DISSERTATION

2013

ECO TOURISM- A solution for

Wayanad?

Muhammed Iyas
A/2202/2010 IVth
YR B Arch, SPA Delhi

DATE: 26/09/2013 GUIDE: ANIKA MITTAL CO.ORDINATOR: PROF. PRABHJOT SINGH SUGGA
RESEARCH QUESTION

Can eco-tourism bring a positive change in the ecology and economy of the
eco sensitive zones of Wayanad district??

INTRODUCTION
Last summer vacation, I was visiting a construction site of a resort in one
of the serene hills of Wayanad. I went there with my uncle, who is in charge of the work. The
site had a splendid view of which I was wondering. Then my uncle said “if things are going like it
is being going right now in the district, the beauty of the district won’t last for more than 10
years.” This is when I started looking at the changes happening to my district and a thought
generated in my mind to study about the issue in detail. And so I decided to study about the
issues in my district as my dissertation.

Wayanad is a northern district of Kerala which falls in the western ghat

region. Western ghats being a world heritage site, is one of the world’s hottest spot in
ecological sensitivity. Wayanad comes under the Chandragiri ranges of Western Ghats and
contain a series of protected areas and eco sensitive areas. Wayanad, which shares border with
Tamilnadu and Karnataka is a key district in terms of its connectivity with these states and also
for the unique ecological value it is having. The district has an exotic climate most of the year,
with serene natural landscape spread all around. Every year the district attracts tens of
thousands of people because of its unique natural beauty. And as a result there is mass
development happening throughout the district to cater to the needs of the tourists. And most
of these activities are affecting the eco sensitive areas in the district which in fact is destroying
the natural setting of the district itself. The district which was once famous for its spices and
medicinal plants is now in news for its farmer suicides, conservation cry and tourism boom.

The two panels, recently appointed by the central government says in their
study reports’ regarding Western Ghats that there should be a complete check towards the

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present trends of development in the district and eco sensitive development such as eco-
tourism should be promoted instead. As the people coming to the district are in search of
natural beauty rather than luxury, eco-tourism has a great role to play here. So it is in this
context that i would like to study about the eco-tourism and its effect on the ecology and
economy of Wayanad. As the number of tourist arriving the district is showing a steep
inclination in the graph every year, the atmosphere of the district has started its change from
traditional agriculture and plantation industries to the new tourism industry of home stays,
resorts, souvenir shops, restaurants etc. The change can be seen in every small town in the
district. This in fact is bringing a drastic change in the lifestyle, production and economics of the
district.

So the problem here is about keeping a balance between the development

and conservation. Finding an alternative for the dept hit farming class, making use of the
blessed natural beauty of the district, and at the same time conserving the natural setting as it
is, is the challenge facing by the district in the present situation. And among the proposals eco
tourism is the one in lime light and there is been attempts to start the eco tourism initiative in
the district. And I am attempting to study about eco tourism, its relevance in the district of
Wayanad, its effect on the economics and ecology of the district, to know the effectiveness of
eco tourism as a game changer in the district.

SCOPE
The dissertation topic is relevant to a vast area. At least the areas that comes under the
Western Ghats. But my scope of study will be limited to the district of Wayanad only. And more
focus will be given to the eco sensitive areas in the district during the study process. As a part of
my research a detailed study will be done on protected areas and eco sensitive zones, which is
directly connected to the topic of study. But that will be done on a general basis and not district
specific.

The subject in general is very vast. So i would like to narrow down my research onto
some selected areas only. The study shall include a basic overview about tourism, tourists and

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their interests. Only eco tourism will be studied in detail and no other form of tourism will be a
part of discussion. Eco tourism will be studied in detail with giving more importance to an
architectural point of view. Eco practices, mode of accommodation, mode of transport etc. in
eco tourism will be studied in detail.

History won’t be a part of the research and main focus will be done on understanding
the present situations and problems in the district. Present time frame includes past 10 years
and coming 10 years. Things beyond this time frame won’t be studied in detail.

Study will be based on the ecological and economical aspects only. And no other impacts
will be studied as a part of dissertation. And the dissertation will be a generalized study about
the district and no study will be done on different sites in the district separately, though it is
necessary to do it in case of implementation of the proposal. Then that will be more of a design
problem than a research topic.

And as a part of research, case studies from different parts of the world will be analysed to
know the ecological and economical impact of eco tourism. And for case studies only places
coming under eco sensitive zones will be selected

LIMITATIONS
Time is the foremost limitation for me to study the topic in detail as it is
quite vast in its content. And the fact that the area of study, Wayanad is quite far from Delhi
makes it impossible to do primary study which is necessary for a complete and detailed study.
Maximum primary data will be collected during the few days of vacation. But time is again a
limitation there. The fact that only few studies have been conducted on the district makes it a
limitation to collect secondary data as well.

