ENVIRONMENTAL TOURISM IN SIKKIM

',//CÖi'. ENVIRONMENTAL TOURISM IN SIKKIM.

About Eco-tourism. Environmental tourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of local people, while studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild life. The concept of eco-tourism has been developed with a view to unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel together and has gained full support from many government, non-government as well as academic institutions. The vision of eco-tourism policy in Sikkim is to create it as an ultimate and unique eco-tourism destination offering memorable and high quality learning experience to visitors and to promote natural conservation. This has been formed by ‘Tourism and Civil Aviation Department’ and ‘Forest Environment and Wildlife Mnagement Department.’.

DESTINATIONS. Pastanga-Khedi eco trail in Sikkim is one of the ecotourism destinations contributing and sustaining the community based rural tourism. Khedi Eco-tourism and Eco-development Promotion (KEEP), Pastanga based non-governmental organization has been maintaining and organizing the eco-treks along the trail in theast one decade..

Khangchendzonga National Park is the biosphere reserve in Sikkim and is endowed with one of the most significant eco systems in the world. It nestles a luxuriant flora and galaxy of magnificient fauna of rare varieties. It is considered a pioneer in ecotourism in India. Dzongri-Goechela eco trail has witnessed a tremendous increase in tourists owing to the ease of access. The co trail has been attracting domestic and foreign tourists in the last 8 years..

FLORA & FAUNA. IMG_256. The flora of Sikkim adores its scenic surrounds. About 36% of total land area here is under luxuriant forests. Lush green vegetation like figs, sal trees, oak, chestnut, etc are found here in abundance. Sikkim is world famous for its Orchids like Cymbidiums, Hooheriana, etc. Talking about the fauna , Sikkim should not be undervalued for its small size for there are more than 500 species of fauna that are found here. 600 species of butterflies, Emerald Dove, woodpeckers, cuckoos, etc are found here. These are loved by all the tourists which promotes eco-tourism..

CONCLUSION. Community based ecotourism venture, if properly managed have the ability to transform the lives of poor local people by creating employment thereby increasing their disposable income. It can alliviate the impact of tourism on the environment by conserving natural resources at large and benefitting the local people simultaneously. So, it needs to be strictly implemented so that Sikkim can develop further and can achieve greater tourism success..

BIBLIOGRAPHY. http://dstsikkim.gov.in/Adv/Envis%20Centre%20newsletter/2015/Jan-March.pdf http://www.ecoindia.com/places/sikkim.html.