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 E-mail id:- [email protected] Page 32 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 E-mail id:- [email protected] Page 33 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 E-mail id:- [email protected] Page 34 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 E-mail id:- [email protected] Page 35 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.