Establishing Ecotourism In Mahabaleshwar
And Panchgani, India
Author(s)
T. Woods
Abstract
The hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani in the Western Ghats, India,
have been a popular location since British soldiers visited to escape the heat of
the lowland plains. In recent years, the growth of India's consumer class,
combined with increasing access to private and public transport, has led to
damaging new tourist developments. Problems include the clearance of natural
vegetation for hotels and facilities, the cutting of trees for fuel wood, increased
pressure on water and electricity resources, pollution from vehicles,
overcrowding and litter. These are serious concerns, due to the fragility and
ecological importance of the forest and scrubland in the region. The character of
Mahabaleshwar in particular has also changed, from a tranquil place for relaxing
and appreciating nature to a busy commercialised resort.
Local authorities and environmental groups have made efforts to control
these problems, but these have so far proved ineffective. Few people want to
limit the growth of tourism in the region; most local residents, business owners
and government planners favour the continued growth of mass tourism. This
raises important questions about who should dictate the future pattern of tourism
and whether environmental preservation is preferable to local economic growth,
even when there are few alternative prospects.
This study examines why previous measures to make tourism more
environmentally sustainable have been unsuccessful. A management plan is
suggested which divides the region into zones of different tourism activity, with
an emphasis on establishing ecotourism. This proposal is a new approach to
solving the problems caused by tourism and, in theory, satisfies the conflicting
aims of environmental preservation and economic development.
Keywords: carrying capacity, economic development, ecotourism, protected
area management, zoning.
Keywords
carrying capacity, economic development, ecotourism, protected
area management, zoning.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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