A report on

“CONCEPT OF ECO-TOURISM AND ECO-TOURISM

DESTINATIONS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR”

Submitted by

FEROZ AHMAD MIR

Roll No: 17BTT1004

Under the supervision of

MR. MOHD WASIF

PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR

THE AWARD OF

“BACHELORS OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT”

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA NEW DELHI-110025

Session: 2017-21
 Department of Tourism and Hospitality

Management Jamia Millia Islamia

New Delhi-110025

Certificate

This is to certify that the project report entitled “Concept of Eco-tourism and Eco-
tourism destinations in Jammu & Kashmir”, submitted to the Department of Tourism
and Hospitality Management, Jamia Millia Islamia, in partial fulfillment for the award of
the degree of Bachelor of Travel and Tourism Management, is a record of bona fide work
carried out by Mr Feroz Ahmad Mir Roll No. 17BTT1004, under my supervision and
guidance.

It is recommended that this project be placed before the examiner for evaluation.

(Signature of the Supervisor)

MR MOHD WASIF

Assistant Professor
Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, praises and thanks to God, the Almighty, for His showers of blessings
throughout my project work.

Throughout the writing of this project, I have received a great deal of support and assistance.

I express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my guide Mr. Mohd Wasif for his
exemplary guidance, monitoring, and constant encouragement throughout the course of this
project report. The blessing, help, and guidance given by him from time to time shall carry
me a long way in the journey of life on which I am about to embark.

I am obliged to Mr Firdous Shah and Mr Sameer Sultan for their constant support and
cooperation throughout the work.

Lastly, I thank my parents, friends, and siblings for their constant encouragement, without
which this project report would have never been possible.

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Abstract

The territory of Jammu and Kashmir with a geological zone of 222,236 km 2 is situated on the
northernmost piece of the Indian subcontinent in western Himalaya. The populace of the
State is 14.28 million. Out of this, 11.9% is the ancestral populace containing Gaddi,
Bakarwal, Gujjar, Brokpa, Changpa, Shina, and Balti clans. The State is honored with three
extraordinary scenes with plentiful normal resources. Jammu Province is a subtropical area
with ten authoritative areas, Kashmir Valley is a mild locale with ten managerial regions, and
trans-Himalayan Ladakh is a high elevation cold desert with two regulatory regions. The
height of the State differs from 300 to 7000 m. This variety of scenes and atmosphere is
reflected in the wide variety of the State's social and organic variety. The territory of Jammu
and Kashmir is perhaps the best endowment of nature on earth with the plenitude of verdant
valleys, high rising mountain tops, probably the greatest and longest icy masses, thick
woodlands, exceptionally gainful elevated fields, number of new and saline water lakes, a
great many transient winged creatures, rich untamed life, and uncommon snow panther,
grand regions, cascades, ethnic clans, and common craftsmanship and engineering of
verifiable structures. The State has a number of public parks, untamed life-safe-havens, and
wetlands, giving an occasion to the State to advance the eco-the travel industry. These regular
resources make Jammu and Kashmir State perhaps the best objective for the eco-the travel
industry on the planet. The travel industry is the vital area of Jammu and Kashmir's economy
and records for 6.98% of the State's GDP. In the paper, an attempt has been made to describe
the ecotourism destinations of the State using a methodology of primary and secondary data,
government sources, and a direct visit to the sites. Based on best practices, in the paper,
ecotourism policy and the vision to develop these destinations have been discussed.

Keywords: Eco-Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir, Himalaya

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Contents
Objective……………………………………………………………..………….6
Methodology ……………………………………………..………………....... 6
Study Area……...…………………………………………………….……….6-7
Chapter-1
1.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………..8
1.2 Ecotourism: The Principles behind It………………………………8-9
1.3 Concept of ecotourism……………………………………………….9
1.4 Benefits & reasons why ecotourism is growing……………………10
1.5 Ecotourism v/s conventional(mass) tourism………………………..10
1.6 Definitions of ecotourism………………………………………..11-12
Chapter-2
Review of literature………………………………………………….13-15
Chapter-3
3.1 Ecotourism in India…………………………………………………16
3.2 Approaches of ecotourism in India……………………………..16-17
Chapter-4
4.1 Tourism in J&K…………………………………………………….18
4.2 Important tourist destinations of Kashmir………………………….19
4.3 Why ecotourism in Kashmir………………………………………..20
4.4 Discourse on sustainable development of ecotourism in Kashmir…20
4.5 Various aspects of ecotourism in Kashmir…………………………21
4.6 tourism & ecotourism policy initiatives in J&K………………..22-24
Chapter-5
5.1 Ecotourism destinations of Jammu……………………………..25-26
5.2 Ecotourism destinations of Kashmir……………………………27-29
5.3 Ecotourism destinations of Ladakh……………………………..29-31
Chapter-6
Conclusion………………………………………………………………32
References…..…………………………………………………………………33

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Objective

The main objective of this project is to understand the concept of Ecotourism and the main
ecotourism destinations in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The State of Jammu and Kashmir
is often referred to as "Paradise on Earth" due to the outstanding beauty, lush green meadows,
snow-clad mountains, freshwater streams, and much more. Every year thousands and lakhs of
tourists from all over the world visit the destination for leisure, pleasure and to witness the
beauty of paradise. The growth in tourism often leads towards the depletion of the
environment and hence resources. Thus the concept of Ecotourism is much more beneficial as
it helps to preserve the resources and also helps in employment generation of the local
people. The project aims to deliver information about various ecotourism destinations of
Jammu & Kashmir.

Methodology

The project work is purely based on secondary data. The facts, figures, and information have
been gathered from several papers, books, and surveys conducted from time to time in the
State of Jammu & Kashmir. The required data and information has also been collected from
various literature, books, magazines, review articles, the internet, etc.

Study area

The main study area is the state of Jammu and Kashmir in particular. The state is enriched
with a lot of resources and high potential of tourism being called as “Paradise on Earth”. The
project is based on the eco-tourism in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K) has a greater potential to become one of the best tourism destinations in the world
with its geographic location, mesmerizing scenery, unending attractions and virgin valleys.
This state truly has been a perfect destination for ecotourism. Ecotourism being a product of
tourism is intended as a low-impact alternative to conventional mass tourism which leaves
behind a less negative impact on the environment, increase the level of education and
activism among travellers, making them more enthusiastic and effective agents of
conservation and serve as a viable mean of economic development for local communities. In
other words, ecotourism is a mixture of conventional tourism with a twist of conservation
and sustainable development.

