Ecotourism and Manipur

Travel is good for the soul. It expands the mind-and our hearts. And it helps us realiise life’s most important purpose, which is to love and respect everyone around us and make the world a better place for human and animals. But every time we pack our bags and jet off for a new adventure, we have a footprint behind. This footprint is made up of their emissions from each mode of transport used, as well as other resources acquired to help us have an enjoyable time.Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveller to provide funds for ecological conservation to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities or to foster respect for different cultures and human rights. Since 1980s, ecotourism has been considered a critical endeavor by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively untouched by human intervention. Ecotourism may focus on educating travellers on local environments and natural surroundings with an eye to ecological conservation. Some include in the definition of ecotourism the effort to produce economic opportunities that make conservation of natural resources financially possible.
Generally, ecotourism deals with interaction with biotic components of the natural environments. Ecotourism focuses on socially responsible travel to destinations where flora and fauna and cultural heritage are primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists an insight into the impact of human beings on the environment and foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats. Ecotourism aims at minimal environmental impact on the areas visited. Besides fostering respect towards the natural environment, ecotourism also helps in creating socio-economic benefits for the communities of the area visited. Responsible ecotourism programs include those that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling energy efficiency, water conservation and creation of economic opportunities for local communities. For these reasons, ecotourism often appeals to advocates of environmental and social responsibility. Many consider the term’ ’ecotourism’’ like ‘’sustainable tourism’’ (which is a related concept but broader), an oxymoron. Accordingly, the overall effect of sustainable tourism is negative where like ecotourism philanthropic aspirations mask hard-nosed immediate self-interest.
Ecotourism is important because companies and individual who abide by the core principles and priorities ecology and education within their travel habits help to benefit local people and the world as a whole. Traditional tourism can place a huge strain on destinations, because itincreases the number of people who are active in that location and who are reliant on its resources. At the same time, it can encourage the destruction of natural world, as business strives to keep up ever-increasing levels of demand. Ecotourism can take many different forms, but few of them are: Mutually Beneficial Community development Trips; Eco Lodging and Low Impact Accommodation; Eco Trekking and Activity-based Ecotourism etc.
The state of Manipur is a tiny land-locked hilly region covering an area of 22,327 sq.km and having six valley districts as well as ten hill districts with a population of approximately 30 lakhs. Manipur Eco-tourism was deep rooted since the pre-historic period. During the time of Luwang Ningthou Punshiba the ‘Cheirao-ching’ of the Langol sacred hill ranges as the first traditional eco-tourism centre. Since then various eco-tourism centers has been established in different parts of the kingdom. Some of the important traditional eco-tourism centers are Nongmaiching-Ching, Kroubu-Ching, Thangjing-Ching, etc. It signifies for aesthetic, good health and longevity of life by preserving the ecological balance of the earth. The modern trend of growth of eco-tourism in the State was come up only when the Tourism Department of Manipur came. The Tourism Department of Manipur aims at to generate economic surplus without causing irreparable damage to the environment, conflict to the individuals, sentiments and ethos of the host population to ensure the lasting development of tourism industry in Manipur while protecting the fragile ecology of the State. Tourism sector plays a vital role in creating employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas leading towards sustainable livelihood generation systems and cohesiveness between various cultural as well as racial groups. Cutting across the social strata, this industry benefits with parity and empowers the have not. The State Government of Manipur had declared Tourism as an industry for taking novel measures for the development of tourism related sectors. Natural sites, wildlife& gardens sites, Cultural sites, Lakes sites Archeological sites, Adventure sites and waterfall sites is the specialty in Eco Tourism of Manipur. Development of Tourism with the help of Eco Tourism of the State will help in development of Manipur Tourism.Potential benefits given by the ecotourism in Manipur are enormous. Manipur, the land of jewel is famous for its salubrious climate, exotic greenery, rich flora, the wildlife sanctuaries and floating Nation park of the state, the treasure houses given a huge potential economic resource for generating income in nature scenic tourist spots, rich culture and ethnic heritage because of its natural assets, ethnic diversity and the societal ethos of hosts, tourism holds high potential of the state.Benefits of Ecotourism in Manipur could be : Helps to diversity the local economy, employment directly in the tourism sector and in support management sectors; Generates foreign exchange for the country and injects capital and new money into the local economy ; Stimulates profitable domestic industries, hotels and other lodging facilities, restaurants and food services, transportation system, handicrafts and guide services; Generates foreign employment, directly in the tourism sector and in support and resource management sectors ; Improves road system and infrastructure that contributes to the entire destination can be justified and supported by the benefits from the tourism development; Increases tax revenues from tourism ; Natural Environment Benefits; Parks and natural preserves may be created and ecological preservation supported as a necessity for natural based tourism ;Increased awareness and concern for the environment can result from natural-based tourism activities. So Ecotourism in Manipur should be placed in the first priority of government policy.
The writer can be reached to:[email protected]