By IANS,
New Delhi : The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recommended opening of 20 percent of critical habitat in 41 tiger reserves in the country for tourism, while also proposing that the tourism industry has its say in how funds collected through tourism are spent for tiger conservation.
The NTCA, which falls under the jurisdiction of the union environment ministry, in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, which had banned tourism in the core area in July, said generating public support through regulated tourism is an invaluable tool for harnessing public and community support for tiger conservation.
“With the importance of tourism in tiger conservation in mind, it is recommended that a maximum of 20 percent of the core/critical tiger habitat usage for regulated, low-impact tourist visitation may be permitted,” said the NTCA affidavit.
The ministry had earlier suggested collection of 10 percent cess on turnover of the hotels and resorts around tiger reserves, but now it has given the power to states to decide on the conservation fee from the tourism industry for eco-development and local community upliftment.
“The state governments should endeavour to develop a state-level legislation and policy to favour ecotourism in place of wildlife tourism, as a comprehensive plan to ensure that the primary objective of tiger conservation is not compromised,” it said.
Interestingly, the tiger conservation authority says that the tourism industry should have a say in how and where the conservation funds collected from tourism are used.
NTCA has also asked that temples situated inside tiger reserves must channel a minimum of 10 percent of the gross revenue collected into development of local communities through the Gram Sabha.
It also calls for phasing out of permanent tourist facilities inside core/critical tiger habitats, on a time frame decided by the local advisory committee to be constituted by each state.
There was lot of pressure from the tourism lobby on the NTCA for appealing to the apex court to lift the complete ban.
There are 1,706 tigers in 41 tiger reserves, spread across 19 states in the country.