The involvement of politics makes it difficult to understand the real problem

due large scale campaigning and protest done in the district on development and conservation.
And the vastness of the subject makes it difficult to limit the study at certain frames.

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 No study will be done on various tourist spots in the district, neither will be
dealing with the luxury or comfort providing by the resorts in the district. The study of impact
of tourism on ecology will be done from secondary sources only. And the questionnaire cannot
include people from all walks of life as going back to wayanad won’t be possible during the time
period available.

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THE DISTRICT- WAYANAD

Wayanad District, in the north-east of Kerala, India, was formed on November 1 , 1980
as the 12th district, carved out of Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The etymology of the word
Wayanad is Vayal (paddy) Naad (land); 'Land of Paddy Fields'. There are many indigenous tribes
in this area. It is set lofty on the majestic Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100
Meters above mean sea level

The landscape of the district is intermix of valleys and hills with forests, tea and coffee
plantations, paddy fields, spices and other crops. Wayanad is quite rich in varieties of species.
Especially for food security, this is, over the years, depleting due to various reasons. It is also
known for a high degree of endemism. The district contains two main wildlife sanctuaries,
different lakes, peaks and other ecologically significant features.

Comprising an area of 2,132 sq. kilometers, Wayanad has a powerful history. The district was
once completely forested and devoid of significant human presence. Countless evidences about
New Stone Age civilization can be seen on the hills of Wayanad. The Edakkal caves, with
pictures on their walls and pictorial writings, speak volumes of the bygone era and civilisation.
Recorded history of this district is available from the 18th century. Rajas of the Veda tribe ruled
this land in ancient times. Pazhassi Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty started ruling the area
later on. Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, invaded Wayanad and brought it under his rule.
Wayanad was restored to the Kottayam royal dynasty in the days of Tipu. When British came,
the Rajah was driven to the wilderness of Wayanad, he organised several guerrilla type
encounters with the help of Kurichiya tribes, a sort of people's militia and engaged the British.
But he failed finally and Wayanad fell into the hands of the British and with it came a new turn
in the Home of this area.

The British authorities opened up the plateau for cultivation of tea and
other cash crops. Roads were laid across the dangerous slopes of Wayanad, from Kozhikode
and Thalassery. These roads were extended to the cities of Mysore and Ooty through Gudalur.
Through the roads poured in settlers from all parts of Kerala and the virgin forest lands proved

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a veritable goldmine with incredible yields of cash crops. The settlers include farmers who came
all the way from south Kerala and business class who came from the northern parts. When the
State of Kerala came into being in November 1956, Wayanad was part of Kannur district. Later,
south Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district. In order to fulfill the aspirations of the people
of Wayanad for development, north Wayanad and South Wayanad were carved out and joined
together to form the present district of Wayanad. This district came into being on November 1,
1980 as the 12 district of Kerala. And it showed a significant increase in population since
independence. Between 1970 and 2000 the population of the district doubled. As a result of
the unplanned development and interventions of this increased population, the ecology of the
region is degrading over the last few years. The uncontrolled mining of stone and sand for the
construction industry had affected the landscape and ecology of the region to an alarming level.
The effect of ecological degradation on local livelihood is visible through the intense water
scarcity, changing climate pattern, flash floods, landslides etc. So it calls for an immediate
adaptation to the changing climate and a climate resilient development in the district through
careful study. (invis)

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GENARAL FEATURES

Map courtesy: www.maps of India .com

Topography

Wayanad lies between north latitude 110 27' and 150 58' and east 750 47' and 700 27'. It is
bounded on the east by Nilgiris of Tamilnadu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. There is Coorg
district of Karnataka on the north, Malappuram a district in Kerala in south and the districts of
Kozhikode and Kannur on the west.

Geography

Wayanad stands at the southern tip of Deccan plateau. And the majestic Western Ghats run
through the district. Making it a place of impressive ridges and deep valleys. The ridges are

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covered with dense forest. There is an intermix of lakes, rivers, springs, large fields, and jungles
throughout the district. And it has got a rugged terrain.

