DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2013.v01i06.005

Pages: 251-252

Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation. India too is developing some parts of its states as ecotourism spots. The western coastal area of the India’s Maharashtra state better known as Konkan is now emerging as an ecotourism destination. Mumbai district of the Konkan region is a cosmopolitan city and is under immense pressure of urbanization, so development of any region as an ecotourism spot will be a remote dream. In the Thane district the Tungareshwar wildlife sanctuary is now a fast developing ecotourism stop. Similarly the Raigad district possesses Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary also developing as a major wildlife ecotourism destination. Kunkeshwar beach in the Sindhudurg district is already been entitled as a marine national park and is visit by ecotourist on a very large scale. All the above mentioned districts have many sites which can be developed in the future as ecotourism destinations. The ecotourism enhancement in the Konkan belt will lead to crackdown of illegal encroachments, full – scale study of the flora and fauna of the regions, buffer zone development in the ecotourism site and also conservation of the physical ecology of the region.