http://eiilmgreenpost.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:47:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.png http://eiilmgreenpost.wordpress.com http://eiilmgreenpost.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/indian-himalayas-a-hot-spot-for-tourism/ http://eiilmgreenpost.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/indian-himalayas-a-hot-spot-for-tourism/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:47:22 +0000 eiilmgreenpost http://eiilmgreenpost.wordpress.com/?p=3 ]]> The Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent is one of the most fascinating ecological and geographical region in the world. Starting from the state of Jammu & Kashmir and running through the states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim and reaching until Arunachal Pradesh , this vast stretch of mountain range is the longest range in the world. Tourists from all across the globe are fascinated by the diversity that thrives in this region. The diversity of human culture manifested in the form of temples, clothes, foods, languages and social customs have always been of great interest to the inquisitive visitors coming to this place. It is the source to the mighty rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra and Kanchendzonga stands tall in the heart of it, the mere glimpse of which quenches the thirst of every traveler. The mighty Himalayas have not only acted as a natural barrier but also stands as a political boundary dividing India with Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Pakistan. In the last few decades the Indian Himalayas has seen a substantial increase in the number of tourists visiting different parts of the range every year. This has been possible due to the initiatives taken by the Government to boost up the tourism industry in India. During 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) Ministry of Tourism propose to continue supporting creation of world class infrastructure in the country so that existing tourism products can be further improved and expanded to meet new market requirements and enhance the competitiveness of India as a tourist destination. In consultation with the State Governments and UTs the Ministry of Tourism have identified several tourist circuits and destinations for integrated development. A large share of it is announced for the areas lying in the Himalayas. All these initiatives have brought both threats and opportunities. The natural and the social setting of the place are largely affected with the entry of outsiders. Places like Ladhakh and Nathulla where no one could venture until a few decades back are flooded with tourists everyday. This has changed the way local people live their life, perceive and treat their environment. It has become an opportunity for them to earn money by supplying basic necessities or working as load carriers or guides to the tourists. Therefore the form of tourism that governs the code of conduct of the travelers and the local community determines the amount of effect, good or bad, on the ecosystem. The right form of tourism at the right destinations adds value to the surrounding ecosystem. It is very essential to keep factors such as diversity of species, local customs, traditions and culture and political framework in mind before instigating a tourism plan on a particular place. Recently I visited a village called Totopara which lies near the Bhutan border, about 20 kms away from Madarihat which is the entry point to the famous Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. This village is unique in the sense that a primitive tribe called the Totos live here. This sub-Himalayan tribe is the only of their kind and is found only in Totopara in the whole world. There are only 1368 living members in the whole community. The overall tradition and culture are all very different and unique to their tribe. The place surrounding the village offers some magnificent views and the forest surrounding it is a refuge to variety of flora and fauna and falls under the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. In order to reach to this place one needs to cross many small and big rivers through non-metallic roads. Having huge scope in terms of tourism, this place attracts only few hundred tourists every year. There is a need to develop strategic planning aimed towards development of infrastructure and other facilities in the place. This will open up opportunities for the tribe who are now dependent merely on agriculture to spend their livelihood. There is a huge possibility of success of Community-based ecotourism(CBET) in the village of Totopara. This will not only lead to preservation of nature but will also generate huge employment opportunities for the Totos. Tourism itself is the biggest threat to Tourism. Improper planning can lead to disastrous effects. Concepts like ecotourism and CBET are social thoughts which produce economical results. The success is measured in terms of value added, economically as well as ecologically. Totopara is one such place in the mighty Himalayas which calls for proper planning and implementation of proper form of tourism. Are there still other places like Totopara which are lying unmanaged and needs to be urgently addressed?

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