Committee for forest and wildlife eco-tourism set up

The Centre has formed a seven-member committee under the Chairmanship of Tourism Secretary Sujit Banerjee to finalise the guidelines for forest and wildlife eco-tourism. The Committee, which started working from yesterday, will firm up the guidelines for forest and wildlife eco-tourism in the context of advisories issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act.

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Foreign Tourist Arrivals grow 10.4% during Jan-Nov

The Ministry of Tourism has adopted the Code of Conduct for "Safe & Honourable Tourism" on 01st July, 2010 essentially to strengthen the critical pillar of ‘Suraksha’ (Safety) mentioned in the National Tourism Policy, 2002 and ensure that Indian tourism follows international standards of safe tourism practices, applicable for both tourists and local residents i.e. local people and communities who may be impacted by tourism in some way. The Code has been formed to sensitize travelers and the travel industry, close all possibilities of exploitation, specifically of women and children and to make India a safe & honourable tourism destination.

The initiative was launched by Ministry of Tourism in association with PATA India Chapter, Save the Children – India, United Nations Office on Drugs & Crimes (UNODC) and Equitable Tourism Option (EQUATIONS) for its implementation as it is important and essential to enhance the image of the country and add more value to the ‘Incredible India’ campaign.

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The industry is looking at being a key player in the nation's changing face: Ankur Bhatia

Eco tourism is an upcoming tourist segment in India, which will generate wealth for the local people. India with its natural diversity is one of the pristine places in the world for eco tourism. Heritage tourism is also a very lucrative segment in India. India has a rich cultural history and reflection of its glorious past is still visible in its numerous forts, monuments, palaces, places of worship, etc. The states in India also provide a lot of cultural heritage and variety and hence form a key area to cultivate better tourism services.

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Gardening at Maganji's

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Foreign language, a must for Eco Tourism

Its true that knowledge of foreign language is a must for tourism related businesses. However, to promote ones own country, ones own culture, we need to promote and protect Hindi language also. And for a country like ours, its diversity is its own enemy.

Click below for more..

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/201010/travellife01.shtml

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World Tourism Day.. Nothing special about this day

Yesterday when I opened my eyes I wanted to see or at least expected to see something special, something new, something that one would love to be a part of if he/she is in Mount Abu. Because it was the World Tourism Day and Mount Abu being the only hill station of this tourist friendly State, my hopes were justified. Being the only hill station frequented by tourists from both Gujarat and Rajasthan, I thought the tourism department and also we, the locals, would try to make it a memorable day for all and sundry. Even foreign tourists would love to be a part of such celebrations. Except for welcoming tourists at the entry point by a few authorities, which otherwise should be done everyday, nothing happened at all.

But like any other day of the year, the World Tourism Day also passed away without any special activity, neither from the tourism department nor from the locals. It turned out to be the saddest day for this town. I call it “the saddest day” for the reason that a town of hardy 25,000 inhabitants, of which almost every household depending on tourism-related activity all year long, tourism definitely affects them more than the 26/11 attacks, or the Ayodhya judgment or even the CWG games would. Then why are we so lethargic?

On 27^th September, 1970, when the United Nations World Tourism Organization adopted its statute, it was decided that this day would be dedicated to all those people who willingly serve others to bring a difference in their lives by making them feel special, even if it is only for a day at times. This day we celebrate Tourism. And for a country like ours, which have seen foreign tourist arrivals increasing every year, there are always enough reasons to make this day memorable.

At a time when all eyes are on India as a Commonwealth nation and the way it is preparing itself for the big event, one would have hardly thought about another national event which comes every year, the World Tourism Day. The Games officials and Governments have much more to worry about then a nondescript day like this one. But my worry is limited to my hometown. After the Supreme Court had declared Mount Abu an eco-sensitive zone nothing much has changed from tourism perspective. The locals had to face the wrath of municipal officials who were more interested in making their lives miserable instead of clinging on this once in a lifetime opportunity and making most of it by providing means of livelihood and recognizing more eco friendly ways of developing Mount Abu as an eco tourism tourist destination. A few weeks ago India won a couple of international tourism awards for some of its projects on rural and eco tourism. A well deserved recognition for a biologically diverse country like ours. But it didn’t make me proud because when I saw the same insensitive approach of the Government towards environment friendly development of this lone hill station which still survives only on tourism industry, there was more of rage and dismay within than pride and happiness.

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India awarded for marketing eco tourism, not actually providing one!!

Last week, India got rewarded at Macau for marketing through different innovative means the essence and diversity of tourism industry by highlighting eco tourism. However, back home, the story is quite different. Except for a few dedicated and successful initiatives, eco tourism still has not being given its due. As one needs to protect the bio-diversity first and then think about making it available for tourists, it becomes an almost impossible task for bureaucrats to do the needful. So whatever efforts have been made are totally private funded/ managed.
Here at Mount Abu, there are a few places earmarked as eco sites. None are habitable and at times not even accessible. The tourism department, along with the Forest department must involve the locals to make things happen.

New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) India Friday won three prestigious awards at the international travel mart in Macau for its rural and eco-tourism projects, an official said here....
Click here http://www.india-forums.com/news/business/277484-india-bags-international-tourism-awards.htm

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India

Misty Abu

That's what I call "Paradise". Its misty, its cool and it ain't raining so much. So you can enjoy the wilderness to the fullest. What else would one desire after spending a cruel 5 days work at office and the traffic snarls. The best weekend getaway. Experience once and get mesmerized forever.

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Smart Enviropreneur

When it doesn't rain in Abu, people take recourse to the most unreasonable and primitive means to 'bring' rains. First, they'll call for a complete 'bandh' (strike) against nobody. Second, they'll arrange for a community get together and perform religious acts like 'yagya' and finally, try to convince the rain Gods to come down and bless the already sinned 'Hills of Gods'.Instead of all this drama, what they, including myself, ought to do is, first, start caring for the environment and plant more trees and save the already existing ones from being wiped out from the face of this planet. Second, invest more on water harvesting techniques which will surely help in allowing water to seep in and increase the ground water level. Third, live the idea of eco-tourism. It's not a far-fetched concept at all. In fact, its time for every individual to know the benefits of such environment friendly concepts. Rain is dependent on many natural processes, vegetation is just one of them.But here we are, lame, lazy, primitive and full of stupidity. For a change, i find it self consoling that at least Bib B knows the right way of doing stuff. And as a usual thing for him, he still carries on upholding the Green Brigade banner. Seeing him mowing the lawns the other day seemed like a ray of hope against all adversity. At least the next generation would have better explanations for their descendents.

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Ten to watch in 2010

2010 is the UN’s official Year of Biodiversity. Now more than ever, the international spotlight is on preserving the variety of life on Earth. Our ’10 to Watch’ list offers just a few examples of species needing urgent protection.

WWF has had many successes in the past, rescuing species from the brink of extinction, but the increasing threats from deforestation, poaching and climate change are threatening to unravel some of our hard work – and we’re doing everything possible to make sure that doesn’t happen.

This selection is just 10 from a growing list of officially endangered species, with a reminder of some of the work we’re doing, with your support, to help them survive.

http://www.wwf.org.uk/news_feed.cfm?3657/ten-to-watch-in-2010

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