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 In J&K Ecotourism operations occasionally fail to live up to conservation ideals.
Irrespective of many efforts made by the stakeholders of ecotourism development to
sustainably develop ecotourism projects keeping in view the natural and cultural
preservation, the mass tourism brought many negative impacts beside the significant positive
impacts on local environment.

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 Chapter-1

1.1 Introduction

Tourism is considered an important industry in the State of Jammu and Kashmir in general
and the Valley of Kashmir in particular. Though the State's economy is largely dependent on
agriculture and horticulture, tourism is still considered as the backbone of the economy as it
generates large scale employment opportunities. The industry has generated a large number
of jobs; particularly, it has benefitted the younger generation. Boosting the economic
activities in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors in the State, tourism has continued to
play a vital role in the economy of the State. The Valley of Kashmir witnessed a huge rush of
tourists, especially during peak seasons, and every corner of Srinagar city is filled with high
movement of tourists. The movement of tourists has largely been restricted to the Golden
Triangle of Kashmir, i.e., Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg. The Government has started
earmarking other virgin destinations of Kashmir and established authorities for the
development of the same, but on the ground level, the scene is quite different. It is imperative
to assess the carrying capacity of tourist attractions, especially new and emerging
destinations, in order to minimize the negative impacts of tourism. Keeping in view these
considerations, the present work is an attempt to highlight the tourism potential of unexplored
areas in Jammu & Kashmir, which have immense potential for ecotourism development.

1.2 Ecotourism: The Principles behind It

TIES highlights some principles associated with what Ecotourism stands for: more than
minimizing physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts, Ecotourism is also about
building a culture of environmental respect and protection while providing positive
experiences to visitors and hosts. On the host's side, an ecotourism mindset is one generating
value for local people and the industry, and they should help deliver remarkable experiences
to visitors while raising their sensitivity to local environmental, political, or social issues.

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 1.3 Concept of Ecotourism

According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Ecotourism can be defined as

"responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of
the local people and involves interpretation and education". Such traveling can be created
thanks to an international network of individuals, institutions, and the tourism industry where
tourists and tourism professionals are educated on ecological issues.

At the same time, the Australian National Ecotourism defines Ecotourism as "ecologically
sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster
environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation."

The term ecotourism emerged in the late 1980s as a direct result of the world‟s
acknowledgment and reaction to sustainable practices and global ecological practices. In
these instances, the natural-based element of holiday activities together with the increased
awareness to minimize the „antagonistic‟ impacts of tourism on the environment (which is the
boundless consumption of environmental resources) contributed to the demand for
ecotourism holidays. This demand was also boosted by concrete evidence that consumers had
shifted away from mass tourism towards experiences that were more individualistic and
enriching. In addition, these experiences were claimed to be associated with a general search
for the natural component during holidays (Kusler, 1991a, b; Hvenegaard, 1994; Dowling,
1996). Generally speaking, the grounds in which Ecotourism operates are associated with the
alternative forms of tourism or special interest travel and the tourism products generated from
these segments. Here, the concern which emerged was that although Ecotourism generated a
large volume of demand both from the consumers and the stakeholders, it became subject to
claims that it was a new form of mass tourism. Looking at the evidence of this claim, the
literature on Ecotourism is divided into two broad schools of thought (Jaakson, 1997;
Diamantis, 1998a):

 Firstly, the location case-studies raising issues concerning the impacts of Ecotourism; and
 Secondly, the thematic studies illustrating issues regarding planning and development, where
case studies are focused on methodological issues. In both instances, there were a few
concrete studies evaluating the definitional perspective of Ecotourism.

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 1.4 The Benefits and Reasons Why Ecotourism Has Been Growing

Among the reasons that help understand why Ecotourism has been growing are:

 It is easier to access remote ecotourism destination nowadays thanks to cheap flights and
accessible infrastructures;

 Many people are not happy or feel fulfilled with traditional tourism destinations and activities
– so there‟s a greater interest in challenging and more educative tourism;

 There is a greater awareness about the need to protect the environment and desire to
contribute towards this cause;

 Travelers wish to be perceived as different and eco-friendly;

 Ecotourism may help protect sensitive environment locations and raise awareness on local
environmental and social delicate issues;

 It may also generate income opportunities for local people.

1.5 Ecotourism vs. Conventional (Mass) Tourism: What’s the Difference?

 There is a greater chance of eco-tourists traveling to nature-surrounded sites compared to

mass tourists looking for plenty of distractions, cultural sites, and the busy life of large cities;

 Ecotourism usually means travelers make their own travel arrangements, while mass tourism
relies on a greater number of travel agents and tour operators;

 With mass tourism, the expectations are that there are many different services involved, while
in the ecotourism site, there are only a few, if any, services involved;

 Ecotourism activities are usually nature-related (such as hiking and exploring trails, bird
watching, or reef diving) and, therefore, tend to be more physically demanding whereas
typical tourism is more comfortable and less physical;

 Small groups and long-term stays are also common in ecotourism travelers, while mass
tourism often relies on large groups staying for short time periods.

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 1.6 Definitions of Ecotourism

 „Ecotourism is a form of tourism inspired primarily by the natural history of an area,