Climate

Wayanad has a salubrious climate. The mean average rain fall in this district is 2322 mm.
Lakkidi, Vythiri and Meppadi are the high rainfall areas in Wayanad. Annual rain fall in these
areas ranges from 3,000 to 4,000mm. High velocity winds are common during the south west
monsoon and dry winds blow in March-April. High altitude regions experience severe cold. In
Wayanad (Ambalavayal) the mean maximum and minimum temperature for the last five years
were 29oC and 18oC respectively. This place experiences a high relative humidity which goes
even up to 95 per cent during the south west monsoon period. Generally, the year is classifed
into four seasons, namely, cold weather (December-February), hot weather (March-May),
south west monsoon (June-September) and north east monsoon(October-November). The dale,
'Lakkidi', nestled among the hills of Vythiri taluk has the highest average rainfall in Kerala. The
average rain fall in Wayanad is 300mm. per year.

Flora and fauna

The floras of Wayanad are the characteristic species of Western Ghats and with that the
plantation trees in cool climate. Coffee plantation covers a major portion of Wayanad’s land
area. Wild tree species like Rose-Wood, Anjili (Artocarpus), Mullumurikku (Erthrina), several
species of caussia and many other non-descript varieties are still preserved here and there.
They are planted to shade the coffee plants. These trees give a semblance of wilderness to the
landscape of Wayanad. In a majority of coffee plantations, the age-old species are replaced by
the silver-oak which is suited to the cold climate. They are used as support for pepper to climb
up as well. It is used in the plywood industry also and thus is economical to the farmers.
Eucalyptus grandis, a shorter variety of eucalyptus, whose fragrant smell suffuses the very air
around it, is cultivated on a large scale in certain parts of the district. Eucalyptus oil is extracted
on commercial basis from its leaves. Of the 20,864 hectares of reserve forest, the major portion
is teak plantation. Arecanut palms and jack trees are also grown here. Tea is grown as an
industry in large estates. The soil and climate of Wayanad are suitable for horticulture on

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commercial basis. For promoting the cultivation of vegetables and raising of orchards, the
Kerala agricultural university is running a regional agricultural research station at Ambalavayal.
With the clearing of forests, the diverse and buzzing animal life, characteristic of the forests of
Western Ghats, has vanished from Wayanad. One can still see the bonnet monkeys, Loris,
mongooses, jungle cats, squirrels, jackals, hares, etc. in the limited forest areas. Elephant, bear
and other wild animals from the neighboring wild life sanctuaries of Karnataka and Tamilnadu,
stray into the Begur forest range and the forests around Muthanga, which is 20 kilometers
away from the town of Sulthanbathery (Organisation, 2012)

People

One important characteristic feature of this district is the large tribal population, consisting
mainly of Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyars, Kurichyas, Ooralis, Kadans, Kattunaikkans are the different
aboriginal tribes of Wayanad. Wayanad district stands first in the case of tribal population
(about 36%) among other districts in the state.

Wayanad has a large settler population. There are people from almost all parts of Kerala who
migrated to this fertile land for building up their lives. Wayanad has a small Jain community
consisting of Gowders who came from Karnataka. One fourth population of Wayanad is
constituted by Christians. Muslims constitute another one fourth population and rest of the
population belongs to Hindus.

Culture

Culture of Wayanad is a mixture of different regions and religions as it has a mixture of

migrated people from different parts of Kerala. The traditional culture of the district is that of
the tribal community, which is now facing extinction due to the transformation of tribal lifestyle
to that of everyone else around. The festivals in temple, churches and masjids are the main
cultural events in the district besides the annual flower shows and monsoon fests. Annual tribal
fest held at Valliyoorkavu temple, fest of Pallikunnu church, and the annual rituals in Tirunelli
temple are the main attractions among the events in the district.

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Economy

Wayanad is 3.79% urbanized. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. Coffee,

tea, banana, pepper, and ginger are the main crops. Besides these cash crops, rice is the most
important crop in the district besides these cash crops. Wayanad was named as one of the
250most backward district in the country In 2006 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It is one of
the two districts in Kerala currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund
Programme

Wayanad was selected with the district of Palakkad to benefit from the NREGS (National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act) enacted by the current UPA. The daily wage under NREGS at Rs.
125, regardless of gender, in Kerala is the highest among all the states. This scheme has helped
the poor and lower middle class to improve their purchasing power.

Besides agriculture the source of income for the district is the overseas money send by the
people working mainly in gulf countries. A large number of youths, mainly from muslim
community has migrated to gulf countries for work. Bangalore is the place of work in india for
another large section of people in the district.

