International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

STATUS OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BTAD OF ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MANAS NATIONAL PARK Arabinda Kherkatary Assist. Professor in Economics, S.S. College, Hailakandi, Assam, India

ABSTRACT In this paper an attempt is made to highlight the status and potential of ecotourism development in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) of Assam. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the nine tiger reserve sanctuaries in India and the only Tiger Project in Assam, is located in Baksa and a part of it in Chirang districts of BTAD. With an area of 519.77 sq. km., it has a core area of 360 km. Manas National Park is one of the first tiger reserve network under the Project Tiger in 1973. The park is included as a site of international importance under the UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention in 1988 as well as Biosphere Reserve in 1989. There are various problems and constraints that stand as barrier in the development of this highly potential ecotourism industry in the area. It is felt that if the natural wealth of BTAD is showcased in the right manner and if the existing problems are removed then this area will definitely become as the paradise of ecotourism which will open the path to the development of a healthy environment of the society with strong and sound economy. Key words- BTAD, manas, ecotourism, sustainable development

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

INTRODUCTION Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. It is an extrinsic, social phenomenon and an intrinsic, mental phenomenon. It is about the transitory movement of people across geographic and cultural landscapes for an experience of them, and the mental transformation that takes place in those who travel in that process. Thus, the nature of tourism is complex and its scope, wide. As global affluence and leisure time increases, the demand for travel and destination facilities increases, not only in degree, but also in kind. Tourism affects most countries and peoples of the world either as hosts or guests, either positively or negatively. In parallel, while tourism changes individuals and societies, the nature of tourism is changing as well (George et al, 2007). Now a day, ‘natural tourism’ also known as ‘ecotourism’ has become a buzz word in tourism development because it is believed to a rapidly expanding segment of tourism market and because many conservation groups see it as a means to ensure ecologically sustainable development or more generally a way to obtain sustainable development. In order to achieve the objective of sustainable development, tourism must itself be sustainable from an economic, political, social and environment point of view. Ecotourism may be called environmentally sensitive tourism. Ecotourism market is growing at a faster rate than tourism as a whole and it accounts for around 20 per cent of the market for tourism. The growing income levels of general human being, rising levels of education, easier-less costly-comfortable, speedier and safer access to ecotourism sites, changing community attitudes towards nature etc. are contributing to the increasing trend of growth of ecotourism. Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) of Assam was established on February 2003, having four districts viz. Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. The total population of BTAD as per 2011 census is 315535 against the total population of Assam 31169272 which shows that 10.12 percent of the total populations of the state live in BTAD. The total geographical area of the erstwhile BTAD is 8822 sq. km. that accounts 11.25 percent of the total geographical area of the state. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

The present paper is an attempt to analyze the potential, problems and prospects of ecotourism industry and to find out the possible suggestions for promoting this industry in BTAD. The study will be advanced by analyzing the profile of BTAD having rich scenic beauty to attract the attention of the tourists into the area. Further, care shall be taken to analyze impediments on the way of the progress of ecotourism industry with statistical data. The study will be concluded with viable suggestions for the policymakers and the planners to encourage the industry for enriching the economy by coping with the pace of development. METHODOLOGY For the purpose of the present study, secondary sources are relied upon and data are mostly collected from the various govt. departments like Directorate of Tourism, Assam, Field Director, Manas National Park, Economic Survey, Assam, Statistical Hand Book, Assam and Bodoland and some relevant books, journals, reports, and news papers. Data are arranged in tabular form and explain with the help of graph whenever necessary. ECOTOURISM STATUS AND POTENTIALITY IN BTAD The entire BTAD has tremendous tourism potentiality. There are many attractive sources of tourism from the point of view of natural beauty availability of flora and fauna, wild life forest resources, geographical aspects, cultural heritages, pilgrimages and historical monuments etc. One can boast of the tourism potentiality of the BTAD which is very much rich in every respect. Among these the potentiality of ecotourism development is of very much remarkable in the area. Rajib Gandhi Orang National Park is located in Udalguri and Sanitpur districts. This is also known as mini-Kaziranga and it covers a total area of 78.81 sq. km. Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kokrajhar district of BTAD. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 14th July, 1993. The sanctuary covers approximately 50 sq. km. It is the home of one of the rarest primate; the Golden Langur. It is worth-mentioning that Golden langur was spotted by Mr E. P. Gee, a naturalist in Jom Duar area of Raimona under Ripu Reserve Forest in 1953. According to Forest Department sources, at least 23 species of animals and 273 species of birds and 173 species of trees including medicinal plants are found in the Chakrasila sanctuary. Besides seasonal waterfalls and deep lakes, there are many historical buildings, old caves and white stones which are used by Tourist Resort behind the beautiful and evergreen foothill of

