Empowerment of local communities through ecotourism in Uttarakhand

Abstract

Sustainable tourism is leading to management of all resources in economy, social and aesthetic needs. It can fulfill and maintain the cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, and biodiversity and life support system. The present communication pertains to community based ecotourism development and to generate employment opportunities at local level in the state of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is well known all over the world for it magnificent beauty along with pilgrim’s destination of Hindus and other religion. Besides the scenic view it is also famous for its great Himalayan mountainous range, tourist’s spots, adventures places, spiritual, cultural and aesthetic etc. Inspite of natural beauty and religious place, the folk of this region are suffering from poverty and unemployment which is resulting into out migration. Present paper is an attempt from author to make an analysis of tourist places of Uttarakhand and to make suggestions how to promote ecotourism at village level to solve the issues of unemployment and hence with induce reverse migration.