project in the Periyar Tiger Reserve can be reviewed on the

basis of ecotourism principles like nature-based, ecological sustainability, scope of

education and interpretation, benefits to local people etc.

Nature- based: All the activities in the eco-development project are nature based.

Programs like the Tiger Trail, Bamboo Rafting and Day Trekking are carried out in

the interior parts of the Sanctuary. Each trekking in the Tiger Trail is unique in the

sense that different paths are chosen randomly. At the beginning, the trekking follows

an easy footpath, but then the team enters shifting terrain and vegetation of varying

difficulty, to penetrate an untouched landscape without tracks. There are no facilities

within the Sanctuary. So everything needed, has to be carried along.

Ecologically Sustainable: The ecotourists are expected to accept the environment as it

is, without trying to change it. This is also the case for less attractive portions of the

Sanctuary. The only facilities are a few bamboo rafts used to cross lakes and ponds

with. No foot-bridges or other installations to facilitate trekking are planned to be laid

out. It is a rule here that those who might enter the same trail, should, in principle, not

see that others have been there before, even if it has been a campsite.

Education and Interpretation: Education is also an important factor of the project - a

crash course for the ecotourist, and a permanent conservation education for the

trackers. Tiger Trail provides a first-hand encounter with the natural environment. As

the trekking in fact is a trail that is randomly chosen each time, the Thekkady Tiger

Trail programme definitely provides a first-hand encounter with the natural

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environment for the ecotourist. The small group of ecotourists, who have booked for

this trail, gather on the evening before the start for a briefing about what they can

expect, what they should consider, and dos & don’ts, by a professional

environmentalist. This briefing with a slideshow is a short but good lesson in

environmental ethics and "preferred" behaviour, as well as providing information

about the Sanctuary. Opportunity for learning is also available at the Tribal heritage

center, the bamboo grove, the visitor center and at the Rajiv Gandhi center for Nature

Education and Research.

Benefits to local people: In the communities bordering the Periyar Sanctuary, EDCs

(Ecodevelopment Committees) were implemented as part of the program. Also, some

well known poachers and exploiters of the Sanctuary were reformed and became

members of these committees when they were attached to the project. The project has

also laid the foundation for a welfare fund for the 22 trackers with families, and other

improvements remain to be made. One very important result of the project so far, is

that the former poachers have been converted to devoted trackers with a genuine

interest in conserving the Sanctuary. A major part of the earnings from the bamboo-

rafting program goes to the community development fund from which the members

earn a monthly wage of Rupees 3,500. The earnings from various activities and

services also go into a community development fund.

Conclusion

The success of the Eco-development project in the Periyar Tiger Reserve reflects the

concern for achieving a balance between conservation of the sanctuary and livelihood

of people living in and around it. The involvement of local communities in

Ecotourism activities is a step in the right direction. It provides for alternative sources

of income to local communities, which live in and around protected areas, thus

decreasing their dependence on forest resources and increasing their commitment to

keeping the forests intact. For the vast protected area network in India, the lessons

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from the Periyar experience is important, as it legitimately shows the need for

communities and conservation to go hand in hand.

Chapter 9

ECO HOTEL

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9. ECO HOTELSOur environment is the most precious asset that will be passed on to the next

generation.

Protecting the environment is the task of all the individuals, governments and

enterprises.

The future of the World is in the protection of the environment, therefore the future of

the hotels is in eco-hotels. Hotels use large amounts of water, energy, chemicals,

supplies and disposable items. They also generate lots of waste in form of wastewater

and solid waste. The prevention of polluting the environment with this waste is of

great importance not only to stakeholders and the employees of the hotel, but also

tourists who are becoming more concerned for the preservation of the environment.

Eco-hotel or environmental suitable hotel has to follow the basic principles of good

housekeeping - based on maximizing benefits and minimizing costs. Those principles

are at the same time the main principles of the ecology as a scientific approach and as

a global movement aimed at preserving environment and implementing sustainable

development concept. Sustainable development is very important concept in

hospitality industry because it meets the needs of present tourists and host regions and

at the same time protects and enhance the opportunity for the future. Hotels have

positive or negative impact on their local area and host communities. Accordingly,

eco-hotels act in the way that they keep the environment clean and improve their

quality, rise up the level of satisfaction of more sophisticated and ecologically more

conscious guests and reduce costs, which, all together helps promoting the concept of

tourism sustainable development.

