Uttarakhand moves toward responsible tourism by developing ecotourism spots

Uttarakhand has spotted five ecotourism circles and three ecotourism destinations, which will be developed by the state forest department in a bid to promote tourism in this region.

As per the department, this development is likely to be a game changer in conserving the environment and forest of this region. The spots identified for the said purpose have been typically clubbed as one identity, categorised on the basis of their proximity to each other and similarities in biodiversity.
As per the latest reports, the spots identified for eco-tourism circles include Yamuna Tons Valley, Tankapur-Champawat-Devidhura (Pithoragarh)-Nainital, Dehradun-Rishikesh-Tehri, and Ramnagar-Almora-Nainital. And the three ecotourism destinations that will be developed are Ramnagar, Ranikhet, and Dhanaulti.

However, officials said that school children, researchers, and environmentalists will be given top priority to visit these eco-tourism circles. Regarding this, Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat said that each destination and circle will be administered as per its ‘carrying capacity’, which means the number of tourists entering these spots will be limited. The minister also stated that carrying capacity will remain in focus to maintain quality tourism along with responsible tourists.

Also, as per the policy, locals living near the forests might also likely be roped in. They will be trained to guide visitors in bird watching, spotting plants etc.

Additional Secretary of Forest Department Dheeraj Pandey added that the objective of the policy is sustainable tourism, giving back to nature and allowing local communities to benefit. There are also plans to develop the old trek routes to give tourists an essence of life inside forests.