Last 5 years has witnessed a boom in tourism industry, which is now the source of income for a large
number of people. A large number in the district is now connected to the tourism industry either
directly or indirectly. (India today: march 2009)

DEVELOPMENT AND THE DISTRICT

Wayanad is the most backward district in Kerala. Due to its geographical seclusion from the rest
of the state, developmental projects newer came to Wayanad as it was happening in the rest of
the districts in Kerala. NH 212 connecting Mysore, Bangalore to Calicut and rest of Kerala run
through the district and that is the only proper mode of connectivity of the district besides the
ghat roads of Paalchuram and Periya which connects the district with Kannur.

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It is only recently that the decision making bodies have taken the district seriously and has
came up with some developmental proposals in the background of the mass flow of tourist to
the district. the developments in the district is happening in various sectors as the agricultural
sector in the district is failing year by year and the number of farmer suicide in the district has
rised to alarming levels.

Wayanad has very low industrialisation. There are no major industries, except for processing
units related to plantation crops and few timber and rice mills. The town Kalpatta has an
industrial estate which has few units operational.

Infrastructure

The district has a poor connectivity with the rest of the state. Wayanad is still not a part of the
railway map of the country. Though the demand for a railway line connecting Malabar to
Mysore has been there from the time of British raj itself. A new proposal for an elevated
railway bridge is in motion as the main block for the railway line was from the forest and
wildlife department. Roadways are the only mode of connectivity within and outside the
district, with many villages without having a bus stop. NH 212 helped in large scale logistics and
thus helped the development of the district. But the ban of night traffic on the highway has
affected the flow of people and goods badly in the district. A new proposal for a feeder airport
is now the topic of discussion in the district. The authority is surveying land to acquire for the
airport in spite of the mass protests happening against the proposal.

80 to 90% of people in the district has access to health services and daily markets near to them.
DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Science opened in 2012 has opened a new stage in medical
facilities in the district. with a proposal for a new medical collage by the state government the
long cry of the people for better medical facilities is answered.

Architecture

Industry

Various industries prominent in the district will be discussed here, which are the driving factors of the
district’s economy. By industry here means the sector in which people in the district finds their

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livelihood. On the same basis more analysis will be done on the largest industries in detail. The effect of
these industries on the economy and ecology of the district will also be studied here, in detail.

ANALYSIS OF IMPACT OF THESE ACTIVITIES

This part will be more about the impacts and effects of the above discussed developments and
projects on the district. The impacts are studied under three main subheadings such as ecological,
economical, and architectural. Impacts of both existing and proposed developments will be studied
with data collected from various institutes and boards.

Ecological impact

More focus will be given to the ecological impacts as it is a highly sensitive ecological zone. Study will be
done on the basis of data collected for past 50 to 100 years as no data will be available at all for the
previous years. Climate change, impact on flora and fauna, water crisis … will be studied specifically.

Economic impact

The impact on the economy of the district will be discussed here. And the effects on the living standards
of people will be discussed here. A brief analysis will be done in case if there is an accumulation of
wealth on a separate class of people to find the reason.

Impact on architecture

Here I would like to discuss the impact on architecture in the district due to the above discussed factors.
The change from vernacular to present day architecture in the district will be analysed with its effect on
the quality and crisis in this industry.

RECENT STUDIES AND PROPOSALS

There has been different studies and researches done on the district by various government and non-
government organizations regarding the district, which will be studied here. More focus will be done on
studies done in the field of ecology and economy. The recent and important studies and declarations
among them will be discussed one by one under separate subheadings.

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There is very less studies done on Wayanad as such. But there are many researches and reports
done on Western Ghats of which Wayanad is a part. These studies are relevant in the
conservation of natural resources in Wayanad as well.

The Western Ghats was declared an ecological sensitive hotspot in 1988 by the efforts made by
ecologist Norman Myers
XXI meeting of the Indian board for wildlife held on 21 st January 2002 resulted in the adoption
of a wildlife conservation strategy-2002 which says that lands falling within 10kms of the
boundaries of natural parks and sanctuaries should be notified as eco fragile zones under
section 3 of environmental protection act.
Most of the human habitation and other areas including major cities in these regions would
come under this title of EZS. Thus it brought protest from various regions.
National board for wildlife, in their second meeting on 17 th march 2005 declared that the
declination of ESZ would have to be site specific and relate to regulation rather than prohibition
of specific activities.
In November 2009, the then minister of environment and forest, Jairam Ramesh said “the
western Ghats have to be made an ESZ. And the government will not give sanction to projects
of mining and power generation in this region”
In august 2011, the Western Ghats ecology expert panel declared that the entire western ghat
is an ESZ. And they assigned three levels of sensitivity to the different regions of the Western
Ghats.
Most of the suggestions made by the WGEEP were not acceptable by the various state
governments and thus the central government. There was a wider issue that the report has not
considered the existing human settlements and business centers while demarking the zones.
And prohibition of any development in most of the regions brought larger protest from people
against the implementation of the report. Thus the central government appointed another
body the high level working group headed by Dr. Kasthurirangan to study the issue and they
prepared a new report which was much more flexible towards the development in these areas.