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

Baokhugri, five km. away from Kokrajhar town, the head quarter of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). Sikhnajhar is also in Kokrajhar district locates at the foothills of Bhutan. Bhairabkunda is in Udalguri district of BTAD and it is 10 km. away to the north of Udalguri town. It is one of the most beautiful places of the district on the Assam-Bhutan border. It is a place of pilgrim and picturesque tourist spot with enormous beauty surrounded by hills, mountains, rivers and greenery. THE MANAS NATIONAL PARK Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the nine tiger reserve sanctuaries in India and the only Tiger Project in Assam, is located in Baksa and a part of it in Chirang districts of BTAD. It lies between 91051/-92000/ East Longitude and 26030/ N/-27000/ N Latitude. The average rainfall here is 333 cm per year. The maximum temperature is 290c. The mansoon comes during June- September. The ethnic compositions of the park are Bodo, Assamese, Bengali, Nepalese and Adivasi. The Manas National Park with an area of 519.77 sq. km., has a core area of 360 km. There are as many as 374 species of dicots, 139 manocots, 60 mammals, 312 birds, 42 reptiles, 7 amphibians, 54 fishes and over 100 species of insects in the sanctuary (District Statistical Hand Book, Baksa, 2010). Manas National Park is one of the first tiger reserve network under the Project Tiger in 1973. The park has been included as a site of international importance under the UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention in 1988 as well as Biosphere Reserve in 1989. Table-1: Reserved forests included in Manas National Park and its Area Sl. No. Reserved Forest Area in Sq. Km. 1. Manas R. F. (part) 120.00 Sq. Km. 2. North Kamrup R.F. 271.02 Sq. Km. 3. Panbari R.F. 16.30 Sq. Km. 4. Kahimata R.F. 34.86 Sq. Km. 5. Kokilabari R. F. 77.59 Sq. Km. Total area of Manas National Park 519.77 Sq. Km. Source: Field Director, Manas National Park

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

Table-2 depicts the distribution of area of Manas National Park as per vegetation. Grassland covers an area of 24137 hectares with 55 per cent followed by woodland 25816 hectares with 35 percent and 10 per cent by wetland. Table-2: Distribution of Area of Manas National Park as per vegetation Sl. No. Pattern of Vegetation Total Area(in Hectares) Area in Percentage 1. Grassland 24137 Hectares 55% 2. Woodland 25816 Hectares 35% 3. Wetland N.A. 10%

Source: Field Director, Manas National Park Table-3 shows that as per census report, in1972 the total number of tiger was 10 that increased to 89 in 1996-97 then it decreased to 65 in 2000-01 and again in 2008 the total number of tiger increased to 80. Table-3: Population of Tiger as per Census Report Sl. No. Census Year Male Female Cub Total 1. 1972 10 NA NA 10 2. 1975 20 16 5 41 3. 1976 28 17 6 51 4. 1988-89 18 31 4 53 5. 1994-95 29 44 7 80 6. 1996-97 27 54 8 89 7. 2000-01 22 38 5 65 8. 2008 26 43 11 80 Source: Field Director, Manas National Park, NA- Not Available Fig. 1 depicts the number of Indian (domestic) tourist arrival to the Manas National Park during 2005-06 and 2012-13. It is clear that the highest number of tourist arrival is shown in the year 2011-12 (19705 nos.) followed by the year 2006-07 (16792 nos.) and the lowest number of tourist arrival has been noticed in the year 2008-09 (1104 nos.) followed by the year 2007-08 (6391 nos.).

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

25000 19705 20000 16792 15890 15000 13648 10843 10000 8030 6391 5000 1104 0 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Indian

Fig.1- Number of Indian Tourists visited the Manas National Park (2005-06 to 2012-13)

700 624 600 503 500 400 300 240 237 218 200 139 85 100 72 0 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Foreign

Fig.2: Number of Foreign Tourists visited the Manas National Park (2005-06 to 2012-13) Fig.2 shows the foreign tourist visited the Manas National Park during 2005-06 and 2012-13. During the study period, the number of foreign tourist inflow to the park was highest in the year 2007-08 (624 nos.) followed by the year 2010-11 (503 nos.). The lowest out turn of the foreign tourists was in the year 2005-06 (72 nos.) followed by the year 2006-07 (85 nos.). From table-4, it is observed that the revenue earned by the Manas National Park which was Rs.16.96 lakh in 2009-10 increased to Rs. 25.48 lakh in 2012-13 showing 50.24 percent increase during 2009-10 and 2012-13.

