An Update on the Tiger Tourism Ban in India

We are hoping an amicable solution will soon be found soon to this tourism ban.  As you know, it is the rainy season and the national parks are closed for tourism until Sept-November, depending on their location.

It is true that presently the Supreme Court has ordered that tourism be banned in core areas of all tiger reserves in the country.

The judge said that the ban should continue till it passes final orders in the matter filed by Bhopal-based environment protection NGO Prayatna. The NGO is demanding a ban on tourism in ‘core areas’ of tiger reserves while it can continue in the ‘buffer areas’ of tiger reserves.

The court had earlier directed the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), to submit final guidelines related to tourism in core area by July.   The court will hear now the matter on August 22 next, to examine the guidelines submitted by the authority.

The court also slammed the Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments for not delineating the buffer and core areas in tiger reserves in their states. Buffers must be defined and mapped before tourism can be banned in core areas.

These states will now have to pay Rs. 10,000 as fine. They have been given three weeks to issue notification on buffer zones in tiger reserve in their states.

TOFTigers has research to show that tourism is actually benefitting the tigers and the national parks with the highest number of tourists have the highest tiger populations, which are growing.  Let us know if we can send some data to  you.

We are confident that the Supreme Court will come to a reasonable conclusion and will not destroy an entire industry.  In all parks tourism parlty in core and buffer areas.

Vishal Singh / Director Travel Operators for Tigers Indian Wildlife Association

Royal Expeditions