Proposal for tiger reserve

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There is a proposal to make a tiger reserve in the district which called for lots of discussions in the
district. The proposal will be discussed here with its pros and cons. Peoples part of the issue will also be
discussed here.

Madhav Gadgill report

Madhav Gadgill is the head of a committee appointed by the supreme court of india to study about the
western Ghats of India which contains Wayanad district also. So the committee report will be studied
here. The response of people about te report will also be discussed here.

Kasthuri Rangan report

It is another committee appointed by the central govt. due to the large scale protest against the
previous study. The committee report called the High Level Working Group Report will be studied here,
with its pros and cons discussed.

PROTECTED AREAS

What is protected area?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) definition of a protected area is the
most widely recognised definition for it. The most recent revised definition of the protected
area was given by the IUCN to the 2008 World Conservation Congress as follows:

“A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed,
through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with
associated ecosystem services and cultural values.” - Dudley, N. (ed.) (2008) Guidelines for
Appling Protected Areas Management Categories. IUCN: Gland, Switzerland. P.8-9

It is not a new concept or idea but a concept which has been evolved over time with a core idea
of protecting important resources and places.

These areas are internationally considered as areas set aside primarily for nature and
biodiversity conservation and are an important measure in managing species and ecosystems.

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Every country in the world has designated many protected areas. The main purpose of doing
this is generally universal. It is done with an intension of limiting human occupation and
restricting the exploitation of natural resources.

Why protected areas?

The reasons behind the making of the concept of protected areas will be discussed here. The need of
the title will be discussed in detail.

Types of PAs

The various types of protected areas around the world will be mentioned here with a brief description
on each of them.

ECO SENSITIVE ZONES

What is ESZ?

Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) is a concept which is easier to perceive than to define. In fact
there is no unequivocally accepted definition for the term.

Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Environmentally Sensitive Zones, Ecologically Sensitive

Ecosystem, Ecologically Sensitive Sites etc., can be used as a synonym to the term depending on
the location and site to use the term. Most of the time, the term is used with variable
meanings. So more than a definite definition, the ESA can be characterised by a set of criterion.
Though all the criteria might not hold for it. One of the common such criterion is that
environment which is least resilient to changes and which cannot be restored once degraded.

McMillan Dictionary defines environmentally sensitive area as an area where the natural
environments can easily be harmed. (gadgil, 2011)

But in the report the ecological panel of prof. Madhav Gadgil prefers the definition of
ecologically sensitive areas as those areas, that are ecologically and economically very
important, but vulnerable to even mild disturbances and hence demands conservation. And
ecologically and economically important areas are those areas which are biologically and

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ecologically rich, valuable or unique and those which irreplaceable once destroyed due to their
uniqueness. ESAs are considered as ecologically significant areas also, as they are significant
due to their ecological, economical, biological, cultural value. the WGEEP consider ESAs as
ecologically significant areas. (gadgil, 2011)

Why ESZ?

The need of demarcating ESZs will be studied here with the importance of conservation of these areas.

Types of ESZ.

ESZS OF WAYANAD

Various ESZs of Wayanad will be marked and studied in detail in here. These areas will be analysed on
the basis of the protected areas they are associated with. Their importance in a macro level and the
necessity of the conservation of these areas will be discussed here.

DEVELOPMENT IN ESZ

This chapter will be discussing about the paradigm of development and conservation of ESZs. The
approach of development in these areas around the world will be studied here. The debate whether we
should allow developments in these areas or not will be done here. And the methods of developments
to be done will be discussed here if it is supposed to be. People’s opinion from these areas will be
included here. This chapter contains two subheadings which will describe successful examples of
development in ESZs. This is more like a case study. But will be done only through secondary source and
only the development models will be discussed unlike a case study.

Examples from India

In here successful developmental model of ESZs in India will be discussed. More than the ESZ, the
method of developments will be discussed.

Examples from other parts of world

Same as the above subheading methods of developments around the world will be discussed here.

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ECO TOURISM AS A PROPOSAL

This chapter will discuss eco-tourism as a proposal for the development of ESZs of Wayanad.

