Environmental Auditing in Ecotourism : A Study on Visitors' Management in Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, M.P. (India)

Abstract

This paper is based on a study carried out in Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal (M.P.) for the assessment of the awareness about and implementation of the rules, regulations and guidelines with respect to the impacts of the ecotourism in the Park. The paper analyses primary and secondary data on the socio-economic visitations and ecological parameters collected through the "Ecotourism Auditing Survey". The data concerning environmental standards in respect of ambient air quality and noise observed and collected by using High Volume Sampler and Noise Meter with the help of Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Bhopal have been analysed and discussed. Information relating to tourist demographics and perception collected through a bilingual survey format and information related to the perception of forest staff about the ecotourism collected through structured schedule and personal discussions were triangulated. This study assesses the impacts of the implementation of the operational guidelines and suggests measures for better visitors' management in Van Vihar National Park, which may be replicated in other ecotourism areas also.