RESEARCH ARTICLE

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM: A CASE STUDY OF LAOKHUWA-BURACHAPORI WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES, ASSAM

Abstract

Community based tourism is potential to play a very important role of achieving the target of socio-economic development of local community and conservation of natural resources of the area simultaneously. It helps local people to become socially and environmentally responsible about their area and adopt ecologically sound ways of tourism. Rural communities living near forests are largely dependent on natural resources for their livelihood and subsistence. As population is ever increasing and so is this pressure, which can have catastrophic effect on the biota. In order to establish positive relationship between natural resources and rural population, community based tourism is an emerging preference. The objective of the present study is to carry out the feasibility study of community based tourism in fringe villages of Laokhuwa-Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries, Assam. These sanctuaries are part of buffer zone of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. The field sites selected for this study are dependent on the sanctuary for cattle-grazing, collection of firewood and other NTFPs. Assam Forest Department and local NGOs are planning to promote community based tourism in adjoining villages of these sanctuaries to strengthen conservation practices. The methodology adopted for this study is qualitative as well as quantitative ways. As part of collecting primary data, a series of open-ended interviews and field observation was carried to understand the potential of the communities residing besides these sanctuaries. Information leaflets, boundary maps, previous research study and official site of district and forest administration were sources of secondary information. From this study, it is found that every site has different level of potentiality for promotion of community based tourism, however serious emphasis on capacity building and improving the infrastructure of area will be required to start community based tourism. Besides, there is need to develop local level institutions and rules and regulations for promotion of CBT.

Keywords: community based tourism, wildlife sanctuaries, non-timber forest product.

How to Cite: Farooqy,P, (2018). EMPOWERMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM: A CASE STUDY OF LAOKHUWA-BURACHAPORI WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES, ASSAM.WILDLANKA, 6(2):Pages 076-083

Published On:2018-06-30

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