It will analyse various researches and studies which proposes eco-tourism as an answer for the
developmental aspiration of the district. Discussion will be done on the practicality of eco-tourism in the
district. This chapter will be divided into subheadings as below

Supply and demand of tourism in Wayanad

Here tourism in the district will be studied in detail. The statistics of tourists arriving the district will be
analysed here with their interests.

Impact of present tourism trends in the district.

Here the ecological impact of the present tourism trends in the district will be studied. Economical
impact or the economical benefits of the local community in the present scenario will be described here.
A future projection of the ecological variation will be done based on the present impact if the present
trends are to be followed further.

TOURISM

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization
defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for
more than twenty-four (24) hours and 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".

Rising trends in travel

India represents one of the most potential tourism markets in the world. Tourism today is the
most vibrant tertiary activity and a multi-billion industry in India. Traditionally known largely for
its historical and cultural dimensions, tourism today is highlighted for its immense business
opportunities. With its lucrative linkages with transport, hotel industry etc., the potential and
performance of India’s tourism industry needs to be gauged in terms of its socio-economic
magnitudes. (FENNELL, 2008)

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Tourism as an industry

The phenomenon of tourism since 1950 has been remarkable in terms of growth, spread and
diversification. The international tourist arrivals since then have grown from mere 25 million to
reach 940 million in 2010. The fast growth and spread not only resulted the globalisation of
people’s movements as never before but also contributed in creating a vibrant industry and
opportunities for millions of people.

(Source: UNWTO)

With passage of time, the travel and tourism industry has evolved to become one of the largest
and most dynamic industries of the global economy. A WTTC study has estimated in 2010 that
the contribution of travel and tourism to the world GDP was to the tune of 9%, whereas, its
total employment effect was more than 235 million jobs, representing 8% of global
employment
Further, the employment effect of international tourism appears to be optimistic in the
medium to long-term. According to the UNWTO forecasts, the sector is expected to provide
nearly 296 million jobs by 2019 given that there would be sustained growth of global tourist
arrivals and the major economies maintain its momentum. (COUNCIL, 2011)

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Influence of tourism on conservation.

The impact of tourism industry on the environment and the need of conservation will be discussed
under this subhead.

ECO TOURISM

Ecotourism?. A simple enough word but a complex and often contradictory concept: A fashion,
a fad? – Ecological travel is the ‘next big thing’; the hippest way to travel is to backpack off the
beaten track to experience ‘nature’ up close and personal (with all the luxuries of home
included). Or a way for tourism to market itself in the twenty-first century where environmental
issues now top the international political agenda? – Conservation issues are now at the
forefront of public opinion. Global warming, the decline of rainforests, loss of endangered
species, and land degradation have galvanized public support for conservation worldwide.
Whatever the origins, nature is calling and we are responding in droves. And eco tourists are
leading the charge. But getting ‘off the beaten track’ often means that the track soon becomes
a road, even a highway. And the beautiful wild spaces sought after by eco tourists are often
fragile and sensitive to human impact, however ‘lightly we tread’. One thing, however, is
certain, the increasing global interest and exponential growth in ecotourism cannot simply be
explained as another in a long line of recreational trends. Instead it reflects a fundamental shift
in the way human beings view and engage with nature. (Neil, 2011)

History

The term ‘ecotourism’ was coined by a marketing agency that was promoting Costa Rica as a
Rainforest destination and since then it has been seen as a niche market by the World Tourism
Organisation, as it uses resources that are linked to the biodiversity and cultural pluralism of
third world societies or countries, which have been forced into tourism as a core competency
area by intergovernmental agencies for development.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines ecotourism as: “...environmentally responsible
travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate
nature (and any accompanying cultural features - both past and present) that promotes
conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-
economic involvement of local populations” (IUCN, 1996).

The travel industry defines ecotourism as: “purposeful travel that creates an understanding of
cultural and natural history, while safeguarding the integrity of the ecosystem and producing
economic benefits that encourage conservation. The long-term survival of this special type of
travel is inextricably linked to the existence of the natural resources that support it” (Bandy,
1996 quoting: Ryel and Grasse 1991:164).

20 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013

Ecotourism is a new concept in tourism, which was originally sparked off by the idea of making
harmonious co-existence with nature a reality once again. Today, ecotourism is one of the
fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry. Its potential for growth is virtually unlimited.
Any tourism program which is : nature – based, ecologically sustainable, where education and
interpretation is a major concept and where local people are benefited can be called
ecotourism. Clearly, at a time when traditional conservation through enforced protection of
natural areas was being questioned for its effectiveness and social impacts, strategies such as
ecotourism offered considerable potential for integrating conservation with development.
(Wood, 2002)

Healthy natural ecosystems are critical to the ecological well-being of all living entities, and
especially for the economic security of people. Ecotourism has the potential to enhance
wilderness protection and wildlife conservation, while providing nature compatible livelihoods
and greater incomes for a large number of people living around natural ecosystems. This can
help to contribute directly to the protection of wildlife or forest areas, while making the local
community stakeholders and owners in the process.

