Ranthambhore hit by ban on tourism
The extension on the ban on tourism in core areas will hit businesses and communities in the famed Ranthambhore wildlife sanctuary.
Locally owned hotels and handicrafts businesses depend on tourism and livelihoods are being threatened by the complete ban on tourism in tiger reserves, which could result in chaos, warned Bhim Singh, managing director of Rajasthan Tours and head of IATO Rajasthan Chapter.
“There is no doubt that commercial tourism around the Tiger Reserves must be strictly regulated, but a total ban on public access to wildlife reserves would be extremely harmful both to the tigers and to the communities. The impact of this ban will result on the communities losing their livelihoods, which may motivate them to encroach into forests and indulge in illegal activities.”
According to the Times of India, the Union environment ministry has recommended a five-year term to phase out business from the breeding areas of tigers and also suggested a 10% tax on revenue of tourist operations around the core areas. The ministry had noted that if tribals and villagers were to be relocated out of the core of tiger reserves to create ‘inviolate spaces’ for the big cat, tourism could not be allowed to rake in profits out of these forest lands.
Ranthambhore directly employs about 4,000 people in tourism. In 2011, some 2.25 lakh tourists visited the area, generating income of up to INR150 crore.