A seminar was organized by the Himalaya Study Centre on the role of eco-tourism in developing Uttarakhand. Speakers discussed Kausani's potential for eco-tourism and highlighted strengths like scenic views while noting weaknesses like remoteness. They envisioned branding Kausani's nature and culture to attract tourists for over 3 days. Suggestions included training tour guides, promoting local handicrafts, and maintaining cleanliness. The forest officer promised support from the forest department for eco-tourism projects.

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HIMALAYA STUDY CENTRE
“BURANSH MAHOTSAV”
Venue
“Role of eco-tourism in the development of
Uttarakhand ,and the way forward”
* Eco-tourism map of Uttarakhand (http://forest.uk.gov.in/)

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The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines ecotourism as:
“...environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural
areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features
- both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact,
and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations”
(IUCN, 1996)

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***
A seminar on “Role of eco-tourism in the development of Uttarakhand , and the way forward” was
organized by Himalaya Study Centre, 5th
April 2015, as a part of Buransh Mahotsav- cultural festival of Kumaon.
The program was dedicated to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sarla Behn, a renowned English social worker who
dedicated her life for the welfare of the people of Uttarakhand , and lived in Kausani for most of her life in India.
HIMALAYA STUDY CENTRE
A social venture operating at The Buransh Retreat. Its commitment is to gain knowledge and understanding of the
different cultures of the people in Uttarakhand.
The Himalaya Study Centre helps and aims to make Uttarakhand reach various local goals concerning art & culture,
education, and development. Their activities span over fields covering research in art & culture, creative education,
social aspects and prime activity of agriculture in this area.
The programs aim to develop mutual learning processes through meetings, workshops, education and cultural
experiences.
*** Eco-tourism logo

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The speakers
Threesh Kapoor, President of Himalaya Study Centre, moderated the discussion. The entire dialogue revolved around
the potential of Kumaon region especially Kausani as a destination for eco-tourism.
Gopal Dutt Bhatt, former chairmen of KNVN and poet shared several insights from personal experience. He talked at
length about the limitations of a small state with limited employment opportunities which calls for the urgent need to
build the future on local resources.
 Tourism, animal husbandry, horticulture and education are the major verticals for economic and
social development of Uttarakhand.
Animal Husbandry Horti-culture Tourism
Education

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 He shared his reservation towards the major tendency of the denizen to be service oriented rather than
being entrepreneurial in approach.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
 He pitched over the need to train and employ the local youth in hospitality especially
as tour-guides.
Tour guide of Kausani

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 The tendency of the locals to cheat the tourists has to be checked. The “Hoteliers” attitude should be
transformational then transactional . A tourism which attracts a traveler to come over again has to be
encouraged.
 There is a need for creation of a circle of religious tourism to develop Kumaon region.
 There is a pressing issue of avoiding negative publicity of the tourist destinations. The 2013 natural disaster
sent a wrong message through out the world that entire Uttarakhand is unsafe for travel. It was not the reality.
This had a drastic impact on tourism in the Kumaon region. Media, bureaucrats and locals have to acknowledge
the sensitivity of such rumors and must convey true facts. We must endorse the good work being
accomplished and undertaken in the State rather than solely sharing the negative.
“When we make a man, country is made”
Threesh Kapoor gave the assurance that tourist guides
will be trained by Himalaya Study Centre as a part of
this year’s goal.
“A guide training course is going to be conducted
by Himalaya Study Centre at The Buransh
Retreat” - Chief Conservator Eco-Tourism
Uttarakhand, Mr.Rajiv Bhartari.
Danik Hindustan

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Mr. Ranjan Joshi, scientist at G.B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development; shared at length over
the necessitate of protecting nature to promote culture and develop economy. Mr.Joshi specializes at tourism impacts
and management.
He defined eco-tourism as a means to rural development. It’s an apt intervention when tourism reaches a
saturation point in a location.

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Potential of Kausani as Eco-village
Kausani is one location which has a selected clientele in comparison to places like Nanital and Almora. Kausani is not
an established destination. Bengali tourist comes here mostly. Commercial influence is less in this area which provides
ideal opportunity for eco tourism. A package which sells eco-stay has to be marketed. A conservation fee can be
levied by the owner as a part of the package. A proper branding is required in this area.

