Policy Update
Anshu Saroha
Introduction
In a nation celebrated for its sprawling forests, snow-laden peaks, winding rivers, and cultural diversity, the interaction between development and conservation remains complex. Tourism carries potential for both resource stewardship and resource depletion. In 2022-23, it contributed 5% to the national GDP. India’s Eco-Tourism Policy, drafted in 2018 and implemented in 2024, focuses on promoting sustainable and responsible tourism in ecologically sensitive areas. The goal is to establish a supportive environment for the expansion of ecotourism in the nation and foster collaborations between the federal and state governments, local communities, conservation organizations, and the commercial sector.
Background
India’s landscape ranges from pristine forests, the snow-clad Himalayas, montane grasslands, golden and silver deserts, rivers, lakes, wetlands, mangroves, beaches, volcanoes, and corals, housing tremendous biodiversity. Besides, the mega-fauna consists of iconic species such as tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, wild buffaloes, Indian bison (gaur), etc., and more than 1200 species of birds.
However, despite these vast endowments, its position in global ecotourism development remains relatively poor. The decline in tourism due to COVID-19 allowed the sector to adapt its priorities and metrics for success. In recent times, there has been a shift away from mass tourism towards more focused pursuits such as ecotourism, adventure activities, and wildlife and nature-based travel experiences.
To channel the growth of ecotourism and adventure tourism, the government of India put together a National Strategy for Ecotourism. It integrated the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) guidelines on Ecotourism, aligning with the National Strategy for Rural Tourism.
Functioning
This policy functions through a structured multi-level institutional framework involving national and state eco-tourism directorates, complemented by local committees. These bodies coordinate between ministries (such as Tourism, Rural Development, Environment, Culture), state governments, panchayats, the private sector, NGOs, and local communities. Coordination emphasizes aligning diverse schemes and expertise for eco-tourism development. It is implemented via strategic pillars such as state assessment and ranking, capacity building, certification, marketing, destination development, and public-private-community partnerships.
A key feature is the integration of a digital platform that streamlines tourist bookings, provides information, and enforces eco-certification standards to ensure low-impact tourism practices, renewable energy use, waste management, and community employment. Further, Eco-tourism zones are created with attention to ecological carrying capacity. Community participation is prioritized by enabling local people, especially indigenous communities and women, to manage tourism-related enterprises like homestays, guiding services, and craft sales. This policy aims to balance conservation with livelihood generation. In some states, this can be reflected in the benefits gained by local guides, homestay owners, and artisans.
Impact
India’s Eco-Tourism Policy affects the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural domains, resulting in tangible gains and ongoing complexities. Economically, the policy not only boosts national GDP and employment figures but also reshapes rural development by channeling tourism revenue into remote and previously underserved regions. This has resulted in new livelihood opportunities for local people, including indigenous communities, women, and youth. Many are now finding roles as guides, hospitality workers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Such participation leads to a more equitable distribution of tourism benefits and encourages communities to actively safeguard natural assets, since their economic well-being becomes closely linked to environmental health.
On the environmental front, eco-tourism, when appropriately managed, funds on-ground conservation, supports anti-poaching patrols, and creates incentives for long-term stewardship of forests and wildlife. Funds collected from entry fees are reinvested in habitat restorations, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental education programs. In Kerala and Uttarakhand, this system has resulted in reinforced protection practices and great vigilance against illegal logging and poaching.
In the socio-cultural domains, there has been a notable revival of indigenous traditions, crafts, and practices. This offers market access and incentives for cultural preservation, encouraging local pride in heritage and local history, music, and art among tourists. This educational exchange helps break down stereotypes and foster social coherence. It broadens community reliance, which allows locals to adapt to new roles and go beyond agriculture or manual labour. However, commercialization risks persist; at times, traditions are modified or oversimplified for tourist appeal, which can diminish authenticity and erode cultural meaning.
Emerging Issues
The eco-tourism sector in India has two contrasting viewpoints: one is the human-centric approach, and the other is the biocentric approach. The former is assumed to put humans over the ecological space. It legitimizes the overconsumption of natural endowments, framed as a necessity or even a right. In contrast, the bio-centric approach adopts a far more egalitarian lens, seeing humanity not as the ruler but as one participant among many in a shared and interdependent ecosystem.
However, real-world challenges reveal the fragility of this balance. In several destinations, especially ecologically sensitive ones, the burden of over-tourism is undeniable. The environment faces a menace with unrestrained tourist footfall, plastic and sewage piles, and the relentless consumption of water and energy resources. Moreover, proper tourism management and carrying capacity have been completely ignored in the National Ecotourism Policy.
The policy does not focus on the support ecosystem required for setting up an ecotourism business. There are no incentives for operating an ecotourism business, and most of the hotel enterprises claim to be green without any valid certifications. Currently, Himachal Pradesh has 2,305 registered homestays and 3,679 registered hotels (Chauhan, 2021). However, a huge chunk of homestays and hotels are operational without registration with the state tourism department. The exact number of operational homestays is said to be higher than the registered homestays. This leads to poor management of natural resources. In most cases, it is sort of green-washing the hotel business under the name of ecotourism. There are constant disputes between homestay enterprises and hotel business operators.
Way Forward
Going forward, to implement this policy effectively, the government should increase accountability and monitoring of its initiatives. Certification protocols should be more rigorous with recurring audits to ensure compliance with their principles. A tourist capacity management system needs to be put in place with adjustments based on environmental fluctuations and dynamics. Most importantly, conservation practices must extend beyond tourist zones and include buffer areas or peri-urban environments that prevent the displacement of ecological pressure and promote land use supervision. Equitable risk-sharing mechanisms between communities, government, and stakeholders will safeguard both human and natural systems from escalating vulnerabilities. Beyond mere preservation, the objective centers on cultivating resilient socio-ecological systems where biodiversity flourishes and local populations exercise genuine agency and cultural sovereignty.
With these changes, eco-tourism represents a moral collaboration to honor India’s vast environment while promoting sustainable development. The policy’s impact should not be limited to economic benefits; it should extend beyond that and also encompass effective land management, wildlife population recovery, and community empowerment in forested areas. This multi-dimensional approach can position India among the top players in the eco-tourism race and can set an example for reconciling economic growth with ecological integrity.
References
- Issar, T. (2022). Critical analysis of India’s ecotourism strategy. devalt. https://devalt.org/newsletter/jul22/of_2.htm
- Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of I. (2022). National strategy for ecotourism 2022. PDF. https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-09/National%20Strategy%20for%20Ecotourism%202022.pdf
- Sathiyabama , R. (2019). Eco-Tourism in India: Issues, Challenges and Responses. JETIR. https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRBP06020.pdf
About the contributor: Anshu Saroha is a Bachelor of Arts student at the University of British Columbia and a research intern at the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI).
Acknowledgement: The author extends her sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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