including its indigenous cultures. The Ecotourist visits relatively undeveloped areas in the
spirit of appreciation, participation, and sensitivity. The eco-tourist practices a non-
consumptive use of wildlife and natural resources and contributes to the visited area through
labor or financial means aimed at directly benefiting the conservation of the site and the
economic well-being of the local residents...' (Ziffer, 1989: 6)
 „Ecotourism is a nature tourism that contributes to conservation, through generating funds for
protected areas, creating employment opportunities for local communities, and offering
environmental education.‟ (Boo, 1991b: 4)
 'Nature-based tourism that is focused on the provision of learning opportunities while
providing local and regional benefits, while demonstrating environmental, social, cultural,
and economic sustainability' (Forestry Tasmania, 1994: ii)
 'Ecologically sustainable tourism in natural areas that interpret the local environment and
cultures furthers the tourists' understanding of them, fosters conservation, and adds to the
well-being of the local people.' (Richardson, 1993: 8)
 'Nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment
and is managed to be ecologically sustainable. This definition recognizes that natural
environment includes cultural components and that ecologically sustainable involves an
appropriate return to the local community and long-term conservation of the resource.'
(Australia Department of Tourism, 1994: 17)
 'Travel to remote or natural areas which aims to enhance understanding and appreciation of
the natural environment and cultural heritage, avoiding damage or deterioration of the
"environment and the experience for others".' (Figgis, 1993: 8)
 „Travel to enjoy the world‟s amazing diversity of natural life and human culture without
causing damage to either.‟ (Tickell, 1994: ix)
 'A responsible nature travel experience that contributes to the conservation of the ecosystem
while respecting the integrity of host communities and, where possible, ensuring that
activities are complementary, or at least compatible, with existing re- source-based uses
present at the ecosystem.‟ (Boyd & Butler, 1993: 13, 1996a: 386)
 „Ecotourism is a form of tourism which fosters environmental principles, with an emphasis
on visiting and observing natural areas‟. (Boyd & Butler, 1996b: 558)

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 'Low impact nature tourism which contributes to the maintenance of species and habitats
either directly through a contribution to conservation and/or indirectly by providing revenue
to the local community sufficient for local people, and therefore protects, their wildlife
heritage area as a source of income.' (Goodwin, 1996: 288)
 „Ecotourism is tourism and recreation that is both nature-based and sustainable.‟ (Lindberg &
McKercher, 1997: 67)
 „Responsible travel that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local
people‟. (Ecotourism Society in Orams, 1995a: 5)

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 Chapter-2

2.1 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Ecotourism, with the potential of being an important sustainable development tool, has been
growing rapidly over the last few decades. It plays a unique role in conserving natural areas,
benefiting local people and educating visitors about the value of a healthy environment and
biological diversity. However the global growth of ecotourism poses a significant threat to
cultural and biological diversity (Epler Wood, 2002).

Ecotourism, “a form of tourism involving socially responsible travel to fragile, serine, and
relatively undisturbed natural environment, intended as a low-impact alternative to
conventional mass tourism”, is usually entrusted with conservation and sustainable
development of the destination and accompanied cultural features. Tourism is a highly
complex activity and thus requires tools to assist in effective decision making to come to
terms with the competing economic, social, and environmental demands of sustainable
development (Fadahunsi, 2011).

Ecotourism came into existence as a result of increasing interest of consumers in developed

countries to explore and experience natural environment as an alternative to conventional
holidays, along with a desire to reduce the impact of their social activities on environment
(Weaver, 1998).

Ecotourism has been regarded a way of solving many of the environment and economy
related problems of underdeveloped nations. However, regardless of how socially and
environmentally responsible ecotourism may be in theory, in practice it is just another
version of conventional tourism (Wall, 1997).

If planned properly, ecotourism can accommodate conservation of biodiversity, promote

environmental consciousness and facilitate socio-economic development of local
communities However; poorly managed ecotourism can have critical negative effects
including extreme environmental degradation, negative cultural changes and decreased
community welfare (Mehmood and Fayyaz, 2017).

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According to Rome (1999) Ecotourism is one strategy for supporting conservation and
providing income for communities in and around protected areas. It can contribute to
economic development and conservation of protected areas, by generating revenues that can
be used to sustainably manage protected areas and providing local employment. However,
without careful planning and management that balance ecological, social, and economic
objectives, it may lead to environmental damage.

While ecotourism has a potential to create positive environmental and social impacts, it can
unfortunately be as damaging as mass tourism if not done properly. Typically located in
fragile and pristine ecosystems, ecotourism projects run the risk of destroying the very
environmental assets on which they depend. The loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitats,
production of waste and polluted effluents in areas that have little or no capacity to absorb
them are just some of the worries there are much more serious concerns to arise (Wood,
2002).

The construction of accommodation, visitor centers, infrastructure, and other services has a
direct impact on the environment in the form of clearing vegetation, animal disturbance,
habitat destruction, impacts on drainage etc. Animal behavior may be significantly changed
(travel routes, breeding areas, nesting grounds etc.) by all kinds of tourist activities.
Transportation may have direct negative impacts on the environment including vegetation
removal, air pollution, noise pollution causing animal disturbance (Kiper, 2013).

Similarly, tourism activities generally can create various negative impacts on the
surrounding environment. Increased human interference in ecologically fragile areas can
cause irreversible change in the existing ecological processes. These problems can be
reflected in degrading natural resources, changing vegetation structure and decreasing size
of the habitat patch, increasing deforestation and decreasing upstream water flow
(Queenland, 2002).

According to Tuohino and Hynonen (2001), ecotourism activities in themselves are

environmental issues because they can disturb flora and fauna. Even harmless ecotourism
activities such as nature hikes and wildlife viewing can be ecologically destructive leading
to scaring away animals, disrupt their feeding and nesting sites, acuminate them to the
presence of people. Wildlife-observation drives animals and birds off their reserves,
increasing the risk of inbreeding, thus endangering the species.

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Agreeing to Kiper and Saglam (2011), ecotourism activities which are not performed
according to the intended purpose, principles and the characteristics cause destruction of
environment, economy and socio-cultural fields especially in sensitive ecosystems like
natural and cultural areas. Thus, in order to provide sustainability in the ecotourism, it is
necessary to know environmental, social and economic effects of ecotourism activities and to
keep them in mind during planning and implementation.

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 Chapter-3

3.1 Ecotourism in India

There are plenty of ecotourism success stories in India. The famous Ranthambore project in
the tiger area in Rajasthan, the Jim Corbett National Park, Susan Gir Lion Park, Gujarat,
houseboat cruises in Kerala are only some examples of Ecotourism. Once these projects and
places are brought to mind, it becomes obvious that there is nothing new in Ecotourism, as
the concepts of tourism have already been integrated with the principles of environmental
management, and such practices are in vogue in all parts of India.

In some sense, Ecotourism is a western concept of putting the "old wine in a new bottle" as it
is not new or unique for countries like India, where ecological balance is a way of life for a
large section of its population. The following is a modern example.

