Although India accounts for approximately 16% of the world's population, it only has 2.4% of the world's landmass. It is one of the most densely populated nations on the planet. Despite the country's vast natural resources, many regions cannot be described as "pristine" due to both human sprawl and pollution. One of the more publicized examples of this is the Ganges River, a holy river that now flows with effluvia and raw sewage.
Eco-tourism is an ideal of travel that tries to balance the needs of the environment, the local community and the tourist. This means that eco-tourism doesn't simply guide people through scenic natural beauty but, when properly practiced, also engages the local economy and encourages interaction between guest and host. Behind this is a belief that, by engaging both local environments and inhabitants, tourists will gain greater insight into the nature of the world and what is needed to sustain it.
Despite its large population, India boasts several ecological assets that make it a desirable eco-tourism destination. However, not all of these have been fully integrated into the eco-tourism market, which indicates a great deal of room for growth. Along India's expansive coasts are coral reefs and small villages. Along its northern borders are the daunting Himalayas and other mountain ranges. In its heart are jungles, deserts, caves and sacred mangroves. The Indian government has also demarcated seven bio-sphere reserves, where the impact of human settlement is minimized.
Indians have a long history of domestic tourism, largely due to pilgrimages to holy sites. The rate of domestic tourism is still growing rapidly and, in the five years from 1997 to 2001, domestic tourist visits increased from 120 million to 176 million. Given the increasing size of the domestic tourism market, there is a great deal of potential for the further growth of eco-tourism. In a culturally diverse nation like India, eco-tourism not only promises to bolster the economy but also to encourage greater understanding and cohesion among peoples of different ancestry.
Although the domestic tourism market is strong in India, its international market remains relatively weak. This is due to a variety of factors, most dealing with infrastructure and bureaucracy. India's airports remain behind the curve for the population they have and, of the 260 airports throughout the country, only 10 have runways suitable for larger aircraft. At the same time, guest houses in India have gained a reputation for criminal activity, further discouraging visitors from abroad. The government itself makes entering the country challenging by demanding heavy fees and long processing times for visas. These factors compound to inhibit the growth of the international eco-tourism market.
