High tide

In recent years eco tourism 8212; a participatory approach to tourism where the end beneficiaries are the local inhabitants 8212; has caught on in the region. The essence of the new concept is about not just getting a glimpse of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. Rather, it involves a gamut of activities.

With the state government and locals joining hands to promote the concept, the Sunderbans has been flooded with tourists, both domestic and overseas. Tour operators say they have been conducting routine trips for tourists from states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and from the south.

8220;Certainly, there has been an overall increase in the bulk of tourists but what is interesting is that even the profile of tourists has changed. They are more aware and keen to learn the nuances of conservation,8217;8217; says Asit Biswas, spokesperson for Help Tourism, Association for Conservation and Tourism.

The recently launched luxury cruiseliner by Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd is a case in point. Targeted at the upper end tourists, the cruiseliner is a one of its kind partnership between the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and Vivada.

What8217;s also interesting is how tourism in the Sunderbans, once dominated by the riverine routes, has now made considerable inroads into the land. Tourism organisations have made camps on the islands where tourists can halt for the night.

But there is a word of caution from experts. 8220;Eco tourism is always a welcome concept. The interaction with villagers and a first-hand experience of nature will help in inculcating the importance of conservation. But one cannot rule out the fact that tourism beyond an optimal level can be detrimental for the environment,8217;8217; says Colonel SR Banerjee, former Director, WWF.

8220;Motorboats carrying tourists tend to be overloaded with loudspeakers blaring8212; an absolute nuisance,8217;8217; says Dipak Mitra, director of the Calcutta Snake Garden that has a conservation tourism centre at the Sunderbans. 8220;Moreover, eco tourism is a symbiotic concept where the local people are the shareholders. But what we see is an abuse of the concept. Barring a few exceptions, what we see is a consumeristic approach with the benefits not reaching the locals,8217;8217; adds Mitra.

What every one agrees on is that the forest department8217;s decision to recruit local people as authorised guides was a wise one. Now, all tour parties have to take along a guide who will brief the tourists about the dos and the don8217;ts. The guides help in familiarising the tourists with the local species of the flora and fauna.

Biswas calls for a mandatory protocol that should be introduced by the state forest department. 8220;There should be regular on-site evaluations and certifications for the tour operators and hoteliers. They have to undertake to channelise their profits for community development,8217;8217; he adds.