Bhopal, July 10: Making an all-out effort to check
poaching, Madhya Pradesh government plans to open its wildlife
sanctuaries for ecotourism to attract visitors for trecking,
camping, bird watching and adventure sports through its newly
formed ecotourism board.
Though wildlife tourism will continue to be the strength
of ecotourism, the board will ensure that visitors in future
will experience trekking, camping, bird watching and adventure
sports, State Forest Minister Himmat Kothari told reporters
today.
Initially, ecotourism would be promoted around nine
national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries, including five
tiger reserves, he said adding new locations will soon be
opened to offer diversity of choices to tourists and the
board, formed last year, will collaborate with tourism
department for the task.
Around 6.5 lakh tourists visit the state every year for
wildlife safaries and tiger tourism, he said adding the number
are expected to increase with the new initiative.
Denying that promotion of ecotourism will increase chances
of poaching, he said elaborate efforts were to check it and
strict vigil was being maintained in sensitive areas like
water holes.
Madhya Pradesh, with nearly 13 per cent of national
forest wealth, enchanting tribal culture, ancient rock
paintings, forests and palaces scattered throughout the
wilderness, offer a breathtaking array of opportunities for
ecotourists, he said.
The board will share its vision with key stakeholders
like lodge owners, travel businesses and travel writers and
learn from experiences of Karnataka, Kerala and Uttaranchal,
during a workshop tomorrow, the minister said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, July 10, 2006, 00:00