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STRENGTHS
Scenic views, peace & tranquility
WEAKNESSES
Remoteness, limited civic amenities, lack of trained local guides, inadequate branding of local handicrafts,
water and energy scarcity

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VISION
-Branding of nature and Himalayas to overcome the limitation of remoteness.
-Attract tourist to stay in Kausani for more than 3 days
-Developing quality tourism contrary to quantity tourism (the enviro-damage to Nanital
& Almora is an apt case study)
MISSION & STRATEGY
 Promote Kausani as an eco-tourism destination. Department of Eco-tourism must declare Kausani village
as a major Eco-Tourism destination .
 Make available and distribute literature encompassing the history, heritage, wildlife, local art & culture
0f Kausani.
 Provide visitors with a kit to promote responsible tourism.
 Train tour – guides.
 Conducting regular activities/programs such as “Buransh Mahotsav”.
 Create a demand for religious, health, agriculture, adventure and rural tourism. A lot of potential is
there to explore these forms of alternate tourism.
 Require to build on Kausani’s heritage trails, folk music, culture, local Kumaoni Cuisine & wildlife.
 Train local entrepreneurs on innovative designing of handicrafts to add value to the products.
IMPACT
Tourist consumes “experience”, and that’s how he analyzes destinations for vacation
Meeting the customer expectations is the policy of building regional tourism

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Kala Upadhaya , Principal, gave suggestions to build a campaign to promote Uttarkhand in lines of the tourism
strategy of other states such as “khushboo gujarat ki campaign”. Along side we can have a campaign for
branding Kausani by honoring popular artists of the region as brand ambassadors.
 She even gave the assurance to facilitate in building and collaborating with civil societies for developing and
promoting Kausani.
 Sincere considerations have to be given to promotional advertisements in local newspaper, regional news
channels and radio channels.
 She requested for large scale publicity of Kausani in press and media by the government.
Apoorv Pande from California appreciated the efforts of Himalaya Study Centre. He remarked “Gone are the days
when Kausani was referred as the Switzerland of India, it’s high time to reverse the saying.” Sincere
efforts towards making and maintaining a clean and green Kausani is of major concern.

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*Praveen Thapa, age 11, winner of the painting activity “Meri Kausani” organized by Himalaya Study
Centre
He discussed about the role of branding in development of eco-tourism. There is an urgent need to add
value on local produces, which is largely lacking - “Kausani Ki Nashpati”
N.N Mishra, retired commandant CRPF, requested for proper display of information over the historical sites and
keeping them clean. If the heritage of a place is not maintained then the place looses its value.
He mentioned that no matter how amazing a location is, if the attitude of service amongst the locals is lacking then
the complete purpose of tourism gets defeated.

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S.S Karayat , Range Officer Kausani, accepted the reality that the forests of Kausani are save just because of the
individual and combined efforts of the farmers and locals ; till now the forest department hasn’t played any role in
environment conservation .
He promised to develop the forest near the lake as a forest of Buransh, Banj and Kafal. He assured all help from
forest department in development of eco-park, lake and trails in Kausani. He requested the local people to support
the government projects so that they can be implemented speedily and effectively.
He even assured that the eco-tourism guidelines will be promoted and put into use soon.

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Feedback on the Report -
Pameli Chatterjee , a social activist, shared the following views over the seminar .
 To begin with ,I have to commend Himalaya Study Centre’s effort in organizing Buransh Mahotsav in
Kausani and exposing local people to art, culture, eco-tourism and other activities - some specially designed to
enthuse children in the area.
 Speaking of the Eco session, it was good to hear that it was attended by a number of experienced people. I can
see that there were several good suggestions which touched upon the employment potential , not only in
tourism, but also other aspects of life in the hills, such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Horticulture
which are the mainstay of the people, here..
 The reporting of the session with graphics and photographs was very well done.
 However, it would perhaps have been a good idea to draw up an action plan, with a time schedule...otherwise
we tend to get lost in the ideas, which do not reflect achievements on the ground.
 Let us hope this Mahotsav is followed through by others - perhaps with your initiative, so that it can affect
some change for the better, in Kausani.
 Nature has already blessed Kausani with spectacular mountains and it is up to us humans to cherish this beauty.
For starters, we could at least clean up the place and make it attractive, not only for tourists, but for those of us
who live here.
 We just need to walk beyond Harchina to the forest out-post, to see rubbish dumped and scattered down the
hillside. It is a small matter to organize each hotel to provide two large dust bins,( one for plastic stuff, tins etc
and another for biodegradable material) These sould be set down in strategic places - in the market, near
hotels,dhabasand wherever else necessary - and a sweeper needs to be appointed to separate the stuff for the
two dustbins; to burn the biodegradable stuff and take the plastic stuff for disposable where directed by
hoteliers or other responsible persons.
This initial step will make a big difference for tourists coming in and then we
can think of other practical initiatives

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LINKS
 http://forest.uk.gov.in/pages/view/47/51-ecotourism-in-uttarakhand
 http://forest.uk.gov.in/files/ECO%20TOURISM/EC_OWildlifeEco-tourism.pdf
 http://forest.uk.gov.in/files/ECO%20TOURISM/ECO_CommunityBasedTourism.pdf
 http://forest.uk.gov.in/files/ECO%20TOURISM/ECO_Destinations.pdf
 http://forest.uk.gov.in/files/pdf/96_Eco_do_e.pdf
 http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/category/5

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*Manisha Mehra, age 14, winner of the painting activity "Meri Kausani" organized by Himalaya Study
Centre

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