With the interested companies seeking certain modification in the conditions for the execution of proposed aerial ropeways in the state, these projects are not likely to take off before next year. These projects of the Tourism Department have already suffered delay due to the coming into force of the election code of conduct for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
The government has announced a host of concessions to the tourism industry, including grant of export house status to the toursim industry. Tourism units earning Rs 6 crore in foreign exchange
The West Bengal government today received a revised proposal for development of Nayachar Island, off Haldia, in East Midnapore district in West Bengal, as an industrial hub, from NRI businessman Prasoon
This paper examines the use of constructed wetlands for water purification. The introduction begins witha brief overview of wetlands: their nature and services offered. These wetlands are ecoststems with
Tourism stakeholders in Zambia's tourist capital of Livingstone, the departure point for the world famous Victoria Falls, are expressing concern over what they call "bureaucratic confusion' of the
The need to tap domestic healthcare tourism potential, even while attracting patients-tourists from abroad, was stressed by professionals here. At a business interactive meeting on healthcare
HALDIA, 28 OCT: The state government has agreed to allot 350 acres to Mr Prasoon Mukherjee-promoted Universal Success Enterprises (USE) for setting up an industrial park and eco-tourism infrastructure
Tourism in Haryana is set to get a boost with the creation of a Rs 30-crore tourist circuit of Panipat, Kurukshetra and Pinjore under a centrally-sponsored scheme. The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder
In an attempt to put an end to the illegal resorts mushrooming around the fringes of Bandipur tiger reserve (BTR), the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF) has directed the State Forest Department
TAKING bilateral relations a step further, India and Jordan signed four MoUs. They include the promotion and protection of investment, cooperation in the field of agriculture, tourism and cultural
R. Sujatha CHENNAI: The State Government is going all out to bring about a competitive atmosphere in its hospitals. In order to attract well-to-do patients, the Government General Hospital in the city has proposals to set apart a few rooms in its pay ward exclusively for outstation patients.
The State Government plans to hold road shows soon in West Asia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives to promote Kerala as a medical tourism destination. The State plans to hold such promotional activities in
An outbreak of haze caused the closure of many schools in Sumatra recently. The thick choking smoke was triggered by forest fires which are quite prevalent in the region. The authorities tried hard
Generating funds and guaranteed sightings of exotic fauna are part of the misguided strategies of eco-tourism. Some 12 jeeps had converged at a point in the forest. In all there were about 50 people in them. They chattered and whispered in excitement, waiting for the tiger to emerge from where it was hiding. Finally it did, as it darted across the open space into the safe covers of the bushes and disappeared, almost like a ghost. Leaving behind the people in various levels of nirvana! Reporting on the "sightings' back at the resort, everyone was pleased. The manager, the guides and the tourists. The visit had been worth it, finally. But, a thought remained: what could be the thoughts of the tiger, that had been almost "ambushed' (in the words of a forest officer)? Opinions vary. On whether eco-tourism is a benevolent thing or can lead to more damage of our already fragile forests and wildlife. True eco-tourism is one in which the tourist takes back some lessons, and leaves behind nothing, no footprints. He/she learns to respect nature and the laws that operate in its pristine world. But, alarmingly what is emerging is nothing like that. The operators are there for money. The tourists come for excitement. With eco-tourism the mantra, it is time for a kill. The rates speak. All comforts are offered in the wilderness. And guarantees of a "tiger encounter' even offered in some places. The tourist can be heard grumbling and even asking back for money if a tiger or elephant is not sighted. Who cares about the squirrels or birds? And god forbid a tiger or elephant that crosses path with such tourists. Flashlights pop all around as cameras zoom in. With a good sighting, the guides and drivers can be coaxed into inching closer than allowed. Pleasing their customer comes before forest rules. Some even know how to annoy an elephant and cause a mock charge. For a good digital shot. They cannot be blamed. And now, the tourism department plans to take on more areas for eco-tourism. It would have been a good idea if again "development' and revenue were not the key-words, but conservation and education. The words used clearly show that it is about "tapping unused potential'. What a pity. Not only in Karnataka, but everywhere in the country, eco-tourism is an uncontrolled phenomenon with poor planning and short-term vision of generating money. In the national parks of Madhya Pradesh, jeeps queue up in a long line and let in a few at a time. After all, one gets guarantees of sightings here! But the other side of this is the well-known fact that tigers in Kanha and Ranthambore had got so used to human presence that they became sitting ducks for poachers! However, some experts believe eco-tourism can check poaching. "Papa' Wakefield, the brand ambassador of Jungle Lodges Resorts is one who is very sure that poaching is at its maximum when the "jungles are closed to tourists in the monsoons'. Annoyed with the PCCF's direction to have the parks closed for a "breeding season in July', Wakefield does agree that there is need to control eco-tourism. In the case of Kabini, he points to how there are so many operators in the area and more coming, that there are times when 21 vehicles used to be in the jungles at the same time. Now, with the intervention of the PCCF, this has been brought down to 12. What he, and others concerned about the alarming growth of eco-tourism, say is, "while you cannot stop anyone from buying land around jungles, you can stop their entry into the forests. Limited entry is required to disturb the animals the least'. The other area that needs to be discussed is how revenue generated from these resorts can be ploughed back into the forests, whether it be for conservation or paying pending salaries of forest staff. This revenue can amount to more than Rs 2 lakh from one resort alone. In states like MP, this money is being used for forest department needs, but not in Karnataka. Finally, a true nature lover will argue that eco-tourism can happen only if the tourists are willing to rough it out, to walk in the jungle rather than ride through it, to look around and absorb the flora and fauna, to learn lessons of interdependence. It's all there if one keeps eyes and ears open. The langur's alarm call that alerts all the other denizens of a predator, the parasite tree that grows on to the host tree, the life sustained by elephant dung, etc. That is how true eco-tourism should ideally be promoted. Even otherwise, it is necessary to incorporate education into the eco-tourism as being touted. With a mere four per cent protected area in the country, even a few enlightened persons can make a difference.
JAIPUR: A facelift of heritage buildings and markets in the Walled City is in the pipeline as the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has decided to sanction Rs 2.5 crore for the purpose. The move will
Infrastructure development and finance company Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) has entered into a partnership with the Andhra Pradesh government for development of tourism
Kerala tourism has started work on a project to set up a handloom village at Balaramapuram near Thiruvananthapuram. The Project, which looks to transform Vellikkulam village in Balaramapuram into
KALOMAJRA( PATIALA): For the past year and a half, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner Y S Matta is doing organic farming on his 30 acres of land in Kalomajra village. While he is successfully cultivating wheat and paddy, he also has plans to grow vegetables and flowers in a similar manner.
Maharashtra has gone the Goa, Bellary way in illegal mining. And Sindhudurg, probably, tops the chart. The district at the southern-most corner of the state got the eco-tourism district tag way back in
Before the baby Noor cheer wears out and Karnataka's medical tourism sector stops just short of promised sunrise, the State is chalking out plans to give the sector a new push. Before the baby Noor