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org

Table-4: Revenue earned by Manas National Park during 2009-10 and 2012-13 Year Revenue ( Rs. in lakh) 2009-10 16.96 2010-11 14.67 2011-12 21.17 2012-13 25.48 Source: Economic Survey, Assam, 2013-15 PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS While tourism continues to grow at a rapid pace in other states like Goa, J and K, H.P, Sikkim, etc, of India, it has not been able to gain much ground in Assam in general and BTAD in particular. In spite of being blessed with vast resource potential, it is sorry to say that BTAD of Assam is unable to attract tourists from within the country and abroad in large number. There are many problems which stand as barriers in the development of this highly potential industry in the area. The low tourists turn out in BTAD region of Assam is often associated with- i. Lack of requisite tourism infrastructure i.e. tourist lodges and hotels, transport and communication and other related services. ii. Lack of proper publicity. iii. Inefficient level of tourism marketing. iv. Natural disasters, terrorism, instability & high costs. v. Lack of private sector investment in the tourism promotion projects, etc. It is the absence of serious planning and execution, coupled with the unprofessional approach of the government authorities that has been a perennial stumbling block in the realization of the BTAD’s tourism potential. Since the time immemorial, the Bodos have been living nearby and surrounding of forest and foothills. They are always in search for plenty and fertile land. They depend directly or indirectly on forest resources for their livelihood. Their practices and habits of hunting, fishing, wood collection etc. have resulted destruction of forest and endangered the various rare species of the forest and thus these forests prevalent in BTAD areas are on the verge of losing their dignity forever. Manas the world heritage is now in danger. The Bodoland Movement is also equally

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org responsible for this. If the insurgency problem not is solved, the creation of congenial environment will not be possible which will hamper in all aspects of development of tourism in the area. It is the duty and responsibility of each and every citizen of BTAD to retain the ‘world heritage’ of Manas. SUGGESTION Given the fact that tourism represents one of the fastest growing sector in the highly competitive national and global market- place, it thus becomes necessary for the BTAD authorities to adopt certain favourable measures in order to remove the stumbling blocks that stand on the way of growth of tourism industry, which must be in the form of- 1. Provision for requisite tourism infrastructure i.e. tourist hotels and lodges, transport and communication and other related services. 2. Creation of a congenial and tourist-friendly environment. 3. Identification and promotion of new tourist spots and enrichment of the existing ones. 4. Vigorous sales promotion campaign in order to popularize the tourist spots among domestic as well as foreign travelers. 5. Preservation of wild life and renovation of religious places. 6. Involvement of private sector investment and various NGOs in the tourism promotion projects. Many rivers like Sankosh, Gaurang, Manas, Beki, Pomara, Puthimary,Pagladiya etc. flow through the heart of BTAD. There are many wonderful and beautiful spots some of which are explored and many remain unexplored that can attract the tourists to a large extent and the waterfalls of these rivers in the foothills of Bhutan are of charming to them. To popularize all these it needs to develop and facilitate amusement parks, dhabas, boating, etc. In order to attract and increase the tourist inflow, different types of festivals are needed to be celebrated from time to time. Meanwhile, to tape tourism potential in Bodoland Territorial Area District, several projects have been taken up which include construction of guest house, cafeteria, amusement park, provision of public utilities services. Tourism Department has entrusted implementation of Bodoland movement centenary at Deborgaon, Kokrajhar. Considering the immense possibility for

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International Journal of Research in Management, Economics & Commerce (Impact Factor: 4.604, ISSN 2250-057X, Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2015) Website: www.indusedu.org developing along Sankoch River, which has fast water current and suitable for adventure tourism like rafting etc. to start with, Tourism Department has constructed Eco-tourism centre at Srirampur at the estimated cost of Rs.16 lakh. Eco-tourism has been recently initiated in the Eastern Koklabari area by the Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society, Manas Ganda , Green Manas and several NGOs have come forward to protect, preserve the forest and wildlife with the aim to develop tourism in BTAD. CONCLUSION Thus, more and more vigorous efforts are needed for both central and the state governments and also the concerned department of Bodoland Territorial Council in each and every direction to develop and promote the tourism industry whose market is highly diversified with different sets of motivations and concepts specially the eco-tourism. Simply to say, sustained efforts towards the given direction through the joint initiative of the concerned state governments, the media, local intellectuals and various NGOs are considered essential. It is felt that through their active co-operation, if the natural wealth of BTAD is showcased in the right manner, then it will change the face of BTAD, i.e., it will lead to the development of a healthy environment of the society with strong and sound economy of the area. REFERENCE 1. George, B. and Nedelea, A. (2007): International Tourism: World Geography and Development Perspectives, Abhijeet Publications, Delhi. 2. Economic Survey, Assam, 2013-14 3. Statistical Hand Book, Assam, 2013 4. Statistical Hand Book of Bodoland Territorial Council, Kokrajhar, 2012 5. District Statistical Hand Book, Baksa, Assam, 2010 6. Office of the Field Director, Manas National Park, Barpeta Road, Barpeta, Assam. 7. Population Census, Assam Series, 2011

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