Eco Tourism a Sustainable Development Option in Azad Kashmir by Ejaz Ur-Rehman

8/9/2019 Eco Tourism a Sustainable Development Option in Azad Kashmir by Ejaz Ur-Rehman

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Ecotourism a Sustainable Development Option in Azad KashmirBy Ejaz Ur-Rehman Email: [email protected]

Ecotourism has become an important economic activity in natural areas around the world. Tourism is becoming increasingly popular, as both

domestic and international visitors flock to the most attractive places. Tourism is one of the largest and steadily growing economic sectors world -

wide, as well as being a sector in which developing nations have a considerable stake. For this reason alone, tourism is a re levant factor in terms of

development policies. Especial ly in nature conservation, the "ecotourism" option is increasingly advocated in order to contribute to conservation

project funding and offer economic incentives for the preservation of ecosystems and their biodiversity. Ecotourism provides opportunities f or

visitors to experience powerful manifestations of nature and culture and to learn about the importance of biodiversity conser vation and local

cultures. At the same time, ecotourism generates income for conservation programs and economic benefits for com munities living in rural and

remote areas.

(Source:ecotourismbengal.files.wordpress.com)


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2 Ecotourism a Sustainable Development Option in Azad Kashmir (October 2009)

Beautiful Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir


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The attributes of ecotourism make it a valuable tool for conservation. Its implementation can:

Give economic value to ecosystem services that protected areas provide

Generate direct income for the conservation of protected areas

Generate direct and indirect income for local stakeholders, creating incentives for conservation in local communities

Build constituencies for conservation, locally, nationally and internationally

Promote sustainable use of natural resources; and reduce threats to biodiversity.

Of course, not all tourism to natural areas is ecotourism. Nature tourism, as opposed to ecotourism, may lack mechanisms for mitigating impactson the environment and fail to demonstrate respect for local culture. Consequently, we are witnessing an onslaught of visitat ion to natural areas

that, in many cases, is undermining the values that make these areas attractive.

Azad Kashmir:

Areas of Azad Kashmir, because of their ecological value, especially those found in temperate zone of District Muzaffarabad, Neelum ,Bagh and

Rawalakot and contain many of the national greatest ecotourism attractions. These attractions consist of rare or endemic species of flora or fauna,

abundant wildlife, high indices of species diversity,spectacular geomorphological formations, ,unique historic and contemporary cultural

manifestations in a natural context. Azad Kashmir Government confronted with a wide range of different forms of tourism development and, at the

same time promote themselves as ecotourism-destinations.


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Wonderful Tao Butt ,Azad Jammu & Kashmir

E t i b i iti t l h it i th t ff ti t t t hi t ibl l ti lt Th di ti t b t i ti t l i t l t d


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Ecotourism can be initiate only when it is the most effective strategy to achieve tangible, lasting results. The distinct bu t intimately interrelated

aspects of ecotourism, conservation management and business development, must be fully understood by ecot ourism planners and protected area

managers before moving ahead with plans to implement ecotourism activities.Conservationists have typically approached ecotour ism with a limited

understanding of business issues and an incomplete understanding of the manag ement mechanisms that are available and necessary to ensure the

sustainability of tourism in Ecological valuable areas in Azad Kashmir.

Similarly, nature tourism operators and organisers have often carried out their initiatives with an incomplete underst anding of conservation issues

and consequently have operated in an unsustainable fashion like recent Polo Matchesin Neelum Valley and Bhutto Melain Sudhan Galli ,Bagh Azad

Kashmir.

In order for ecotourism to be successful, conservationists need a greater understanding of business considerations; likewise, developers need a

greater awareness of the management mechanisms that are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the activity. Combining both conservation and

business perspectives is essential for a successful ecotourism program.

In Azad Kashmir natural areas are state, private or community owned or administered, or any combination thereof. Funds to man age these areas

are usually scarce. As a result, these areas often lack the capacity to ensur e that tourism generates the full range of benefits it should. In spite of

recent tourism activities in Azad Kashmir hence, in many areas opportunities for income generation for site conservation and local communities are

under exploited and tourism may i n fact pose a threat to conservation For ecotourism to fulfill its potential and generate sustainable benefits


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under exploited and tourism may i n fact pose a threat to conservation.For ecotourism to fulfill its potential and generate sustainable benefits,

natural areas must implement a planning framework to guide and manage the activity.

Like all well -managed organizations, ecotourism enterprises require sound

business planning to succeed, but the planning process differs from those of

other industries because social and environmental factors must also be

considered. Taking tourism as a sustainable development option, it must be

planned and managed so that its socio-economic benefits are spread as widely as

possible throughout the society of the destination. Community -based tourism

projects are important means for spreading benefits to local residents. The

sustainable development approach is particularly important in tou rism because

this sector depends mostly on tourism attractions and activities that are related to

the natural environment and historic and cultural heritage.

(The Writer is an Ecologist and Director Press for Peace ) UK)

Ecotourism Management Plan

Zoning for Visitor Use

Visitor Site Planning and Design

Sustainable Infrastructure Design

Revenue Generating Mechanisms

Visitor Monitoring and Management

Naturalist Guides the Heart of Ecotourism

Documents

Eco Tourism a Sustainable Development Option in Azad Kashmir by Ejaz Ur-Rehman