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Environmental costs are impacts that occur in society, enterprise, or individual. They

result from activities that affect quality of the environment, and can be expressed in

monetary and non-monetary items. They have to be fully integrated into company's

business decisions on long term basis, and only the enterprises that properly account

for the true environmental costs of their businesses will be in a better position to meet

competitive challenges in the future.

9.1 Orchid – An Eco-hotel

An Introduction Kamats - where hospitality is a tradition and a name that spells hospitality is India's

most successful and best-known hotel & restaurant chain.

The Group - Kamats had a humble and modest beginning. A clear vision along with

determination and hard work, have gone a long way in helping the Group achieve

successful results and has laid the foundation of the most successful Restaurant Chain

in India, which of course had gained a strong foothold in the hospitality Industry. The

brand equity "Kamats" has also gone up substantially over the years. At present, the

name is synonymous with value for money. It believes in the philosophy of best

quality food and service at the most affordable prices.

Chairman, Late Mr. Venkatesh Krishna Kamat who laid the foundation of what was

to later become one of India's largest and most successful restaurant chain started its

business with a small restaurant at Mazgaon, Mumbai which was soon followed by

Krishna Bhawan in Mumbai's busy Null Bazaar.

Later, his vision and foresight was in search of a new pasture and thus 'Satkar'

restaurant, a well known city landmark and popular meeting place came into

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http://www.orchidhotel.com/mumbai_hotels/index.htm


existence. The Satkar restaurant flourished continuously for two decades and became

the flagship of the Kamat Empire and the rendezvous for people from all walks of

life. The group then acquired two more restaurants to its Empire --The 'Samrat' and

'Suvidha'.

Within a span of five years (1972-1976), a total of six establishments including a

partnership in the well known Asiatic Department Store at Churchgate, catering to the

distinctly, different needs of general office-goers and of up-market managerial

executives was created.

Success in such a big way and enterprising spirit led to birth of yet another hotel-

Kamat Plaza close to Santacruz Domestic Airport. Recognizing the need for a club to

cater to the suburban middle class, businessman and traveling executives. In

September 1995, the Management of Kamats Plaza decided to upgrade and reopen

the property as a Five Star Hotel. Accordingly 'THE ORCHID', which is Asia's first

Eco-Friendly Five Star Hotel, was opened.

The Flagship of the Company - KAMAT HOTELS (INDIA) LIMITED is a Public

Listed Company and the group flagship hotel of the company viz., THE KAMAT

PLAZA, a four star hotel near the Santacruz Airport was taken by the Company -

KAMAT HOTELS (INDIA) LIMITED pursuant to the Management Contract with

Plaza Hotels Private Limited for a period of 30 years with effect from 1st April, 1994.

In the year 1994, the company achieved good results ; reasons being the rising

demand for suitable accommodation in the City of Mumbai due to economic

globalization and at the same time a boom in the real estate market with acute

shortage of hotel rooms in the city of Mumbai.

Hence, the then Management of the Kamat Plaza Hotel undertook to expand the

project immediately after its Public Issue during the year. . Under their able guidance

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and after having done a detailed market study/ survey along with a feasibility report,

decided to upgrade the Project to a Five Star Property and hired the services of Mr. D.

M. Upasni, an Architect of repute and an International Designer - Lynn Wilson from

USA, (who is ranked among the top 10 in the world) to design the hotel interiors,

keeping in mind the needs of a Business Traveler along with his luxury and comforts,

comparable to international standards.

Marketing being an important aspect of the Hospitality Industry, positioning of the

property is an important aspect too. Unto them was born a brand, unknown so far in

the continent of Asia - a green hotel - environmentally sensitive - right from brick to

paper and taking care of every little guest need at the same time - In their efforts to

position this brand, it was proved that 87% of international travelers do patronize

green hotels.

Thus awakened the need to tie up with an International Firm- HVS ECO SERVICES

of - HVS INTERNATIONAL, NEW YORK who were hired to undertake - specific

environmental programmes, designed to lower operating costs and increase revenues

and evaluate the hotel's environmental performance in various areas. Needless to say -

THE ORCHID, as it is aptly renamed, was awarded the prestigious 'ECOTEL'

Certification' by HVS ECO SERVICES, USA, which is the hall mark of

environmentally sensitive hotels. The Hotel thus becomes the first hotel in Asia to

obtain the coveted certification.

The Orchid has employed a high powered team of professionals from the Industry

and it opened its doors to Public on World Tourism Day - 27th September, 1997. It

has been well received both in the domestic and international market and enjoys a

near 82.7% occupancy in the year 2000-2001 having well appointed rooms and suites

with luxurious 5 star facilities.