The administration of the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli
is committed to the promotion of tourism, with the highest priority being the preservation of
the fragile ecology and environment of these Union Territories. Special emphasis is given to
protect and preserve marine ecology, the coastal ecosystem in Daman and Diu, and flora and
fauna in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Construction activities have been
regulated on the coastal zone to achieve this aim in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu,
and eco-friendly tourism activities have been encouraged in the forest dominated by the
Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. A number of tourist resorts have also been
developed by the administration in both the Union Territories. Due emphasis and recognition
have been given to the collaborative arrangements with private agencies in providing these
facilities. The increasing number of tourists to these two areas are finding the scenic and
beautiful layout of these resorts in the coastal and lush green forest surroundings very
attractive and enjoyable.

3.2 Approaches to Ecotourism in India

Environmental conservation, which is the philosophy behind Ecotourism, is deeply set in

the minds of the common Indian.

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As per the Hindu religious scriptures, one is expected to follow certain rules, or Dharma,
regarding sanctity to be maintained in hills, sanctuaries, water bodies, villages, and
marketplaces. By and large, these are followed in rural and tribal settlements.

With growing urbanization and industrialization, coupled with increased pressure on natural
resources due to the population explosion, and the State has the responsibility to make
available water and food grains, and other essential commodities in the markets, it has
become imperative to involve citizens in natural resource management. Environmental
management is not only the responsibility of the State but also a duty of each and every
citizen.

The Government of India has decided to involve citizens in environmental management. As

a part of this campaign, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks where people can cohabit
with other living things and learn about environmental management are being established in
all parts of India. More and more Marine National Parks, Bird Sanctuaries, and Biosphere
Reserves are contemplated, not only as a conservation measure but also to inculcate a sense
of compassion for flora and fauna. Nature interpretation centers are in vogue in all parts of
the country. Floating accommodation in the form of houseboats prevalent in Dal Lake,
Kashmir, and the backwaters of Aleppo, Kerala, are famous throughout the world. This type
of accommodation brings tourists close to nature. This kind of informal education will go a
long way in promoting Ecotourism in India, a country where financial and other resources
are limited.

Trekking tours are being organized by not only the private tour operators but also by the
state-run corporations and other bodies. Similarly, skiing, rowing, and other water sports are
being organized by the State to promote "soft" adventure tourism in the country.

Major sections of the society (urban, rural, students, employees, workers, employers) are
encouraged to undertake tours in different parts of India. The Government, academic
institutions, and private sector provide funds or concessions for this purpose, with the
objective of better binding the country's multiethnic, metalinguistic, and multicultural people
together while helping them to understand their country better and appreciate each other‟s
problems.

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 Chapter-4

4.1 Tourism in Jammu & Kashmir

The State of Jammu and Kashmir has the latitudinal extent of 32º 17'North to 37º 6' North and a
longitudinal extent of 73º 26' East to 80º 30' East. J & K is divided into three divisions - Jammu,
Kashmir, and Ladakh and all the three divisions have immense potential for tourism, but
Kashmir Valley is the most important in terms of tourism. Kashmir is famous for its unique
beauty and natural scenery throughout the world. It is a multi-faceted diamond, changing its
hues with four seasons, always extravagantly beautiful. Kashmir is surrounded by two
Himalayan Ranges- the Great Himalayan Range from the North and the Pir Panjal from the
south. They are the source of great rivers, which flow down into the beautiful valleys, forested
with orchards and decorated amazingly by lily-laden lakes. Its high snow-clad Himalayan
mountains, scenic spots, beautiful valleys, exquisite pleasure Mughal gardens, hill stations,
rivers with ice-cold water, attractive lakes and springs, evergreen fields, dense forests, beautiful
health resorts, rich culture, and ageless grace of its architecture enhance its grandeur and are a
source of great attraction for tourists. People have written zillions of words to best describe the
beauty of Kashmir. However, the truth is that the power of words can never comprehend the
mysticism that this Valley possesses. The famous Mughal Emperor Jahangir, while describing
the beauty of Kashmir, said, "Agar Firdous Baroye Zameen Ast, Hami Ast, Hami Ast, Hami Ast"
which means "If there is heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here".

It is also widely known for its different kinds of agricultural products, fruit, vegetables, saffron,
herbs, minerals, precious stones, handicrafts like woolen carpets, shawls, and the finest kind of
embroidery on clothes. Pilgrimage to famous religious shrines of the Hindus and the Muslims
make Kashmir a great tourist attraction. Kashmir is blessed with breathtaking natural beauty,
great cultural heritage, and ecological diversity and is known as the 'Land of Sufis' because
Sufism has a great influence on its culture. Thus, Kashmir is truly regarded as 'PARADISE ON
EARTH' and is a famous tourist destination due to its socio-cultural and ecological diversity and
provides a lot of scope for Ecotourism.

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4.2 Important Tourist Destinations of Kashmir

• Pahalgam, known as 'Valley of Shepherds' ( Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, Amarnath Cave,
Chandanwari, Baisaran Lake, Tulian Lake, Sheshnag Lake, Katernag Lake), Achabal, Aharbal,
Daksum, Kokernag, and Verinag.

• Srinagar (Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake, Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden, Chashma Shahi, Tulip
Garden, Pari Mahal, Dachigam National Park, Zabarwan Park, Iqbal Park, Jhelum river,
Hazratbal Shrine, Jama Masjid, Shankaracharya Temple, SPS Museum, Royal Springs Golf
Course).

• Wular Lake, Mansbal Lake, Gulmarg (Meadow of Flowers), Sonamarg (Meadow of Gold),
Yusmarg, Tangmarg, Charari-Sharief, Baba Rishi, etc. Various adventurous and recreational
activities are done at various tourist destinations of Kashmir, e.g., River Rafting in Lidar river at
Pahalgam; Horse riding at Pahalgam; Golfing at Pahalgam and Srinagar; visiting of inner parts
of Dal Lake, Char Chinar (a small island in Dal Lake consisting of four Chinars) and Wular
Lake on Shikaras (the traditional boat of Kashmir); visiting different parts of Gulmarg on
Gandola, Skiing at Gulmarg and mountaineering at Gulmarg and Sonamarg.

• Jammu is also known as "the city of temples" has many attractions like Bahu Fort, Raghunath
Mandir, Mubarak Mandi, Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, Amar Mahal Palace. Patnitop is a
famous hill station which lies on the Srinagar-Jammu highway attracts a lot of tourists,
especially in the summers.

