ECO-TOURISM POLICY : HIGHLIGHTS
The
Policy as a concept provides for:
Ø
Nature
enjoyment & culture appreciation opportunities to the visitors to the state
Ø
Ecological
and cultural sensitivity & sustainability
Ø
Involvement
of local communities and supporting their livelihood needs by creating their
direct stake in conservation of local culture, ecology and environment
so as
to conserve the rich cultural and ecological heritage of the state, so that
various benefits from this conservation endeavour, including the benefits by way
of tourism, could continue to accrue to generations to follow.
Main Objectives of
the Policy are:
¨
To
provide nature enjoyment & education opportunities to the tourists
¨
To minimize negative impacts of tourism and promote conservation and the
socio-economic development of the region.
¨
To enable
local communities in managing eco-tourism for optimum economic benefits to them
¨
To
develop organizational and infrastructure facilities for eco-tourism and build
capacity of the eco-tourism managers
¨
To
generate revenue for the state
Implementation
Strategy:
v
Well
defined Eco-treks to be identified
v
Existing
SFD assets viz. FRH/ IH/ Bridle paths along the identified eco-treks to be used
v
Use
of SFD assets to be made available to Eco-tourism Societies under an MoU
v
SFD
staff incharge of assets to facilitate the programme
v
Societies
to raise funds through levying & collecting fees/ projects/ loans/ grants/
trusts etc. for the purpose
v
Capacity
building of staff and stake holders
H.P. Forest Department would
act as facilitator for implementation of the Policy. A Core Group on Eco-tourism has already been formed in the
department and an Eco-tourism Cell created.
An Eco-tourism Advisory
Committee for policy issues has been proposed to be set up under the
chairmanship of Secretary (Forests) to the Govt. of H.P.
Implementation of the programmes under this Policy are proposed to be through Registered Eco-tourism Societies at Nature Park/ Eco-trek level.