Characters

All tourism should be sustainable - ecologically, socially, culturally and economically.

Ecotourism differs from other forms of tourism through its dependence on the protection of
natural ecosystems so that they, and their associated cultural values, can be visited and
interpreted. The challenge for the tourism industry is to develop ecotourism
capacity and the quality of its product without adversely affecting the environment on which it
depends. This involves ensuring that the type, location and level of ecotourism use
do not harm natural areas and that management is adequate to sustain appropriate levels of
ecotourism.
(Reuter), 2010)
The following are some of the main elements and principles of sound ecotourism:

• The natural environment

• Ecological and cultural sustainability
• Contribution to conservation
• Education and interpretation
• Provision of local benefits and participation
• Visitor satisfaction
• Responsible marketing

Natural environment
Ecotourism relies on use of the natural environment and includes a focus on biological and
physical features. Ecotourism occurs in and depends on a natural setting and may include
cultural elements where they occur in natural settings. The conservation of natural areas and
natural resource management is therefore essential to the planning, development and
management of ecotourism.

21 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013

Many natural areas have significant ethnic and cultural values. Although the focus of
ecotourism is on the natural values of an area, it is impractical to separate the natural and
cultural components of ecotourism. The term ‘ecotourism’ embraces the sustainable use of
cultural as well as natural assets.

Ecological and cultural sustainability

In recent years, the mushrooming of tourist facilities around protected areas has led to the
exploitation, disturbance and misuse of fragile ecosystems. It has also led to misuse of the term
‘ecotourism’, often to the detriment of the ecosystem, and towards further alienation of local
people and communities.

Tourism activity that degrades the environment, adversely affects the local community or fails
to return worthwhile economic benefits is not sustainable in the longer term. Ecotourism is
managed to avoid or minimise negative impacts and to confer benefits on host communities
and environments, for present and future generations. Ecotourism involves active participation
by tourists and tour operators in the conservation of an area. For example, tourists may
participate in scientific monitoring or rehabilitation projects, or may contribute financially to
the management of an area. Planning for ecotourism is based on resource constraints.
Economic opportunities will be lost if the resilience of an area and the ability of its community
to absorb impact are exceeded, or if its biodiversity and physical appearance are altered
significantly.

Contribution to conservation

Ecotourists and ecotourism operators can contribute to conservation in a variety of ways. The
form of contribution must first be negotiated between natural resource managers and
ecotourism operators to provide the greatest benefit for conservation within the means of the
operators. Ecotourism operator contributions could include, but would not be limited to,
participating in or supporting research and monitoring of wildlife or the impacts of visitation,
assisting in management of the natural resource or returning a percentage of revenue for the
management of the natural area. Examples of how independent visitors and members of the
local community could contribute to conservation include: adhering to visitor codes of practice
and exercising minimal impact techniques,

Education and interpretation

Ecotourism’s educative characteristic is a key element, which distinguishes it from other parts
of nature- based tourism. Environmental education and interpretation are important tools in
creating an enjoyable and meaningful ecotourism experience. Ecotourism attracts people who
wish to interact with the environment and, to varying degrees, develop their knowledge,
awareness and appreciation of it.
Environmental education can influence visitor, community and tourism industry behavior and
assist in the long-term sustainability of tourism activity in natural areas. Environmental
education and interpretation help visitors see the big and little picture of the environment. It

22 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013

acknowledges the natural and cultural values of the area, resource management needs and the
complexity and interdependence of the natural environment.
Local benefits and participation

The benefits of ecotourism should be equitably distributed with significant benefits accruing to
the local community, even though ecotourism businesses may be based in other communities
or involve national or multinational ownership. Local benefits may be derived from the use of
locally based operators, the employment of local guides and use of specialised local knowledge,
the purchase of provisions and services and the use of local facilities. These benefits should
outweigh the cost of ecotourism to the host community and environment, although the benefits
and costs are difficult to measure. Ecotourism generally returns revenue, or other benefits for
resource conservation and management, as well as bringing social and cultural benefits. It
therefore offers a positive approach to tourism development in some areas. The involvement of
local communities may benefit these communities and the environment while improving the
quality of the visitor experience. Local communities can be involved in ecotourism operations
and help provide knowledge, services, facilities and products that, in turn, can provide
employment. Ecotourism should also generate income for resource conservation and
management to help maintain environmental values that are important to the community.