The following map highlights the famous tourist destinations of Jammu & Kashmir.

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4.3 Why Ecotourism in Kashmir?

Kashmir is blessed with a variety of natural beauty. The geography of Kashmir presents a
perfect blend of natural and cultural features with a visible effect on the lifestyle of the people
of the Valley. But due to greed and overflow of tourists at places like Dal Lake, lots of
problems like deforestation, air, water, and land pollution have taken place. Thus, in order to
protect the ecological and cultural beauty of Kashmir, it is necessary to flourish the
Ecotourism. Also, Kashmir possesses lots of undisturbed natural areas, which provide a lot of
scope for Ecotourism. It will also lead to the empowerment of local people who have suffered
a lot due to various political problems. So, it is the perfect time for the development of
Ecotourism in Kashmir, which can have a profound impact on all the spheres of life in the
Valley of Kashmir.

4.4 Discourse on Sustainable Development in Ecotourism in Kashmir

In the pace of development, sustainable development has been recognized as one of the
significant phenomena for achieving development goals without depleting the natural and
cultural resources or degrading the environment. Sustainable development forms the
legalizing base of Ecotourism, which is an important tool for sustainable development. The
concept of sustainability has become a mediating term in bridging the ideological and
political differences between the environmental and development lobbies, a bridge between
the fundamentally opposed paradigms of eco and anthropocentricism1. The increasing
importance of the concept of sustainable development has led tourism researchers to posit the
latest phase of tourism as rooted in the paradigm of sustainability (Macbeth 2005). It is an
important legitimizing concept of Ecotourism as Ecotourism claims to be the tool through
which all the promised goals of sustainable development are realizable. As sustainability is
based on three aspects, sustainable Ecotourism is also based on the balance of social,
economic, and ecological goals (Wight, 1993). Recognizing Ecotourism's potential role in
sustainable development, the United Nations declared 2002 the "International Year of Eco-
tourism". There is a close relationship between sustainable development and Ecotourism in
Kashmir as Kashmir is full of physical and cultural diversity but is also plagued by various
environmental, political, and social problems.

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Sustainable development in Ecotourism in Kashmir can lead to a reduction of the impact of
the overflow of tourists at certain places like Dal Lake and can help in the promotion of
adventure and nature tourism, which can result in the protection of the fragile environment. It
will lead to the empowerment of local people and raising awareness of the environmental,
political, and social issues of Kashmir. This idea will lead to the technological transformation
towards energy saving mechanisms, alternate and nonconventional systems for providing
comfort to tourists without bringing down the quality of life and can result in long term
planning for productive techniques and equitable distribution policies for the exploitation of
resources. Thus, sustainable development in Ecotourism in Kashmir can play an important
role in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and can act as an innovative
method for socio-economic, political, cultural, and aesthetic development of the Valley while
maintaining cultural integrity and ecological processes so that future generations can also get
benefitted by the tourism industry.

4.5 Various Aspects of Ecotourism in Kashmir

Ecotourism is one of the most important concepts at the present time where the world is
plagued by greed and greatly affected by the ill effects of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and
Globalisation (LPG Model). Resources are being exploited unscientifically in most places.
There is the unscientific harnessing of natural as well as human resources, which makes the
environment and people vulnerable to various adverse effects like environmental degradation,
floods, droughts, climate change, poverty, hunger, malnutrition, political and social tensions
worldwide. At the present time, there is 'development at the cost of displacement,' which
has resulted in the displacement of millions of indigenous people from their homes and
forced to live in camps where they face a shortage of food, clothing, shelter, and other basic
amenities. This has resulted in various environmental, social, economic, and political
problems in different places like India, Africa, Latin America, etc. This has resulted in the
emergence of various tribal and other movements. Many environmental, economic, and
socio-political problems have also arisen in Jammu & Kashmir due to unscientific tourism.
Thus, sustainable development is an important approach to overcome these problems, and
Ecotourism can play a significant role in this regard. Ecotourism has the potential to eradicate
numerous environmental, socio-economic, and political problems in Jammu & Kashmir if
applied properly.

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4.6 Tourism and eco-tourism policy initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir
Tourism is considered as the potential economic growth sector of the state and a backbone
of the state‟s economy which otherwise is mainly dependent on agricultural, horticultural
and livestock activities. Socio-political instability has prevailed in the state over the last
three decades which has been a setback to the state‟s tourism industry; nevertheless it has
witnessed a surge in the overall tourist arrivals during past few years. Despite tourism being
one of the potential contributors to the state‟s economy, the Government has failed to
formulate a comprehensive tourism policy in the state, a report published in The Indian
Express on March 18, 2017, said. It is obvious that in the absence of any concerted general
tourism policy in the state, a comprehensive and more specific ecotourism policy remains
only a dream.

No doubt the State Government has taken some initiatives towards formulating tourism
policy in general and ecotourism policy in specific, over the last few years, but these policy
documents or initiatives are still being called „draft documents‟ despite passing of many
years. The various policy steps that the State government has taken by and large are:

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 4.6.1 Formation of J&K Tourism Advisory Board:
The Government of J&K for the first time in 2015, constituted a 23 member Tourism
Advisory Board, chaired by the Chief Minister of the State with an array of experts from the
industry, government, and academia. The Board was re-constituted in 2017 vide the J&K
Government Order number 23 TSM of 2017 issued on 16.11.2017, and its membership was
extended to 36. Since its establishment the Board has met twice, first time in November
2015 and second time in May 2017. During its first meeting in 2015, the board raised a need
to expedite the process of formalizing a comprehensive tourism policy for the State (a draft
tourism policy was issued by the Department of Tourism in February 2015). According to a
report published in Kashmir News Services on May 29, 2017, the Tourism Advisory Board
in its second meeting in May, 2017 discussed the draft tourism policy and proposed to
further seek the suggestions and views of the stakeholders.

4.6.2 J&K Draft Tourism Policy:

The J&K Department of Tourism for the first time issued a draft tourism policy in 2015 on
its website (the draft tourism policy is available at
http://www.jktourism.org/images/new_dra ft_trsm_policy.pdf). It has set a vision to position
the state as a leading global tourism destination by 2025. The policy identifies various
strategies related to promotion, packaging and diversification of state‟s tourism product.
Though it proposes an institutional framework comprising of various committees, the
specificities of these committees are not explained. The policy, even after three and half
years of its release is still in a draft form and open to public for suggestions. It is high time
that the Government speeds up the process to formalize it.

