Trends and pathways for ecotourism research in India

Abstract

ABSTRACTIndia has seen remarkable growth in nature-based tourism. However, the current approach has had limited benefits to conservation, protected areas and local communities. With a surge in ecotourism initiatives, there has been a concurrent increase in associated conceptual and applied research. Based on the existing studies, quantitative and qualitative thematic analyses were conducted along with reviews of ecotourism research in India to: (1) classify broad themes under which various studies have been conducted; (2) categorize prominent reasons to adopt ecotourism; (3) evaluate whether principles of ecotourism have been incorporated in research; and (4) identify gaps in research. In general, research has exposed the negative impacts of mass tourism around protected areas, evaluated success stories and highlighted ecotourism potential. We found conservation of biodiversity and local socio-economic development to be the primary motivations for ecotourism. In addition, existing research is not comprehensive, nor does it equally address all the principles of ecotourism. We address these research gaps and provide recommendations that could help improve the existing discourse and encourage policy interventions. This can ensure socio-economic development of local communities through benefits sharing, without compromising conservation realities.