PATTERN OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT

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PATTERN OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN WAYANAD
(Kerala, India) with reference to RESPONSIBLE
ECOTOURISM
Shyju P. J. , P .V. Rajeev, P. S. Rana (Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi, India) Rinzing
Lama (Indian Institute of Travel Tourism
Management, New Delhi, India) pjshyju_at_gmail.com
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• Contents
• Introduction
• Pattern of tourism development in Wayanad
• Methodology
• Findings
• Ecocentric Responsible Tourism
• Implications of Future Research

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• Introduction
• International Tourist Arrivals to India have gone
  up to 5.1 million in 2009-10
• Kerala, a state located in the southern part of
  India has been projected as a model of tourism
  development in India.
• The state has proven that it is a all season
  destination by introducing a number of innovative
  tourism practices such Wellness tourism,
  Responsible tourism etc.
• Marketed Health Tourism as the main product and
  Natural attractions and cultural features as
  other tourism products in India and abroad,
  Kerala has developed itself as a brand among
  other states and foreign countries.

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Foreign Tourist Arrivals 2005-08
Year Kerala India
2005 0.34 million 3.91 million
2006 0.42 million 4.47 million
2007 0.51 million 5.08 million
2008 0.59 million 5.28 million
FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVAL IN KERALA 2008 TOP ORDER FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVAL IN KERALA 2008 TOP ORDER FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVAL IN KERALA 2008 TOP ORDER
COUNTRY NO. OF TOURISTS to the Total
U.K 141,147 23.57
France 52,239 8.72
Germany 43,468 7.26
U.S.A 43,307 7.23
Maldives 35,435 5.92
Sweden 20,666 3.45
Italy 17,385 2.90
Australia 16,968 2.83
Switzerland 15,603 2.61
Canada 13,541 2.26
U.A.E 13,334 2.23
Netherlands 12,511 2.09
Saudi Arabia 12,137 2.03
Spain 10,632 1.78
Russia 9,766 1.63
Japan 7,320 1.22
Belgium 6,899 1.15
Denmark 6,686 1.12
Austria 6,408 1.07
South Africa 6,051 1.01
Tourist Arrivals to Wayanad
Year Domestic International
2005 1,91,184 942
2006 2,25,923 2,611
2007 2,56,190 4,093
2008 2,95,465 5,638
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Wayanad, the Green Paradise
Hill station, located in the Western Ghats, one
of the hot green spots of the world. Exposed to
tourism activities, this beautiful destination
is facing a severe threat from unrestricted
unplanned tourism activities. Identified as a
responsible tourism destination, the focus of
tourism authorities are looking for more tourist
arrivals than a Planned Tourism Destination Face
a series threat from ecological, socio-cultural
aspects .
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Pattern of Tourism Development
Tourism is treated as the only future option of
source of Employment and revenue. Annual growth
of tourist arrivals have gone up by 22 percent
Wayand is projected as a pristine destination
all over Kerala and Abroad. This resulted in huge
inflow of domestic tourists and steady growth in
foreign tourist arrivals. Major attractions are --
Located at Fringe areas/Highly fragile
Water bodies Forest Area Cultural sites
Pookodu Lake Chembra Peak Edakkal Caves
Banasura Sagar Brahmagiri Hills Tirunelli Temple
Soochippara falls Kuruwa Island Jain Temple
Karalad Lake Wayanad WLS Tribal settlements
Karapuzha Dam Kambamala Plantations
Kanthanpara Falls Chethalayam Ghat Section
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Objectives of the study

1. To identify the direction of growth of tourism in
   Wayanad
2. To Evaluate the ecotourism programme implemented
   by Dept. of Forests Wildlife
3. To analyse major impacts of tourism growth and
   the interaction of socio-ecological influences in
   tourism
4. To propose an ecocentric approach for tourist
   attractions in Wayanad

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Methodology

1. The study include both primary and secondary
   data. Sites were visited personally, conducted
   interviews with local people, visitors, people
   who are directly or indirectly associated with
   tourism trade. Interactions were made with
   approximately 500 people in various locations.
2. The observations are based on the collective
   opinion of authorities and a comparative
   evaluation of hosts community.
3. Informal interviews were organised with the
   Resort owners and homes stay owners in order to
   get a true picture of the study. 50 resorts and
   home stay owners were consulted in this regard.
4. This study is n out come of a long term
   observations since 1996 since then changes taken
   place in the lifestyle, climate and social
   changes have closely been noticed and evaluated.

