POLICY FOR ECO-TOURISM

About:

• Eco-tourism means ‘responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
  
  
• Objective: To provide livelihood opportunities for the local communities, as well as educate visitors and enhance their understanding of nature.
  
  
• Salient Features:
  • Specialised training on eco-tourism activities will be imparted to Members of local communities so that they can be employed as nature and tourist guides for providing hospitality, as nature science interpreters and patrol partners to protect nature.
    
    
  • The policy has provisions of earmarking ‘inviolate space’ which will be a ‘no-go zone’ for tourists in those areas.
    
    
  • No permanent structures (camps, helipads and tourist bungalows) will be established in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
    
    
  • Demarcation of eco-tourism zone will be based on target-species, their behavioural and habitat characteristics.
    
    
  • Eco-tourism will be promoted in wildlife conservation areas designated as Protected Areas (PAs), as well as in areas outside designated Protected Areas, including forests, mangroves, sacred groves, mud flats, wetlands and rivers.
    
    
  • Each State/UT will have to establish an Eco-Tourism Development Board to oversee the implementation of the policy.