An evaluation of ecotourism projects in Kerala a study with special reference to Idukki district

Abstract

The study tries to examine the importance of ecotourism in Idukki district. The study is organized into seven chapters. The study focuses on the ecotourism projects in Idukki. The objectives of the study is to evaluate ecotourism destinations in Kerala with special reference to Idukki district, to assess the role of ecotourism in the development of tourism in Idukki, to examine the various sites in Idukki district, to analyze problems, performance, growth and economic significance of ecotourism sector based on the study of various eco-tourism projects in Idukki district, to analyze trends in the field of ecotourism in Idukki district. The study made significant observations regarding the tourism facilities in Idukki, the problems encountered and satisfaction level of tourists. These observations provided the setting for analyzing the impact of ecotourism in Idukki. The period of study is 10 years from 2000 to 2010. The study result shows that ecotourism occupies a significant position in the overall tourism development in Kerala. Idukki district has immense ecotourism potential. It was also found that with the ecotourism development, local peopleand#146;s income and employment status increases considerably. In the backdrop of findings, a number of recommendations were suggested to improve the quality and standards of ecotourism. The study concludes that the ecotourism plays a remarkable role in the overall tourism development. Ecotourism has the capacity to deliver a lot of economic benefits to traditional cultures. However whether those benefits are realized depends on how well the ecotourism is managed