Ecotourism has the potential to promote sustainable development in Similipal Tiger Reserve. While tourist numbers and revenues have increased with ecotourism programs, tiger populations and wildlife sightings remain low compared to other reserves. To further support sustainable development, efforts should focus on conservation to increase prey animals and enrich habitats. Expanding ecotourism activities and integrating local communities by training them in tourism jobs could boost revenues and livelihoods while protecting the forest. Striking a balance between these factors is key to achieving long-term sustainability.

1. DEPARTMENT OF
ECONOMICS & POLITICS
Role of
ECOTOURISM in
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
By
1. Debdip Dutta (BA SEM-IV)
2. Tasmita Sengupta (BA SEM-IV)
3. Saptarshee Mandal (BA SEM-IV)
A CASE STUDY ON
SIMILIPAL TIGER RESERVE
• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• ECOTOURISM
• STUDY ON SIMILIPAL TIGER
RESERVE

2. What is Sustainable development?
Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the
Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States
in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the
planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by
2030.
The 17 SDGs are integrated—that is, they recognize that action in
one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development
must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

3. What is Tourism?
Tourism, the act and process of spending time away from
home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure,
while making use of the commercial provision of services.
Tourism sector is an economic powerhouse and is a
potential tool for development. Not only does the tourism
sector spearhead growth, it also improves the quality of
people’s live with large scale employment of diverse kind. It
supports environmental protection, protects culture and
heritage and strengthen peace in the world.

4. 52%
48%
Contribution of Tourism to the
Employment
Other
Sectors
Tourism
4.5 4.9
5.6 6.0 6.1
2015 2018 20192016 2017
In Millions
Foreign Tourist Arrivals
In India
Statistics
Source: CSO, Ministry of Tourism,
Govt of India
Source: Ministry of Tourism

5. Tourism
Sustainable
Tourism
Socio-Cultural
Tourism
Adventure
Tourism
Ecotourism
Unsustainable
Tourism
Mass Tourism
Mass Tourism- Mass tourism is a form of tourism that
involves tens of thousands of people going to the same
destination often at the same time of year.
Different types of Tourism

6. Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of
all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure
wide participation and consensus building.
Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist
satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising
their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable
tourism practices amongst them.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas
that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local
people, and involves interpretation and education.”

7. Ecotourism in India
The concept of ecological sustainability subsumes the environmental carrying
capacity of a given area. The general principal of ecotourism guiding the
initiatives of the Ministry are as under:
1. The local community should be involved leading to the overall economic
development of the area.
2. The likely conflicts between resource use for eco-tourism and the livelihood
of local inhabitants should be identified and attempts made to minimize the
same The type and scale of eco-tourism development should be compatible
with the environment and socio-cultural characteristics of the local
community, and
3. It should be planned as a part of the overall area development strategy,
guided by an integrated land-use plan avoiding inter-sectoral conflicts and
ensuring sectoral integration, associated with commensurate expansion of
public services.

8. Similipal Tiger Reserve
Mayurbhanj District, Orissa

9. Similipal Biosphere Reserve
The vegetation is a mix of different forest types and habitats, with
Northern tropical moist deciduous dominating some semi-
evergreen patches. Sal is the dominant tree species here. The park
also has extensive grasslands that are grazing grounds for many of
the herbivores.
The park holds the highest tiger population in the state of Orissa.
About 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of
reptiles, 21 species of frogs, 38 species of fish and 164 species of
butterflies have been recorded from the Park.
Core Area
845 sq Km
Buffer Area
1284 sq Km
Transitional Area
2595 sq Km
SOURCE: Forest Department,
Govt of Orissa

10. Number of villages in Similipal Tiger Reserve
Core Area
Buffer Area
Transitional Area
4 Villages
61 Villages
1200 Villages (Population of 4.5 Lakhs)
•The tribals constitute about 73% of this population. The forests
and the biodiversity resources to a great extent sustain the
livelihood of these people.
•Around 20 per cent of forest land within the biosphere reserve
has been reported encroached by local people for agriculture
activities since 1995.(Vasundhara, 2006)
•The livestock population in the core area has also been
increased around three times since 1991 (Rath and Sutar, 2004;
Rout, 2008).
SOURCE: Govt of Orissa

12. Ecological Vulnerability
The ecological vulnerability is only from the current living styles and
dependence of people on Similipal. About 4.5lakhs people constitute the
80,000 families who live within or close to Similipal, and about 50% of them
earn a part of or the complete livelihood from Similipal.
The loss of diversity due to collection of small timber and fire-wood; the loss
of diversity due to 'Fire.‘
The loss of diversity due to Poaching. "Akhand Shikar" is considered to be
one singular custom that results in large-scale killing of wild animals.

13. Tourism spots
•Baherapani Falls
•Joranda Falls
•Nawana Falls
•Chahala
•Gurguria
Tourism route inside
the reserve is 170 km.

14. 28600
28800
29000
29200
29400
29600
29800
30000
30200
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Tourist
Population of Tourists
There is an increase in population of tourist after the introduction
of ecotourism concept from 2016. New facilities like night stay, local food,
and proper amenities inside the forest increased tourist flow.
SOURCE: Orissa Post

15. 0
2000000
4000000
6000000
8000000
10000000
12000000
14000000
16000000
18000000
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Revenue
Revenue
The eco-tourism programmes implemented by the Orissa Government
has proved to be rewarding.
With around 4,200 visitors making night stay in the nature camps, the
revenue collection of Similipal nature camps touched Rs 1.3 crore by the
end of January. The camps had recorded inflow of 5,000 tourists and the
combined revenue was Rs 1.7 crore in 2018-19.
SOURCE: Indian Express,
Orissa Post

16. ECOTOURISM CAMPS
Community Development
Ecotourism & Conservation training
Green shops for
forest products.

17. Conservation of Tiger
0
10
20
30
40
50
2006 2010 2014 2018
Tiger Population in Orissa
Tiger Population
But despite of the efforts there is a decrease in tiger population within the
state. As a result sighting a tiger in Similipal is like finding a needle in
haystack.
There is also a low density of herbivores along the tourism route of the
reserve.
This results in lower tourist inflow compared to Corbett, Bandhavgarh or
Ranthambore tiger reserve.
SOURCE: Project Tiger

18. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Bandhavgarh Corbett Similipal
Revenue collection 2018-19
Revenue (in
Crores)
8
27
1.7
Compared to other Tiger reserves, Similipal Tiger Reserve is much larger
but there is a lack of tourism than many of the national parks.
Animal density is much less compared to other reserves.
As a result the revenue generated is not much, for sustaining the
livelihood of the village people inside SBR through ecotourism.
SOURCE: Orissa
Post, Times of India

19. CONCLUSION
1. More efforts should be made in conservation of the big cats, which
can be achieved through increasing herbivore density through
breeding programmes.
2. Animal enrichments like Salt pit and water pond along the tourism
route may increase animal sightings and may increase tourist interest
to visit the reserve.
3. More zones in buffer area should be introduced for tourism to
increase revenue.
4. Introduction of adventure sports in the nature camps may increase
revenue.
5. Introduction of river rafting, trekking and elephant safari may add to
tourist inflow.
6. Local people of villages must be trained to manage the ecotourism
inside STR providing them with sustainable livelihood and also
conserving the forest.
7. Villages in core area should be rehabilitated to transition area. The
people of the villages should be given jobs in tourism & conservation.
8. Lastly maintaining the balance between tourism, local community and
the forest with the combined effort of government, local people,
forest management and visitors is important for achieving sustainable
development.

20. Thank you