Issues In Sustainability In The Tourism Industry In West Bengal Moving Towards Ecotourism
Issues in Sustainability in the Tourism Industry in West Bengal: Moving towards Eco-Tourism
Shomik Saha
Assistant Professor
Department of Management
Salesian College Siliguri Campus
Abstract
For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term maintenance of well-being, which has ecological, economic, political and cultural dimensions. Sustainability requires the reconciliation of environmental, equity (social) and economic demands - also referred to as the "three pillars" of sustainability (3 E’s).
After the Rio Earth Summit (2012), global changes such as the environment, education, health and social mobility have multiplied and intensified. Several studies have revealed that while eco-tourism has been presented as a negotiated response to the imperatives of ecological preservation and community development, the profit-hungry tourism industry has focused on ecotourism, primarily to use it as a marketing ploy without regard for environmental and social justice issues.
The question is who benefits from tourism? The simple answer is the tourism industry, that part of the economy which caters to the tourist, those firms and establishments which have a common function supplying tourist needs. In any productive process consisting of services, human resources remain the basic need. The volume of manpower engaged in activities complimentary to tourism industry in West Bengal, is one of the highest in view of various sectors that are direct or indirect constituents of the industry. But the challenge remains to adequately respond to global and local challenges, if its growth is managed prudently, with an emphasis on ethics, poverty alleviation and sustainable environment. In this paper an attempt has been made to portray how eco-tourism model can address this issue.
Key Words: Sustainability, Tourism, Eco-tourism, Environment, Social Equity, Economy, Poverty alleviation.
PAPER
Introduction:
Indians are the fastest growing travel spenders in the world.1
Shomik Saha
Assistant Professor
Department of Management
Salesian College Siliguri Campus
Abstract
For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term maintenance of well-being, which has ecological, economic, political and cultural dimensions. Sustainability requires the reconciliation of environmental, equity (social) and economic demands - also referred to as the "three pillars" of sustainability (3 E’s).
After the Rio Earth Summit (2012), global changes such as the environment, education, health and social mobility have multiplied and intensified. Several studies have revealed that while eco-tourism has been presented as a negotiated response to the imperatives of ecological preservation and community development, the profit-hungry tourism industry has focused on ecotourism, primarily to use it as a marketing ploy without regard for environmental and social justice issues.
The question is who benefits from tourism? The simple answer is the tourism industry, that part of the economy which caters to the tourist, those firms and establishments which have a common function supplying tourist needs. In any productive process consisting of services, human resources remain the basic need. The volume of manpower engaged in activities complimentary to tourism industry in West Bengal, is one of the highest in view of various sectors that are direct or indirect constituents of the industry. But the challenge remains to adequately respond to global and local challenges, if its growth is managed prudently, with an emphasis on ethics, poverty alleviation and sustainable environment. In this paper an attempt has been made to portray how eco-tourism model can address this issue.
Key Words: Sustainability, Tourism, Eco-tourism, Environment, Social Equity, Economy, Poverty alleviation.
PAPER
Introduction:
Indians are the fastest growing travel spenders in the world.1
References: Panda, T.K; Mishra, S. & Parida, B.B,(2004): Tourism Management, The Socio-economic and Ecological Perspective,11,160-173. Zulfikar, Md. (2008): Tourism and Hotel Industry,4,65-67. Ghosh,B.(2007):Tourism and Travel Management,15,165-166. Cook, R.A.;Yale, L.J & Marqua, J.J. (2007): Tourism, The Business of Travel,11,367-368. URL:www.helptourism.com URL:www.wikipedia.org