Eco-Tourism in North East India:

Abstract

Eco-tourism has become a buzzword nowadays not only in India but also in North East
India. Ecotourism in simple words means the management of tourism and conservation of
nature in such a way as to maintain a fine balance between the requirements of tourism and
ecology on the one hand and the need of the local communities for jobs, income-generating
employment and a better status for the women on the other. Northeast has enough potential for the
growth of eco-tourism and has been expanding fast in recent years due to the great efforts of various
state governments of this region. The northeast India is a unique destination for eco-tourism as the
the region represents the Indian ethos of ‘unity in diversity’ and ‘diversity in unity’. The region is a
mixed package of linguistic, racial, and religious streams. The region is not only well endowed with
natural resources of a diverse range of mountains ecosystems rich in pristine natural forests occupied by varieties of flora and fauna but also an abode of a variety of ethnic groups popularly known as ecosystem people who largely depend on their surrounding environment for the sustenance of livelihood particularly in hill areas. All these factors provide the foundation for a potentially robust ecotourism industry in the region. Though various adventure and nature tours have been in practice in northeast India for a long time, the concept of eco-tourism is a relatively very recent development. Various Non-Governmental Organizations have been acting positively to involve the local people to facilitate forest developments and improve eco-tourism. At this juncture, it is very crucial to discuss the status of eco-tourism in northeast India.
In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight various eco-tourism resources, prospects of eco-tourism, problems, and suggestions to develop eco-tourism in northeast India. All the information has been gathered through different sources, personal communication, and literature
survey.