• Dr.R.SATHIYABAMA

Travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any cultural manifestations found in these areas. Eco tourism is a small segment of the overall tourism sector in India. It is one of the fastest growing tourism segments and further rapid growth is expected in the future. The term was coined by Hector Ceballos Lascuraian in 1983 to describe nature based travel to relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis on education, culture, and employment opportunities into a scientific approach and develop a sustainable tourism. Therefore, an attempt has been made to focus various issues and challenges towards eco tourism. This paper is based on two objectives: to find out the challenges of eco tourism in India; and to analyze the reasons for it. Secondary data have been collected from books, magazines and journals, etc. The challenges are inadequate infrastructure such as transport, lack of adequate sanitation facilities, disposal of campsite sewage in rivers, contaminating the wildlife, livestock and people who draw drinking water from it, deforestation, disruption of ecological life systems and various forms of pollution, all of which contribute to environmental degradation. There is a threat to indigenous culture i.e. the local people struggle for cultural survival and freedom of cultural expression. The ecotourism community is expected to be more inclusive of innovative and socially equitable approaches. The government should undertake environmental impact assessment for all new projects and conduct regular environment audits for all ongoing activities, leading to development for environmental improvement programmes.

Deforestation, environmental degradation, ecological life and conservation, eco tourism, etc.

"ECO TOURISM IN INDIA: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.103-107, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRBP06020.pdf

"ECO TOURISM IN INDIA: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp103-107, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRBP06020.pdf