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ANNEXURE ECOTOURISM POLICY OF PUNJAB PREAMBLE Punjab is endowed with a very rich spectrum of landscapes, forests, wildlife, wetlands, community reserves, conservation reserves and cultural diversity. It is also home to several endangered species including the Indus Dolphin. The State has potential to become a premier eco-destination. Presently, a majority of tourists are deprived of experiencing other lesser known but potentially rich facets of the State’s natural heritage. Ecotourism or Ecologically Sustainable Tourism has been defined as responsible tourism to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local communities. General public are, now, more willing to visit the forests and appreciate their splendor and imbibe their values. The cause of the conservation of forests and wildlife can be further strengthened if they are allowed to be visited in a responsible manner and appreciated, respected and enjoyed by the public to encourage them to become a stakeholder in conservation efforts. Ecotourism is one of the tools whereby people are encouraged to visit natural beauty of the forests to promote action to conserve it. It is about striking harmonious synergy between cause of conservation, aspirations of local communities and need for sustainable travel. It accommodates and entertains visitors in a way that is minimally intrusive or destructive to the environment and sustains & supports the native culture. National Forest Policy, 1988 also calls for building a massive people’s movement for protecting natural forest as national heritage. With this background, the Government of Punjab has resolved to make the promotion of ecotourism in the State a priority area. It shall be developed in harmony with the broad framework outlined in the Tourism Master Plan for the state. The focus shall be on conservation of natural resources through awareness building, diversification of tourism activities and destinations, and local community participation and synergy with general development of tourism sector. This Policy is aimed at informing and sensitizing the general public and are related Government Departments towards ecotourism and laying down the framework for its growth in the State in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner. MISSION Strive to provide excellent ecotourism services to the visitors after following sound principles of eco-tourism, valuing the living community and recognizing the need to integrate the interests of people and nature.
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