| According to the current estimates tourism | | | | natural habitat for one or another flagship species. |
| represents 6.5 percent of the global workforce, | | | | The problem here is that if the flagship species is not |
| employing 112 million people throughout the world. It | | | | sighted often enough, tourist flow may stem. Its |
| plays a major role in the global economy and | | | | dependence on a single species thus makes species |
| represents a significant global gross national product | | | | oriented tourism rather precarious. About one sixth |
| (GNP). Tourism is a highly fragmented industry with | | | | of all the human beings on Earth live in India, the |
| many different participants including tour operators, | | | | world's most populous democracy. Its borders |
| the transport and hotel industry, and of course, the | | | | encompass a vast variety of peoples, practicing most |
| tourists themselves. At the start of the 90's decade, | | | | of the world's major religions, speaking scores of |
| several trends were observed at the global level. | | | | different languages, and divided into thousands of |
| According to the report of the World Tourism | | | | socially exclusive castes. A civilized, urban society has |
| Organisation,1990, Asia/Oceania was expected to | | | | existed in India for well over 4,000 years, and there |
| receive more international tourists than any other | | | | have been periods when its culture was as brilliant |
| region in the world. At the same time tourists were | | | | and creative as any in history. The country is also |
| diversifying into highly specialised groups from among | | | | known by its ancient Hindi name, Bharat. India's |
| a broad range of activities. Increased interest in | | | | leaders have played a prominent role in world affairs |
| travel to natural and less disturbed areas due to a | | | | since the country became independent in 1947. |
| rapidly growing interest in environmental matters and | | | | Nevertheless, the standard of living of most of its |
| nature was perceived as one of the trends. This was | | | | citizens is low. The huge population strains the |
| expected to result in an increased interest in Asia and | | | | nation's limited resources. Fertile, cultivable land is |
| tropical America, areas which still contained large | | | | scarce, yet about two thirds of the people depend |
| tracts of wilderness (WWF-UK, 1992). Although in | | | | directly on agriculture for their livelihood. Many millions |
| India tourism has been a part of the country's ethos | | | | of Indians are inadequately nourished, poorly housed, |
| for a long time, it had predominantly been restricted | | | | and lacking in basic educational, medical, and sanitary |
| to religious, archeological and recreational sites. Nature | | | | services. Although the modern nation of India |
| tourism, predominantly in the form of shooting and | | | | encompasses the greater part of South Asia, it is |
| hunting trips, has gradually given way to photographic | | | | smaller than the Indian Empire formerly ruled by |
| and nature oriented tours. Today, in the parks, | | | | Britain. Burma (now Myanmar), a mainly Buddhist |
| sanctuaries and unprotected wilderness of India, | | | | country lying to the east, was administratively |
| nature based tourism has increased in scope, and is | | | | detached from India in 1937. Ten years later, when |
| understood to, include nature trails, trekking , | | | | Britain granted independence to the peoples of the |
| mountaineering, rock climbing , safaris, adventure | | | | Indian subcontinent, two regions with Muslim |
| sports and bird watching , in addition to photography | | | | majorities a large one in the northwest (West |
| expeditions. Most of these activities take place in | | | | Pakistan) and a smaller one in the northeast (East |
| forest and mountain terrain rich in wildlife and local | | | | Pakistan) were partitioned from the predominantly |
| ambience. Such nature based tourism has either been | | | | Hindu areas and became the separate nation of |
| species oriented or ecosystem oriented. Species | | | | Pakistan. East Pakistan broke away from Pakistan in |
| oriented tourism in India has been confined to a few | | | | 1971 to form the independent nation of Bangladesh. |
| flagship species such as the tiger, which draws | | | | Also bordering India on its long northern frontier are |
| tourists to parks that are its natural habitat; or the | | | | the People's Republic of China and the relatively small |
| Siberian crane, which is a major draw for tourists to | | | | kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan. The island republic of |
| the well-known Keoladeo National Park. In fact, most | | | | Sri Lanka lies just off India's southern tip. India's |
| of India's popular parks and sanctuaries are the | | | | capital is New Delhi. |