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Methodology

• Press and Media reports are also used to
  complete the study
• The population of the study include all the
  resort owners and home stay providers.
• Sampling framework used for the study is
  convenient sampling.
• The variables used in the study include the
  various factors identified to have a significant
  impact on the promotion of ecotourism with a view
  to sustainability.
• The various statistical tools used in the study
  include, Regression,
• t- Test, ANOVA, Factor Analysis etc. using
  SPSS 16.

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Findings

1. It is observed that the revenue from tourism play
   a major deciding role to accept tourism as an
   alternative activity. This proves that the
   increased no. of home stay owners and small scale
   resorts charge more for accommodation and the
   main intention of the host is to earn more income
   from the visiting guests who are mainly from an
   upper income group.
2. The study finds that local people can serve
   better in the improvement of ecotourism
   activities
3. Local people are on the opinion that the present
   way of tourism development is not benefiting them
   The benefit goes to the owners of resort and home
   stays who have good connection with tour
   operators and tourism market.

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Findings continues.

1. The local community is also on the opinion that
   present way of tourism promotion is not at all
   agreeable. Expectation of earnings from tourism
   blinded the operators and it resulted in excess
   charges for rooms and food.
2. The visitors opinion shows that they are quite
   unhappy with the facilities available in many
   attractions. This indicates that the expectation
   of visitors are not matching with their visits.
3. Another interesting point is the main purpose of
   the visit is to just fun and excitement, rather
   than making it as a learning and experiencing the
   nature. This lead to visitors dissatisfaction and
   at he same time misunderstanding on the efforts
   of officials.

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Findings continues.

1. It is felt that resource management is a
   multifaceted activity rather than community
   driven approach. But the local community has a
   greater role as awareness creation among the
   visitors are as important as awareness among the
   hosts.
2. The local NGOs and Students have a greater role
   in awareness creation and responsible ecotourism
   activity.
3. The local community has a strong feeling that
   government authorities are not sincere and not
   even explored the opportunities of ecocentric
   tourism though many destinations are located in
   the wild life areas.
4. The analysis proves that the alternative is
   accepted and alternative hypothesis is accepted .
   A sustainable approach has to be followed to
   highlight the destinations, improve the tourist
   facilitation centre and tourist/hosts awareness
   campaign on environmental front.

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Impacts
Direct Impacts New Constructions, mushrooming
of hotels and resorts Changes in landscapes,
riverside and, hills Piling up of urban
waste Increased vehicular traffic and Traffic
problems
Induced impacts Price rise of commodities Incre
ase in land value Migration, attack of wild
animals on local people Commercialization
Every one want a share of tourism
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Visitors Impact
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Responsible Ecotourism- the Future of tourism in
Wayanad

1. Wayanad, is a hill station and tourism is a new
   entrant. Majority of people are basically
   involved in agriculture and related jobs. Unlike
   other districts in Kerala here natural resources
   are not exploited for industries but tourism is
   the main media of exploitation. Dept. of Forest
   and Wildlife enforce strict guidelines and
   regulations for tourism activity, but the
   District Tourism Promotion Council and Dept. of
   Tourism has little interest in this area.

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Responsible Ecotourism- the Future of tourism in
Wayanad

1. Dept. of Forest and Wild Life involves the local
   community who live near that area. Eco
   Development Committee (EDC), Vana Samrakshana
   Samiti (VSS) are formulated to take up the
   wildlife preservation and ecotourism programe.
   This help both the Dept. and the community.
   Natural resources are protected and at the same
   time people are aware to protect their nature in
   order to make their livelihood.
2. Ecotourism programme by Dept. of Forests and Wild
   life is a well appreciable gesture as the main
   focus is preservation of ecosystem rather than
   income generation. Emphasis on preservation
   result in dissatisfaction among the visitors as
   their expectations are not fulfilled.