4.6.3 Policies related to eco-tourism:

The State Government for the first time included ecotourism as a strategy in the J&K State
Forest Policy in 2010 with certain proposed actions (though it does not elaborate upon the
implementation of these actions). The State‟s Draft Tourism Policy of 2015 identifies
promotion of ecotourism as core tourism activity in the state supported by eco-friendly
infrastructure.
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In 2017, the State‟s Forest, Environment and Ecology Department, for the first time issued a
draft eco-tourism policy, inviting comments and suggestion from the stakeholders. The
policy though identified vision; objectives; strategies; management; and impact assessment
of ecotourism, it does elaborate upon an institutional framework for its implementation,
actual policy performance indicators (PIs); criteria for impact assessment; roles of different
committees; coordination among different departments and stakeholders etc. For ecotourism
to be properly implemented, ecotourism stakeholders are dependent on governments to
develop policies that will protect and manage natural resources (Megan E. W. 2002). Eco-
tourism though found a mention in various tourism related plans and policies of the state,
still there is lack of a robust eco-tourism policy in the state. In absence of such a policy,
tourism is being haphazardly developed with uncontrolled consequences on the environment
and the local communities.

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 Chapter-5
5.1 Ecotourism destinations of Jammu
 Gharana Wetland
Gharana is a small wetland reserve spanning an area of 0.75 km². It is about 35 km. South of
Jammu on the India-Pakistan border. In spite of its small size, it attracts a large number of
migratory waterfowl, including the Bar-headed Goose, Shoveller, Pintail, Common Teal,
White-throated Kingfisher, and Indian Moorhen, besides a host of other birds that are found
on the fringes of the wetland. The neighboring farmlands and rural settings also support other
birds adding to the avifaunal variety of the area.

 Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary

The Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary occupies an area of 10.54 km²; it was declared as Wildlife
Sanctuary in 1987 vide Government Order No: 151; dated: 19- 03-1987 and is under the
administrative and technical control of Wildlife Protection Department, Jammu & Kashmir.
The park is unique for the Jasrotia Rajputs who meet here once a year to celebrate their
historical past. The park has an undulating terrain and supports a simple diversity of flora and
fauna. There is a mixed variety of birds as well as animal life. The Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary
is dominated by bamboo besides a variety of other plants, including Dalbergia sissoo,
Acacias, and Lantana, amongst others. The Sanctuary is also home to a variety of mammals
like Chital, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, and Rhesus Macaques. The avifauna includes both
resident and migratory birds. The important species are peafowl, red jungle fowl, jungle bush
quail, green pigeon, blue rock pigeon, bulbuls, warblers, and ioras. The area also supports a
good number of butterflies, which include the Blue Pansy, Commander, Common Albatross,
Acacia Blue, Common Jezebel, Blue Tiger, Common Crow, Grassyellows, Indian Red
Admiral, Striped Tiger, Common Leopard, Yellow Pansy, and Common Map. The nearest
airport from Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary is in Jammu. The nearest railhead is also Jammu. The
Sanctuary is located at a distance of 75 km from Jammu towards East, off the National High
Way 1A.

 Surinsar and Mansar Wetlands

Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary derives its name from two lakes located at each corner of
the Sanctuary. It spans an area of 98 km² in the Shivalik Range of the Jammu Region and has
an altitudinal range of 547m to 834m above MSL.

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The area is located between 320 41/ 29// and 320 49/ 28// north latitude and 740 59/ 54// to
750 09/ 12// East longitude. The vegetation of the Sanctuary includes the mixed scrub forest,
which comprises mainly of broad leaved species which are mixed with stands of Pine. The
common broad-leaved species are Mallotus phillipensis, Acacia spp., and Dalbergia sissoo.
The Sanctuary is home to Goral, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Leopard, etc., and a host of birds
like flycatchers, pheasants, pigeons, and doves.

 Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Occupying an area of 31 km², the Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Jammu City along
the National Highway. Two major roads run through the park. Access to the Sanctuary is
very easy. It is the only protected forest area near Jammu City and is considered as the lung
of the city. The Sanctuary harbors Nilgai, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Macaque, etc.
The Sanctuary is also home to birds like the Indian Myna, Blue Rock Pigeon, Peafowl,
Golden Oriole, Rustycheeked Scimitar Babbler, White-cheeked Bulbul, etc. Butterflies like
the Great Orange Tip, Crimson Tip, Common Leopard, Pansies, Common Jezebel, etc., can
also be seen here.

 Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary is characterized by a stunning locale and varied topography. The
Sanctuary derives its name from Nandini village. The region is host to a large number of rare
and endangered species of mammals and birds. Much acclaim has been accorded to the
Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for its diversity of wildlife and best known for its
wonderful species of pheasants. Spread over an area of 34 km², the Sanctuary is rich in fauna
and provides refuge to a variety of mammals. The main species are Leopard, Wild Boar,
Rhesus Macaque, Bharal, Langur, etc. Like the Overa wildlife sanctuary, the Nandini, too, is
a habitat for a significant population of pheasants like the Peafowl, Red Jungle fowl, Chir
Pheasant, and Chukar. The nearest airport and railhead to Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary is in
Jammu, which is 26 km away.

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 5.2 Eco-tourism destinations of Kashmir
 Hokersar Wetland
Hokersar is 14 km north of Srinagar and is a world-class wetland spread over 13.75 km²,
including lake and marshy area. The reserve is fed by the perennial streams, namely
Doodhganaga and Sukhnag. The depth of the wetland is about 3 feet. It is the most accessible
and well-known of Kashmir's wetlands, which include Hygam and Shalbaug. A record
number of migratory birds have visited Hokersar in recent years. An estimated 4 lakh birds
have already been spotted at Hokersar in the current season.
Birds found in Hokersar include Brahminy Duck, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Garganey, Greylag
Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous
Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Eurasian Widgeon, and White-
breasted Kingfisher. Another wetland just about 10 km from Srinagar city is Shallbaug.
Unfortunately, the area is devoid of water presently. The breached bund is being constructed
for the sake of water storage. The Sindh River and Amir Khan Nallah are the main feeders to
the wetland. The wetland is likely to have many resident and migratory birds once the water
is stored. The birds found in the area are similar to that in Hokersar.

