Developing Stakeholder Based Ecotourism in Uttaranchal, India

Abstract

Ecotourism holds a great potential for conservation of fragile mountain ecology in the Himalayan State of Uttaranchal and can provide a fresh paradigm for development to the local communities. The scenic landscape, snow clad peaks and high altitude lakes, endemic flora and fauna, unique customs and practices, mythology and history and hospitable local communities, fetch Uttaranchal a hitherto untapped opportunity. Informed involvement of stakeholders is necessary to ensure wide-base sustainable ecotourism. Stakeholder participation can substantially augment the infrastructure for ecotourism, sharing the burden of the government. Creation of stakeholders, equipping them with the required skills, networking them, supporting the initiatives taken by them and emphasizing the conservation and development linkages, are important issues in developing stakeholder based ecotourism in Uttaranchal.