Visitor satisfaction

Visitor satisfaction with the ecotourism experience is essential to the ecotourism industry’s
long-term viability. The ecotourism experience should match or exceed visitors’ realistic
expectations. Client service and satisfaction, an integral part of the product, should be second
only to the conservation and protection of each area visited

Responsible marketing

Realisation of ecotourism opportunities relies to a large extent on marketing making potential

visitors aware of the available opportunities and matching demand with supply. In the field of
ecotourism, marketing can often be a challenge since:
• The industry includes many small operators who, on their own, do not have the necessary
resources to market at a national or international level; and
• Operators may be based in relatively remote locations where they do not have ready access
to necessary marketing skills and resources.
Visitors need to have realistic expectations and understanding of tourism experiences to help
them choose a product suited to their needs and the experiences they desire. In terms of
ecotourism, responsible marketing will inform potential visitors of the type of activities
available and appropriate to a particular area.
(Vassilis Tsipidis, 2009)

Activities

The various activities allowed or performed under eco-tourism throughout the world. or a study about
activities which can be performed by the tourists and not effecting the environment in a negative way.

23 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013

Accommodation facilities

Various eco sensitive accommodation facilities wich can be provided for the tourist will be described
here.

Means of Transportation

Various modes of travel which are eco sensitive in nature will be described here.

Control of flow of people

Various methods in eco- tourism used to control the flow of people to ESZs will be analysed.

ECO TOURISM –IMPACTS

The impacts, both positive and negative of eco-tourism will be discussed here. The impacts will
be studied under the topics:

Ecological

Economical

CASE STUDIES.

Case studies of eco-tourism practiced in ESZs will be done here. There will be three case studies.

FUTURE OF ECO TOURISM IN WAYANAD

This will describe the future of eco tourism industry in the district. The feasibility of the same will be
analysed from the above collected data.

SUGGESTIONS

CONCLUSIONS

24 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013

BIBLIOGRAPHY

COUNCIL, W. T. (2011). TRAVEL AND TOURISM 2011. TRAVEL AND TOURISM 2011, 1-10.

FENNELL, D. (2008). ECO TOURISM. NEW YORK: ROUTLEDGE.

gadgil, m. (2011). wgeep report. ministry of environment and forest Government of india.

invis. (n.d.). http://www.dtpcwayanad.com/. Retrieved august 21, 2013, from

http://www.dtpcwayanad.com/: http://www.dtpcwayanad.com/

Neil, S. W. (2011). Ecotourism Impacts, Potentials and Possibilities? Taylor & Francis.

Reuter), P. D. (2010). Is Ecotourism a strategy for regional development in india? vienna: Catholic
University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

Vassilis Tsipidis. (2009). eco destinent handbook. PRISMA Centre for Development Studies, Greece.

Wood, M. E. (2002). eco tourism-principles, practices and policies. united nations publication.

duff, g. (1826). history of marathas.

gadgil, m. (2011). wgeep report. ministry of environment and forest Government of india.

kasthurirangan. (2013). hlwg report. ministry of environment and forest.

muenster, d. (2012). Human-Animal Conficts in Kerala: Elephants and Ecological Modernity.

Rajeev, K. (2013, may 21). tourism threatens wayanad ecology. times of india.

world heritage list. (2013, june 28). Retrieved from unesco: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342

25 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013

Works Cited
COUNCIL, W. T. (2011). TRAVEL AND TOURISM 2011. TRAVEL AND TOURISM 2011, 1-10.

FENNELL, D. (2008). ECO TOURISM. NEW YORK: ROUTLEDGE.

gadgil, m. (2011). wgeep report. ministry of environment and forest Government of india.

invis. (n.d.). http://www.dtpcwayanad.com/. Retrieved august 21, 2013, from

http://www.dtpcwayanad.com/: http://www.dtpcwayanad.com/

Neil, S. W. (2011). Ecotourism Impacts, Potentials and Possibilities? Taylor & Francis.

Reuter), P. D. (2010). Is Ecotourism a strategy for regional development in india? vienna: Catholic
University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

Vassilis Tsipidis. (2009). eco destinent handbook. PRISMA Centre for Development Studies, Greece.

Wood, M. E. (2002). eco tourism-principles, practices and policies. united nations publication.

26 Eco tourism- An option for Wayanad| DISSERTATION 2013