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The Environment Measures by Orchid

1. Construction:

Architecture : Passive Energy Conservation Efforts in Design

The Plan Configuration : The building is designed with 72 rooms facing the

atrium; therefore these rooms are not directly exposed to the external elements

thus reducing the heat load.

Natural Lighting in the Atrium : This has been achieved by skylight as an

architectural element, detailed in a manner of doubly layered domes to reduce

heat load and noise levels yet admitting maximum natural light in the atrium

space.

Roof Top : The swimming pool is located on the rooftop with 4 feet of water body,

which acts as an insulator from the heat. KoolDeck is applied around the

swimming pool deck to reduce the glare and the surface temperature so that one

can walk barefooted around the pool.

Civil Work : To start at the very beginning the cement that has gone into making

The Orchid an Eco friendly Hotel is absolutely environment friendly. This

cement, PPC (Portland Pozzalana Cement) contains 15-20% fly ash, as compared

to OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement).

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Water Conservation: At The Orchid they believe in the three "R" theory of

reduce, reuse, and recycle. Water being one of the earth's most precious resources

and vital to life they have tried to put this theory in practice by taking special care

to conserve this resource by employing carefully planned techniques enlisted

below, which re-establishes our belief in the above theory.

Sewage Treatment Plant: At the Orchid they even recycle our wastewater. With

the latest technology, wastewater is treated and then reused in areas like air

conditioning & gardening.

Drip Irrigation : With the help of drip irrigation provided on site their endeavor to

conserve water will increase two folds!

2. Interiors

Reused Wood : At their specialty restaurant called the "Vindhyas" the entire

interiors i.e. the woodwork has been made from wood recycled from old

buildings! This concept was specially incorporated keeping our eco-friendly

image of the Hotel.

Triple Glazed Windows : This tripled glazed window blocks the heat of the sun

from entering the room and helps in conserving the air-conditioning energy. An

added advantage of this unit is that prevents fabric and furniture colours from

fading as the triple glazed unit prevents the infra red light from the sun to enter

the room. These windows also help in effectively cutting out the noise pollution

from India's busiest airport.

Electrica l: At The Orchid they have not only made efforts to reduce solid waste

and conserve water but also have contributed in saving energy.

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3. Electronic

Interactive T.V: These are televisions in the guest rooms by which we can receive

our messages on the TV, order room service through the interactive TV, set top

box. The welcome letter also will be displayed on this and last but not the least

you will also be able to view your room bill on the TV.

4. Zero Garbage

The Orchid in its endeavor to become a "zero garbage" hotel has taken various

measures to reduce the waste being generated. To reinforce this we have undertaken

the project of vermiculture on hotel site. For this purpose they have built 9 bins on

site wherein all the kitchen garbage is diverted for the process. This endeavor of ours

has helped to achieve "zero garbage" mission; the second benefit of this act is that

they are not adding to the waste stream of the city.

5. Operational Practices

Hangers : The hangers used in guestroom are made from Sawdust.

Fruits : At The Orchid fruits are served on request so as to avoid wastage.

Amenities : In keeping with environment theme in mind at The Orchid use Herbal

products, which are manufactured under an Ayurvedic license; these products are

not tested on animals and do not contain any animal fat.

Laundry: In their strive to reduce waste they have reusable cloth laundry bags

instead of the standard paper or plastic bags as in other hotels, in which the guests

could send the clothes for laundering and the same will be delivered in reusable

cane baskets wrapped in muslin cloth. A laundry button is incorporated in the

master control panel, eliminating the use of laundry pick up tent cards.

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Newspape r: Newspapers at The Orchid are delivered, on request, in reusable cane

baskets/cloth bags instead of the usual paper or plastic bags.

Shopping Bags : The Orchid provides you with a specially designed cloth

shopping bag with the environment messages we believe in.

ECO Harvest: As a special give away for all are dear guests we have the "Eco

Harvest" a basket containing an herbal pillow which induces sleep, a bunch of

neem twigs, two aromatic oils & 5 age old herbs.

Pens / Pencil : The Orchid uses eco-friendly pens and pencils. The eco-pens are

made using recycled cardboard, reprocessed plastic and scrap wood.

Recycling Bins : Separate recycling bin with a sticker for guest use is placed in all

rooms.

