Leisure, Tourism and Environmental Degradation—a Study Based on Assam, India

Tourism in Assam holds large prospects as the land is bestowed with natural beauty and resources. Tourism in Assam is essentially nature based. Assam has a rich cultural and ethnic heritage that has also made it a favourite tourist-spot. It is counted as one of the prime Eco-Tourism destinations in India. The rich bio-diversity of the region encourages eco-tourism. But compared to some other states in India, eco tourism is not yet developed in the real sense in Assam.  

 A lot of tourists come to Assam for different leisure activities as the region is still less explored and provides for peaceful existence with nature. The eco-camps set up in areas like Nameri in Sonitpur, Tipam Phake village in Eastern Assam, camps in and around Kaziranga National park, famous for the one horned Rhino, attracts lot of foreign as well as domestic tourists. They are provided with facilities like boating, fishing, trekking in the wild etc. and misuse of these can lead to severe environmental degradation. Illegal destruction of forests to set up hotels for tourists near Kaziranga, excessive boating and fishing etc. has also been increased.

The land has the opportunity to develop several leisure activities based on eco-tourism where the rich bio-diversity of the region can be explored without environmental degradation. But activities like using the areas as picnic spots and then leaving behind plastic waste has already destroyed some of the natural spots. A systematic development of tourism involving local population, who can look after the protection of environment, is needed to increase the inflow of tourists.

This paper attempts to analyse the tourism scenario, development of eco-tourism inspired leisure activities and how tourism can be used positively to lessen social inequality. and lead the way towards a more socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices.