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1. INTRODUCTION:
Nature tourism has been one of the fastest-growing segments of the international tourism market.
Developing countries have established themselves as particularly important nature tourism
destinations. It is safe to assume that the global demand for nature-based recreational tourism
and nature experience products will continue to increase in the future. Active involvement by the
tourism sector and the tourism destinations in biodiversity conservation efforts and activities to
protect environmental health and natural areas in the long term is not only essential, but is also in
the industry’s own interest. This is most especially true of areas which are protected and which
are particularly popular (such as national parks and biosphere reserves) because of their
ecological importance.
As early as the mid-1990s, the term ‘ecotourism’ came into frequent use in the international
debate on sustainable forms of nature tourism. It is crucial to note that this term is not regarded
as synonymous with ‘nature tourism’. Conceptually, it is based on the definition of sustainable
tourism, which means that it implies the aim of implementing sustainable forms of tourism,
especially in protected areas. Thus, ‘ecotourism’ is not used to denote a tourism product, but
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rather a conceptual approach to responsible travel within natural areas. At the heart of the debate
on ecotourism is the question of under what conditions and how tourism in natural and (large-
scale) protected areas can be developed and managed in an ecologically and socially responsible
way.
It is in this context, there is a growing momentum developed among many developing countries
for taping the untapped eco-tourism potential of their own protected areas. In India, the
Government of Germany, through its Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports a collaboration with the Ministry
of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India through the
project “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas”
(CMPA). The project is implemented in selected coastal states in India in close collaboration
with respective State Governments.
As part of the CMPA pilot project in Palk bay of Ramanathapuram district, Tamilnadu, the
present eco-tourism potential and demand study was initiated with the following objectives.
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destination analysis tools had four performance intervals based on high quality indicators - High
performance: 80-100% / Reasonable performance: 60-79% / Low performance: 40-59% /
Insufficient performance: Less than 40%.
Apart from this, semi structured interview (SSI) were also done among the representatives of
tourism industries such as Yathirai Paniyalar Sangam (local Guide association), Tour Operator,
Municipality, Hotel association, Taxi Owners association, Auto drivers association,
photographers association and officials from TTDC and Forest department attended. Before
stakeholders meetings, rapid assessment field visits to eco-tourism sites and relevant ministries
also done by the research team. In addition to this, review and preliminary analysis of available
secondary studies, documents and statistical data on (eco-) tourism demand and target groups in
the State of Tamil Nadu also done by the research to supplement the primary data.
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infrastructure at tourist spots have resulted in the increase of tourist arrivals to Tamil Nadu. The
number of tourists arriving in Tamil Nadu has increased 18 times since 1990. The figure, as per
the latest available statistics (2013) has gone up to 2481.22lakh. Of this, domestic tourists
number 2442.32 lakh and foreign tourists 39.90 lakh.
2000 50
40
1500
30
1000
20
500 10
0 0
Fig 1: Tourist Arrival in Tamilnadu Fig 2: Growth rate of tourist arrival in Tamilnadu
Source: GoTN Tourism Policy Document 2013-14, 2014
The growth rate of tourism sector in Tamilnadu started increased from 2006 and maintains the
growth rate above 30% for the last three years. Infrastructure development has played a major
role in the development of tourism in Tamil Nadu.
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assessment reveals that Minimum 7,50,000 pilgrims and tourists are coming to this place per
year..
1,119,386 1,371,836
Majority of visitors felt that the security arrangement for visitors is insufficient and
there are no safety concerns for visitors with the use of and stay in the area. Health
risks are very common in this region and Malaria and Dengue were the common
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communicable disease due to inflict of visitors. There is no armed conflict but theft is
very common and road accidents are frequent.
It is evident that, the area provides interesting attractions for visitors and the
effectiveness indicators scored 66 per cent of marks which denotes reasonably
performance. According to the stakeholder’s point of view, Sea, Islands, temples are the place of
attraction. Dolphins, migratory birds are animal and bird attractions available in rare occasions.
This area provides but there is no entertainment places developed. Cultural attractions such as
Dhanuskodi cyclone reminisce, Rameswaram temple, Kothandaramar temple, Jadu theertham
and Ponthampuli tree prominent in this area.