Recycled Garbage Bags: The garbage bags used by us are made from recycled

plastic and milk pouches.

Cut Flower vs. Potted Plants: At the Orchid , you'll find cut flowers cut to an

absolute minimum - instead living vibrant plants help bring the beauty of nature

indoors

Jute Folders: The Stationery, Guest Service and

minibar folders are made from jute.

Water Flask & Glasses: The water flask in the

guestrooms are left empty which are filled after asking the

guest for his preference of hot, cold or room temperature

water as water already filled and kept in the flask leads to

guest perception of the water being stale, which they

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promptly ask to be replaced. The glasses too are turned upside down and kept in

the tray, thereby doing away with having to wrap each glass in a plastic bag and

consequently generating more waste for the hotel.

Cloth Mats: To reduce the wastes generated by our hotel we use cloth mats

instead of paper ones.

Single Serving Items Minimized: To add to the above, use of single serving items

are minimized at The Orchid. In all Food & Beverage outlets, use of condiments

like sugar sachets is replaced by using sugar cubes; jams, sauces, ketchup are

served in preserve pots and butter chiplets have been replaced by butter curls.

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Team members

At The Orchid, staff is fondly referred to as - TEAM MEMBERS.

Every member of The Orchid team from the Managing Director down to the newest

recruit has a total commitment towards being environmentally responsible. At the

recruitment stage they select those individuals who had the drive in them or showed

concern and care for the environment.

Environment education, in fact starts from the very first day the team members join

The Orchid. They go through an intensive one week environment training

programme, wherein they are educated to understand the importance of the

environment to not only their livelihood but also to the future of the world. The team

members are on six-month environment training, on successful completion of which

only are they confirmed. In their annual appraisal forms too we have a separate

section dedicated towards this.

They have monthly activities for team members in which they can participate. To

mention a few - quizzes, slogan competitions, sketching & drawing competitions,

Eco-Skits, on the spot surprise quizzes, clean-up drives, etc. In their monthly

Antakshari game they have 1 round out of the 4 wherein the teams are made to sing

songs related to the environment and many more.

The team members actively participate in programmes and activities organized for the

community to spread and create the awareness of being environmentally responsible.

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They have a Green Team in the hotel, which act as the Green Eyes of the hotel. It

comprises of 19 members from different departments, who are nominated by their

respective departmental heads. Besides assisting in the various programmes, they

implement and audit the environment practices in their respective departments. They

are also empowered to conduct training classes in their areas and go on inspection to

various departments. With the help of the 19-member Green Team, not only is

wastage in hotel, has been kept to a bare minimum, but also every employee is kept

well-aware of his/her environmental commitments.

Incentives

Team members participating in any environment activities are given a gift for the

efforts made by them e.g. as an incentive for the clean up drive all those who

participated were given a T-shirt with an environment slogan. For the other ongoing

competitions winners are given mementos and on other such occasion's cash rewards

are also given. The Orchid also gives each of its team members a cloth bag as an

alternative to using plastic bags. The more dedicated the team member, the more

chance he has of being included into the Green Team of the hotel & being made a

Green Team member. They are also given a chance to represent the hotel at various

seminars and events organized by the hotel and/or in which the hotel is participating.

It is not only the team members, but also the executives and heads of departments

who show enthusiasm, involvement and commitment towards our environmental

causes.

The awareness and commitment in our team members for the improving the

Environment has reached such phenomenal levels that even in their spare time, they

go out into localities on a "clean up drive", thereby passing on the message of eco-

friendliness and its benefits, to all and sundry

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Guest participation

Guests form an integral part of any hotel in the world. The Orchid, have left no stone

unturned in our quest for a clean environment, to the extent that we have provided

opportunities for our guests to be a part of our environmental programmes.

Guest’s participation programmes:

Newspapers on request: Newspapers are delivered on request, in a

cloth bag instead of a plastic bag. Only about 50% of our guests prefer

a newspaper delivered in their rooms, showing an increasing level of

awareness amongst our guests. Approximately till date they have had

231960 check-ins, which means we have prevented the use of 231960

plastic bags had we had to deliver newspaper in plastic bags to all our guests.

Recycle Bins : Two bins – one for wet waste and the other for

dry/recyclable waste is placed in all our guestrooms. This is done so

that the guest voluntarily disposes waste in the respective bins.

Key Cards : The guests recycle keycards by

returning them to the reception before they check

out.

Guests Participation in the Orchid's Environment Programmes:

Guests are encouraged to participate in our environmental crusades, and they do it

with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal.