Dachigham National Park

Home of the endangered Hangul, this is the most visited protected area by wildlife lovers
visiting Srinagar. It lies 21 km from Srinagar city and has an area of about 141 sq. km. and it
is classified into wintering ground, i.e., Lower Dachigam, and summer ground, i.e., Upper
Dachigam. Dachigam National park is located among the high mountains of the mighty
western Himalayas. The variation in altitude is vast, ranging from 5500 ft to 14000 ft above
mean sea level. Due to this vast variation, the park is very clearly demarcated into an upper
and lower region. The terrain ranges from gently sloping grasslands to sharp rocky outcrops
and cliffs. Part of the park lies above the tree line, and this area displays its own kind of
natural beauty with bare rock mountains and crevices. It is significant in the sense that it is
the only area in the world where the last viable population of Kashmir Hangul (Cereus alphas
hangout) is in existence. Further, it is also providing protection to a unique galaxy of
Himalayan flora, and fauna paramount among these include the Kashmir Elm (Ulmus
wallichiana), which is a candidate for the IUCN Red Data Book of threatened Angiosperms,
the Musk Deer (Moschus Moschus chrysogaster), the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos isabellenus),
the Red Fox (Vulpus lupus), the Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis),

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the Leopard (Panthera pardus), and in avi-fauna, the Kashmir Flycatcher (Muscicapa
suburbia), the Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus), the Koklas (Pucrasia macrolopha),
the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysactos daphanea) and the Lammergeier (Gypactus barbatus
aureus) are noteworthy.
The mountainsides below the tree line are heavily wooded. Most of this coniferous forest
consists of broadleaf species. Interspersed between these are alpine pastures, meadows,
waterfalls, and scrub vegetation with deep gullies, locally known as Nars, running down the
mountain face. Most of the grasslands and meadows, except in the harsh winters, are covered
with brightly colored flowers. The wild trees of the park consist of Wild Cherry, Pear, Plum,
Peach, Apple, Apricot, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, Willow, Poplar, Chinar, Birch, Pine, and Elm.

 Overa – Aru Wildlife Sanctuary Overa –

Aru Wildlife Sanctuary has derived its name from the two hutment areas of Overa and Aru
falling in the lap of the Sanctuary and along the two famous snow melted fresh water and
perennial nallahs of “Overa” and „Lidder," which later form the eastern boundary of the
Sanctuary. The total area of the Sanctuary is 511 sq. km. Overa – Aru Wildlife Sanctuary –
Pahalgam (Anantnag) falls adjacent to the holy Shrine of Amarnath cave and Pahalgam hill
resort of Kashmir valley. This is, in some respect, an extension of Dachigam National Park
and hence shares a lot of the faunal diversity with that place.

 Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary

Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary is named after the world-famous resort "Gulmarg". It was
notified in 1987. The notified area of the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary is 139.25 square
kilometers. The area is encompassed within a moderate to steep mountainous range,
presenting a panoramic scenic beauty. It has many famous peaks within and overlooking the
entire landscape, including the magnificent "Affarwat Peak". The entire area drains through
the famous Ferozpora Nallah, which is joined by a number of small streams in its natural
course. Gulmarg is the "meadow of flowers," and, as such, the vegetation is very rich in
diversity in terms of natural coniferous forests, ornamental and aesthetically rich ground
flora. Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary presents the most congenial and suitable habitat for the
critically endangered species known as "Musk Deer" (Ver. Roose), Moschus moschiferus, a
Schedule – I protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act. Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary
also has a diverse endemic mammalian member.

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Besides this, Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary has a rich population of avifauna. It offers breeding
ground to several rare species of resident pheasants and a variety of summer migrants from
the Indian sub-continent, etc. The avifauna mainly comprises of Himalayan Monal, Common
Koklas, Himalayan Snowcock, Hoopoes, Woodpeckers, Crows, Nut-crackers, Bulbuls,
Flycatchers, Warblers, Chats, Thrushes, Dippers, Tits, Creepers, Wagtails, Sparrows, Pipits,
Owls, etc. The Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with a number of frozen lakes (Sars)
and glaciers, which happen to be invaluable sources of water, feeding numerous streams or
nallahs that flow down into the villages.

5.3 Eco-tourism destinations of Ladakh

Situated across the main Himalayan chain, Ladakh forms the bulk of the Indian Trans
Himalayas, a unique region distinguished by highly evolved and diverse life forms, including
a variety of aromatic and medicinal plants, several wild relatives of domesticated plants and
animals, and a charismatic mega-fauna, still preserved in its entirety unlike most other parts
of the world. Ladakh is a repository of vibrant traditions and indigenous knowledge that have
evolved in harmony with its natural wealth.

Situated in the State Jammu & Kashmir, between 32○ 15' - 36○ N and 75○ 15' - 80○ 15'
Ladakh forms the Northern most extension of the country, across the Great Himalayan range.
It is bounded by Tibet to the North and South East, the Kashmir Himalayas to the West and
the Lahul & Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh to the South Ladakh displays a very wide
range of altitudes, from 2800m in Kargil to the 7600m Saser Kangri peak in the Karakorum,
and extreme climatic conditions: Temperatures range from over 30 ○C in summer to less than
-40○C in winter, and the region receives very low precipitations, which decrease eastwards
from ca 250mm in Zanskar to less than 100mm in the Indus Valley and the Chang Tang
(South Eastern plains).

Ladakh spans over an area of 96700 square km lying athwart four major mountain ranges
which run in a general South East – North West direction and delimit Ladakh main
subregions:

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 • the Suru and Zanskar river valleys situated between the Great Himalayan Range,
which marks Ladakh Southern boundary, and the Zanskar Range to the North
• the Indus valley between the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges
• the Shyok and Nubra river valleys between the Ladakh range and the Karakorum,
which bounds Ladakh to the North In the South-Eastern part of Ladakh, the parallelism of
range and Valley dissolves in a complex of high altitude ridges and plateaux, many of them
forming enclosed basins dotted with lakes and wetlands. Known as the Chang Tang, this
region is considered an extension of the Tibetan Chang Tang (Northern Plains) into India
(Anon. 1997).

