Ecotourism: An Alternative Livelihood Opportunity for Rural Comunities*

On a misty morning in Keoladeo Ghana National Park (popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) in Rajasthan, I am riding on a cycle rickshaw. No vehicles other than cycle rickshaws and bicycles are allowed inside the park, famous for its migratory and resident birds. My cycle rickshaw navigator is also my guide and has an amazing knowledge of birds, right down to their scientific names. This is indeed a unique experience. Almost two decades ago an enlightened forest officer realized that it was important to provide employment to local communities to enlist their support towards the conservation of the park. Rickshaw pullers who were all from the surrounding villagers were trained by the Forest Department in bird watching and are today some of the most skilled bird watchers in the country. The local community here now has a greater stake in protecting this area since they get an economic benefit from this initiative. This example illustrates the potential benefit of tourism in rural areas.

Exploring Bharatpur on Cycle Rickshaws

Tourism is the largest service industry in India, and is said to have a contribution of nearly 5.9 per cent to the national GDP and 9.24 per cent of the total employment in India. A recent study indicates that the travel and tourism sector contributed 6.4 per cent to India’s GDP in 2011. However, in the past a very small percentage of benefits from conventional tourism have actually been directed to rural communities. 

Ecotourism and its benefits to Rural Communities
In the last decade or so, several different and innovative models have emerged in India where tourism, particularly ecotourism, is becoming an alternate livelihood opportunity for rural communities. Simply stated, ecotourism is ‘environmentally responsible tourism’ that includes: Travel to natural areas; minimal ecological, social and cultural impacts; education for the traveler/tourist for environmental awareness; direct financial and other benefits to the local community and respect for different cultures. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as ‘responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people’. The definition itself implies that rural communities can benefit from this sub-sector of tourism.

As seen in the Keoladeo example, in several places rural communities living on the periphery of protected areas are being trained and inducted to conduct ecotourism activities at these locations. In other locations, communities are supporting tourism activities by providing homestays. In yet another model, communities have, with external support, established community initiatives that they run as a group, benefits from which are shared equitably. This article examines all these different types of models and discusses what is required for ecotourism to become an ideal livelihood opportunity for rural communities.

Local Communities as Tour Guides
In the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, local communities formed Ecodevelopment Committees (EDCs) under the Global Environment Facility-World Bank aided ‘India Ecodevelopment Project’ (IEDP), a programme that was initiated in 1996 and continued until 2004. 

EDCs were established with the objective of getting communities involved in conservation related activities while also providing benefits from non-exploitative activities in the park. Under this project 72 EDCs have been formulated and continue to pro-actively coordinate all ecotourism related activities in the Tiger Reserve. The Government has now established a semi-autonomous body called the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation (PTCF) that supports implementation of ecotourism programmes in the reserve. Community-based ecotourism programmes in the reserve have provided an incentive for many poachers as well as smugglers to give up illicit activities and turn protectors instead. They now use their intimate knowledge of the forest to guide tourists and are proud of their role in the protection of the forest.  There is a separate EDC exclusively for women members, who also play an important role in the protection of the reserve. The total revenue generated annually from these activities is over Rs 10.5 million. This revenue supports reserve management and provides local people with supplementary income thus reducing their negative dependency on the forests. The activities provide direct employment to 500 tribal families.

Community-based Homestays
Community-based homestay ecotourism is becoming quite popular particularly in the Himalayan region. The villagers allocate one or two rooms in their homes to accommodate tourists. The accommodation is simple but comfortable with basic furniture and clean bedding. Food provided is usually traditional. The homestay owners gain financially by charging the tourists, and tourists in turn have an opportunity to gain a firsthand experience of local culture and tradition. This movement is growing across the Himalayan region and is becoming an important source of livelihood for the Himalayan communities. Almost all the Himalayan states have started promoting home-stay based ecotourism. For example, selected organizations in the three Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir (primarily Ladakh), Himachal Pradesh (primarily Spiti) and Sikkim are promoting homestays under the banner of ‘Himalayan Homestays’.

Our Himalayan Homestay Hostess

Homestay at Tso Moriri Lake

Community-based Ecotourism Initiatives
In some instances local communities have come together, and established resorts for tourists. The Sham-e-Sarhad resort, located at Hodka at the edge of Kuchch in Gujarat, is one such. Initiated under the joint Endogenous Tourism Project (ETP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the objective of the enterprise was particularly to open up avenues for new livelihood opportunities for low income rural communities, especially the unemployed youth. The Hodka resort is located in the desert amongst a community rich in its cultural heritage. The resort itself is built in the traditional style of architecture and the food served is local. The resort is managed by the Hodka Tourism Committee comprising representatives from eleven villages that also include four women. This is a unique opportunity for the local community to display their cultural heritage and also gain employment.  

Towards strengthening Community-based Ecotourism
The examples described above indicate that there is tremendous scope for community involvement in ecotourism activities that could help showcase rural culture as well as provide an alternate source of livelihood. However, for this to be successful, communities do require assistance of different kinds.
The examples very clearly point out the need for the involvement of an external body to provide relevant financial and other support to these initiatives. The support could include capacity building and infrastructure support, particularly in the initial stages before the initiative becomes self supporting. Communities cannot be expected to become entrepreneurs on their own without adequate capacity building. They need training in various aspects of hospitality, housekeeping and even accounting. The sustainability of any such initiative in the long run also depends on strong local community institutions. So there is a need to strengthen existing community institutions, and establish new ones if required, to ensure the continued success of such enterprises. To ensure that community-based ecotourism initiatives are quality products, there is a need to set standards and establish an ongoing monitoring protocol. 

Finally it is crucial for such initiatives to be well marketed to ensure that tourists are aware of them and visit them. Usually, such locations are visited by word of mouth, but to ensure sustainability it is important that these enterprises be well publicized through various media. Communities may be handicapped in using the normal channels that other tourism entrepreneurs use.  More documentation and publicity is thus needed through the print and electronic media.

Conclusion
Rural communities today are faced with new challenges such as those of urban migration and climate change. In this changing scenario, it is becomes even more significant to look at alternate sources of livelihood for the rural sector. Ecotourism provides immense possibilities for rural communities to help them realize the worth of their culture and tradition and also provide them considerable financial gain.

*The following article appeared in the inaugural issue of the magazine, "Explore Rural India. Heritage and Development" brought out by The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development. Vol 1, Issue 1, January 2013