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Guests participate in:

Eco Floats

Eco Boat Floats

Eco Days celebrated at The Orchid.

As a result of all the hard work put in by us, The Orchid has reaped the following

business benefits:

A 55.9% Repeat Clientele being patronized by over 3,500 Corporate Clients.

In terms of monetary savings we have saved a whopping Rs. 33, 28,435/- per

year, which works out to Rs. 9119/- per day only be the use of PL Lamps.

As a direct result of the saving done by The Orchid we have been able to pay

dividends to our shareholders this year also!

Conclusion

Our environment is the most precious asset that will be passed on to the next

generation. Protecting the environment is the task of all the individuals, governments

and enterprises. The future of the World is in the protection of the environment, and

all the enterprises need to adjust their business performance to act in such way to

minimize harmful impact to the environment. Enterprises use large amounts of water,

energy, chemicals, supplies and disposable items. They also generate lots of waste in

form of wastewater and solid waste. The prevention of polluting the environment

with this waste is of great importance to everyone. To become an environmentally

friendly enterprise is the adoption of a new culture that extends through the

enterprise, employees, guests, vendors, suppliers, local community and other

elements of environmental management system (EMS).

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Chapter 10CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

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10. Conclusion and Recommendation

ConclusionTourism has proved to be an engine of growth in many economies in the world. It

provides for the generation of income, wealth and employment, and helps in the

sustainable development of remote areas. In India, tourism provides direct

employment to 9 million people and indirect employment to another 13 million

persons, thus providing a livelihood to 22 million persons. It contributes an estimated

2.4% of the gross national product. Its contribution to the economies of states like

Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala are significant. Although beginning to be understood for

its potential to provide for development in India, tourism still remains a sector that

needs serious attention.

Tourism has proved to have negative impacts as well as the positive ones. It is

criticized for contaminating indigenous culture. This takes the form of changing

values, resulting in social maladies like drug addiction, child prostitution, etc. A far

more widespread negative impact is caused by mass tourism in environmentally

fragile areas like mountains, hills, deserts and coastal regions. Due to heavy tourist

traffic in some areas, the cultural and environmental assets of the community are

under threat. Although this phenomenon is not widespread in India, there is a need to

take note of the possible negative influences of tourism so that timely preservation

action can be taken and irreparable loss avoided.

The movement towards ecotourism is at once a threat and an opportunity to create

more sustainable tourism: by diverting tourist traffic to ensure the carrying capacity

of any destination is not exceeded; by planning for regeneration of natural resources;

and by generating awareness in the host community whereby they are prepared and

forearmed to deal with the negative impact of mass tourism.

As in most cases, a middle path is the most creative way to maximize the economic

potential of tourism, while at the same time minimizing the negative social influences

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and threats to the environment. Only ecotourism where the tourists, the service

providers, the host community and authorities are well informed and prepared to

harness tourism as an engine of growth can yield sustainable results.

Recommendation and Suggestions:

Appointing consultants for each state of the country who would study the state

thoroughly, to identify destinations of tourist interest, which would result in

promoting tourism.

Involvement of private sector in tourism related projects in the state to give fillip

to this sector.

Overcoming restrictions and hurdles, improving infrastructure, a wider choice of

eco-hotels.

Instead of promoting the state as individual, efforts should be taken to promote

India as a whole just like Australia, Malaysia.

Proper security arrangements should be undertaken in order to make tourist

travelers feel more secure.

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AA-1 Annexure AA-1 Annexure

Earnings from Tourism in Kerala (1999-2003)

Year Earnings (Rs, Cr)

1999 416.07

2000 525.30

2001 535.00

2002 705.67

2003 983.39

AA-2 Annexures

Tourist’s visitation to Thekkady

__________________________________________________________________

Year Number of visitors

Domestic Foreign Total

__________________________________________________________________

1999-00 320973 24347 345320

2000-01 303895 37038 340933

2001-02 357690 26026 383716

2002-03 420960 31831 452791

__________________________________________________________________

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

WEBSITES:

www.JourneyMart .com

www.Ecoindia.com

www.Incredible India.org

www.orchidhotel.com

www.mpecotourism.org

www.indidline.com

www.ecoclub.com

BOOKS

Development of eco-tourism in India- G. Raveendran

Ecotourism in India – Mohan Krishen Khanna

Ecotourism in Kerala - K. G. Mohanlal

Environment and tourism- Andrew Holden

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