Ecotourism in protected areas and its policy implications: a case study of Periyar tiger reserve, Kerala

Abstract

Tourism has been regarded as the fastest growing sector in the global economy with a turn over of more than $ 500 billion surpassing even the Information Technology sector. The growing environmental awareness of the 1970 s and 80 sresulted in the shift from consumptive mass tourism to a more sustainable non consumptive nature tourism in the 1990 s. Though the concept of ecotourism permeates into all the spheres of tourism through its sustainability concept, much needs to be done at the policy level in the nature tourism so as to prevent the drifting of the practices in to the ones practiced by the mass tourism earlier. Ecotourism in protected areas is nothing new but the reinvention of the old wildlife tourism practiced earlier in these areas. With the advent of ecotourism the thrust has been for the participation of local communities in planning and implementation of the various programmes so as to directly benefit the local communities. Ecotourism has placed conservation of the resources as the central theme and deriving sustainable benefits out of these resources with the active participation of the stake holders. An attempt has been made in this study to analyze the ecotourism practices that are taking place in Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and their policy implications for future management not only in Periyar but also in other major Sanctuaries of the state. The qualitative study was made through structured questionnaires, focussed group discussions and depth interviews of the policy makers and various stakeholders. The views elicited were analyzed and based on the findings suggestions were made for the future policy prescriptions for the protected areas of the state especially for Periyar and other major sanctuaries of the state. The study has brought out that the community based tourism activities through empowerment of local communities are seen reaping in rich dividends in periyar. The institution of Periyar foundation has given the necessary impetus and flexibility to the Community based ecotourism activities in Periyar. The institutional framework of EDC s and their confederation have been found to be successful and a major portion of the conservation activities are being funded by the Periyar Foundation now. Hence it has been suggested that the other PA s in the state should go for community based ecotourism initiatives constituting EDC s and also respective foundations so as to become self sustainable in all respects. There is an urgent need to develop the satellite camping sites in the Plantations around the Sanctuaries as part of Plantation tourism so that much of the pressure on the Sanctuaries could be reduced. This will help to generate valuable revenue and also can act as an insurance against the crisis in the plantation sector especially for the Tea and Cardamom in High Ranges of Kerala. Based on the study the following policy recommendations are also suggested viz :There should be a concrete Ecotourism Policy for the state so as to take up the activities in conformity with the accepted principles of sustainability. Ecotourism activities should invariably be taken up with conservation as the focal point and through local community participation. Organizations like Periyar Foundation could be constituted in the Protected Areas and Non Protected Areas for the flexibility and smooth functioning of these initiatives. The activities within the Sanctuaries should be limited to the carrying capacity preferably of the flexible type by under taking various modifications in the P.A s and Non P.A s so as to enhance the carrying capacity. The concept of Limits of Acceptable Change may be a good alternative to carrying capacity as assessing the carrying capacity is very difficult so as to arrive at absolute terms.. Private sector be encouraged to take up infrastructure development in the plantations surrounding the Sanctuaries according to the approved Perspective Plan as well as be permitted to take up investments in Hotels and Resorts and other infrastructure. All the Tourism activities be taken up as per the Certificate of Tourism Sustainability so as to ensure the sustainability of the whole programmes. There should be a synergy between various agencies facilitating tourism activities like Tourism Department and Forest Department. They should act as a facilitator rather than a director in the whole programme so that ecotourism activities would help the cause of conservation in the protected areas of the state as well as a tool for the socioeconomic empowerment of the local stake holders so as to make them own the conservation programmes in the state.