Ecotourism – Innovative way for sustainable development

Abstract

Tourism in India is economically important and is growing rapidly. The idea of ecotourism is gaining importance as it is a growing segment of the global tourism industry which is making significant positive contributions. Ecotourism is a cultural and natural travel-learn experience with a little bit of adventure and benefitting the well-being of indigenous people. The various type of ecotourism includes hard-core type, dedicated type, mainstream type and casual type. The major actors of ecotourism system include visitors, natural areas and their managers, communities, operators, government and non-governmental organizations. The operational mechanism of ecotourism is unique as its aim is not only the achievement of maximum returns but also sustainable growth and environment conservation. The local communities need to involve themselves more efficiently as it can reap profitable returns to them in a long run.