Administratively, Ladakh is subdivided into two Districts: Kargil comprising of the Zanskar
and Suru Valley region occupies 14036 km2 while the Leh District (Indus, Shyok & Nubra
valleys and ChangTang is spread over 82665 km (of which c. 37500 under Chinese
occupation) which makes it by far the largest district in the country.

 Hemis High Altitude National Park

Hemis High Altitude National Park (4100 sq. km.) is situated in the northernmost district of
Ladakh region of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The park has an altitudinal range
of 3,300 m at the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers in the northwest to the 6,400 m
Kang Yisay massif in the northeast. It was notified as a National Park on 4 February 1981
through Government Order No. FST/20. The name of the park was taken after Hemis Gompa,
a famous monastery situated about 40 km south-east of Leh, capital of Ladakh Autonomous
Council. It lies on the west bank of the Indus River and comprises the catchments of Markha,
Rumbak, and Sumdah nallahs. The park is potentially the best-protected area for snow
leopard (Uncia uncia) in India. The snow leopard is the most important large predator within
the Eurasian fauna of the mountains of central Ladakh, and the creation and expansion of this
park have been described by Jammu and Kashmir Government as a major step in a statewide
program for the protection of this endangered species. The lynx, wild dog, wolf, blue sheep,
urial, and Tibetan argali are also found in the park.

This beautiful lake spread over 120 sq. km. in the lap of Ladakh is known as the breeding
ground for rare birds as it enjoys the unpolluted atmosphere of Ladakh. It is located 225 km
south of Leh.

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Tourists come here from July to September to view the beautiful landscapes and equally
riveting birdlife that has few parallels across the world. The lake can be reached via
Chumatang village and also through the Manali Leh highway. Chumatang is a quaint village
with hot springs that, according to lore, contain various healing properties. To reach the lake
from Chumatang, guests travel from Debring and reach the lake after a strenuous drive, the
last part accentuated with a beautiful view of the lake from a distance and a precarious drive
through the lake‟s edge to the village camping place. Korzok, at around 4600 meters, is a
beautiful village that has to be sensitively developed if an effective ecotourism facility can be
provided to guests. The charm of the lake is its breathtaking clean waters and the amazing
array of wildlife that it supports. Birds and mammals that are found hold an amazing
opportunity to showcase the region as a wetland of unparalleled importance and develop it
accordingly. There is a growing threat that due to the slow rate of decomposition in these
heights, waste will be accumulated very soon and disrupt the region's biodiversity. Hence
care must be taken to reverse this trend.

 Pangong Tso
The beauty of Pangong Lake again is in the journey that is to be made from Leh to the lake
and back. The road passes through high passes and verdant pastures. The Chang-la, where the
Indian Army offers tea to tourists, has great potential to be developed as a stop during the
journey to Pangong Lake. The pass is 5475 MSL and commands a view of the entire Valley
on both sides of the pass. Tabuk houses an ancient temple and a convenient point for
relaxing. As guests reach the lake, they are held spellbound by the narrow strip of water that
extends for more than 130 km and is at an average altitude of 4200 meters. It is bisected by
the international border between India and China. Spangmik, the farthest point up to which
foreigners are permitted, is about 7 km along the southern shore from the head of the lake. It
presents a spectacular view of the mountains of the Chang-chenmo range to the North, their
reflections shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lake's brackish waters.
Above Spangmik are the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range.

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 Chapter-6
Conclusion

Ecotourism in Kashmir can act as an important factor for overall development of people and
environment, and provides lots of scope for further development. It needs to be understood
though the approach of sustainable development for the better future of Kashmiris and for
economic and political empowerment of people especially women who have suffered a lot
due to conflict. The political disturbance in Kashmir has affected the tourism industry badly
and there is a need to revive this industry so that the local people can get benefitted to live a
better life.

At present tourism industry appeared as a very competitive and promising sector. It is not
only that tourism sector earns foreign currency but also that it creates image of the country
and cultural diversification. The valley of Jammu & Kashmir has a huge potential for eco-
tourism and is paradise for nature lovers. The location, greenery, evergreen forest, mountains,
hills, valley streams, cultural heritage and rich bio-diversity provide a wide base for the
development of eco-tourism. It is a part of a unique eco-system with a distinct bio-diversity.
The valley with its ideal setting will surely capture the hearts and the minds of all visitors to
the region. In order to promote the natural tourism potential of Kashmir Valley, it is very
important to develop a set of objectives, which will encouraging visitors to the area and will
also simultaneously help in protecting and conserving the existing environment of the Valley.
For an overall sustainable development of Jammu & Kashmir as a variable tourist destination,
an integrated approach to tourism planning and conserving of the rich, natural eco-system is
required. Thus traditional tourism in terms of accommodation, accessibility, road network,
services and related marketing and economic development need to be combined and
integrated with a tourism development plan that primarily focuses on the preservation of the
existing Eco-System. Thus there is an urgent need to discover and setup new ways and means
through which negative impacts can be minimized and positive impacts can be strengthened
keeping the basic concept of ecotourism in mind. So it is concluded that if all these measures
are taken the tourism sector in Jammu & Kashmir would yield a positive result.

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References:
 Socio-Economic, Political And Ecological Aspects Of Ecotourism In Kashmir by
ISHFAQ HUSSAIN MALIK, (Research Scholar, Department of Geography Aligarh
Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India)
 Ecotourism: an adversity in itself with special reference to Jammu& Kashmir By
Naseer Ahmad Magray (Department of Tourism Management, Indira Gandhi National
Open University, Srinagar, Kashmir, India)
 Towards an ecotourism policy: global practices and the lessons for Jammu and
Kashmir By Mustafa Malik (College of Economics, Management and Information
Systems, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman)
 Prospects and Challenges of Ecotourism Development alongside Mughal Road in
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School of Life Sciences, Dr. B.R.A.University, Agra), Narendra Kumar (Assistant
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Asif (Research Scholar, Department of Forestry, School of Life Sciences Dr.
B.R.A.University, Agra)
 The Concept of Ecotourism: Evolution and Trends (Dimitrios Diamantis Les Roches
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001, India.
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Scholar), Dr. Ateeque Ahmed (Professor, Department of Geography )AMU, Aligarh,
India
 Weaver D. (1998) Ecotourism in the less developed world (pp. 64-78). Cab
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 Gartner W. C. (1996) Tourism Development: Principles, Processes, and Policies. Van
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