Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

Annual number of tourists to be regulated.
Seasonal / daily closure of PAs for tourism activities to be
mandatory.
No commercial establishments to be allowed inside (hotels,
curio- shops, shacks, etc.)
No private tourist vehicles to be allowed inside.
c. Need for site-specific tourism guidelines
The state governments shou Id bring out guidelines for tourism that are sitespecific.
This is because the form and quantum of tourism that occurs in
different regions is distinct and needs to be addressed on the basis of these
distinctions. Especially tourism in PAs, which requires identification of the
ecosystems where it is occurring, the specific conservational needs of the
ecosystems, the indigenous and local communities involved the PAs and
their specific needs, and finally the kind of development that is happening
or being proposed to happen in and around the PAs.
d. Tourism and GATS
The commitment on the GATS challenges the concept of sustainable
development and more importantly the ability of framing tourism policies
that reflect local specificities. The present method of the Commerce
ministry deciding Indian commitments in the GATS without active
consultations with the MoEF needs to change if other commitments in fora
like the CBD have to be honoured.
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69 Ni/agiris : Fading Glory