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Discussion

• Mass Ecotourism is not an encouragable tourism
  option. A destination like Wayanad, needs a very
  systematically planned development.
• All tourist attractions in the district are owned
  by Dept. of Forests Wildlife or Dept. of
  Irrigation, and Dept. of Fisheries. Tourism came
  as an intruder to these places and taken over the
  complete control, but the main purpose is
  remained only to earn as much as income rather
  than protecting that places from environmental
  degradation.

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Discussion cont

• Over crowding, lack of waste management, and lack
  of proper control over visitors behaviour
  resulted in exploitation rather than
  conservation.
• Absence of a price control mechanism results in
  price hike for many products. If a person from a
  different language background visit this
  destinations, the shop owners usually take
  advantage of the client, which results in
  commercialization.

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Discussion cont

• Loss of green cover of Wayanad over last few
  years resulted in a rapid changes in the annual
  rainfall and increasing temperature levels. This
  results indirectly the lifestyle of people, where
  the major portion of the agriculture land is
  converted to commercial crops than the
  traditional crops.
• Life of common people are affected by a sharp
  increase in price of the land , which are located
  in river side, lake side, near to forest land or
  any other scenic spot which as enough tourist
  potential. Land value has gone up multiple times
  and a common
• man cant own a small house as the earning wont
  match with the financial requirements.

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Discussion cont

• Tourist activity should be controlled in places
  like Kuruwa Island and other highly ecofragile
  areas. Regulations in visit to eco sensitive
  areas, will result in conserving the natural
  resources for future generation, and at the same
  time efforts should be made to create awareness
  among the visitors to inform them about the
  bio-diversity of the area they are visiting .
• It is found that the visitor interpretation
  centres are not properly working as there is a
  sever shortage of manpower and lack of proper
  maintenance. Taking things casually , will
  affect the reputation of the destination as well.

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Discussion cont

• Benefits from tourism are shared by few players
  in the district who are well established . Local
  people have greater expectations when an
  attraction is developing as a tourist centre.
  But, other than seeing the rise of some local
  resorts, the local people are ignored greater
  extend. The authorities also fails to
  recognise the need of local people where
  combined effort of local people authorities are
  scarcely seen.
• Local organisations, academic institutions have a
  greater role to do. Activities taken up by the
  eco club, tourism club members in the district is
  worth to appreciate as it shows a well rehearsed
  move to involve and encourage the young to orient
  their future towards the future.

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Discussion cont

• The responsibility also falls on the visitor and
  the service provider to protect our environment
  from further degradation. A tourist is not a
  consumer here. But an active participant of
  conserving the nature and his surroundings.
• Effective coordination is required among the
  government officials as there is a clear
  indication of lack of cohesion among the
  government departments. This results in creating
  obstacles on the path of planning, implementation
  of various programmes .

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Thank you
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Review of Literature
Impacts of Tourism was a major concern for Hosts
community, Academicians , Government authorities
and planners since long back. Several case
studies on Bali, Thailand, etc. which have
already shown the impacts of tourism Noronha
(1979), Pleumarom (2002). Defensive Tourism,
Alternative Tourism, Natural Tourism, Green
Tourism, Low Impact Tourism, Soft Tourism are
some of the terms came up in the debate of
Sustainability issues. Krippendorf (1982), Jones
(1987) Mader (1999) Sustainable Tourism ws
highly appreciated and projected as the
alternative to Impacts of Tourism WCED (1987),
Hunter, Butler (1992) Ecotourism is treated as
a form of sustainable tourism for many
researchers Dernoi (1988), Mieczkowski (1995),
Allcock (1994), Honey (1999), Weaver
(2001) Here , a modified form of Responsible
Tourism, i.e Responsible ecotourism is proposed
against existing practices in Wayanad
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