80%
68%
60%
Management Attractiveness
40% 66%
34% 20%
0%
55% 60%
Services and 37%
Infrastructure
products
Security Sc…
The accommodation and catering services offered by the tourism industries performed
very low performance than expected. During the peak session, the existing
accommodation facilities are not sufficient. The food served in the hotel less in taste. The area
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recently developing diverse nature and culture -related tourism activities such as hiking, biking,
swimming, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding and museums, exhibitions in small scale. Tourist
information brochure is available only for temple tourism purpose not eco-tourism
A professional tourism strategy for the study site is available with TTDC and it is not included
independent stakeholders other than government. Hence the implementation of management
strategy and its performance received very low performance. More than 50 tourism operators are
functioning in the project site but only three of them registered with tourism department. The
collection of solid waste is done but there is scientific disposal mechanism available.
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departments, the following stakeholder are also involved / to be involved in promotion of eco-
tourism.
Hotels, restaurants, resorts, and other tourists complexes providing accommodation and /
or catering and food facilities to tourists;
Travel agencies, tour operators and tourist transport operators;
Units providing facilities for cultural, adventure and wildlife experiences to tourists;
Surface, water and air transport facilities for tourists;
Leisure, entertainment, amusement, sports and health units for tourists; and,
Convention/ seminar units and organisations.
And finally the local community / dependent on particular eco resource.
5. CONCLUSION
Ecotourism in Tamilnadu had potential to generate revenue and pay for conservation of
important natural habitats of coastal and marine habitats and wild forests because these are major
attractions for tourists. The state eco-tourism policy encourage the following activities in Coastal
areas such as
Exploring Mangrove Forest
Exploring Coral reef and sea World
Motor boat riding
Para sailing and Scuba diving
Water Skiing and Wind surfing and Kite surfing
Board surfing and Snorkelling
But eco-tourism activities must ensure that the natural resources of protected and natural areas
that may be affected by tourism development are protected and that appropriate action is taken to
avoid potential conflicts between nature conservation and tourism (destruction of plants,
disturbance of animals, trampling damage, and erosion). The focus of activities in this area is on
supporting a cooperative and sustainable protected-area management (tourism zoning, visitor
direction and information, creation of an appropriate infrastructure, visitor monitoring). In
addition, tourism is used to create new sources of income which are intended to benefit the local
population and to provide more financial flexibility for sustainable protected area management.
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Hence, the present study suggested to follow the approach of eco-tourism efforts must be
community based one and the local community of this region must be primary rightful
beneficiary of the big effort than business groups.
REFERENCE:
1. 20 Year Perspective Tourism Plan for the State of Tamil Nadu – Final report, 2003
2. Government of Tamil Nadu Annual Plan 2011-12
3. Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, Annual Report 2011
4. Government of Tamil Nadu Tourism Policy Document 2013-14
5. Government of Tamil Nadu Tourism Policy Document 2014-15
6. Tamilnadu Vision 2023 document
7. Manickaraj (2015), Coastal tourism in the gulf of mannar an economic analysis, Dept of
Economic, Manonmaniyam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli
8. Bhaskarn and Premavathi (2014) Eco-tourism, scope its ecological impact analysis and the need
for conservation ethics – a case study of Dindugal, Theni and Madurai districts of Tamil nadu.
African Journal of Science and Research , 2014, (3)2:34-41 ISSN: 2306-5877 Available Online:
http://ajsronline.com/
9. V. SOBHANA DEVI and SAMPADA KUMAR SWAIN (2012), An Assessment Of Sustainable
Tourism Development Practices: A Qualitative Study Of Selected Resorts In East Coast Road In
Tamil Nadu, SAJTH, July 2012, Vol. 5, No. 2, © South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage
10. Naomi M. Saville (2002), Sustainable Ecotourism and eco-enterprise opportunities in the Gulf of
Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Taramani Institutional
Area, CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113, INDIA
11. Revenue Generation through Eco tourism: Potential and Prospects from Forestry Sector in
Tamilnadu, Workshop Series 16/EE (2014), State Planning Commission – Tamilnadu,
Tharamani, Chennai.