Potential and possibilities of ecotourism business in India-an exploratory research
Student name: Mr Vaibhav Jethi
Guide: Dr Manipadma Datta
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: TERI University
Abstract: Travel and tourism‟s total contribution to the GDP was 6.7% in 2015 which is expected to
grow to 7.6 % of GDP by 2025 (World travel and tourism council, 2015) .Conventional
tourism like adventure tourism, luxury tourism, wildlife tourism etc are the commercial
tourism product in the country and expected to be for another couple of years. Yet in spite of
its significant contribution to the economy it has its own shares of problems and issues which
are often overlooked like resource degradation, ecology and biodiversity destruction,
ecological conflicts etc. To make growth in India tourism industry more sustainable it is
suggested that India‟s commercial tourism to be directed to a more sustainable form of
tourism. India‟s varied biodiversity and rich flora and fauna are also strong elements
supporting this approach. This thesis explores potential for ecotourism in Indian economy
and problems which are faced by ecotourism practitioners their business. This thesis also
explores its policy implication and measures suggestions which strengthen ecotourism in
India.
Keywords-ecotourism, commercial tourism, resource degradation, potential assessment
