Assessing Ecotourism Potential As An Alternative To Mass Tourism In The Vicinity Of Medinipur Coastal Belt

Abstract

This research applies geospatial techniques and statistical analysis to identify potential ecotourism sites in four administrative blocks, viz., Ramnagar-I, Ramnagar-II, Contai-I and Deshopran, located in Purba Medinipur district s coastal areas, West Bengal. Ecotourism, which integrates conservation and economic development, can minimise negative impacts, build environmental awareness and respect for local culture, provide visitors and hosts with a positive experience and provide direct financial benefits for conservation needs. newlineThis study on Purba Medinipur s coastal belt focuses on ecotourism as a possible alternative to mass tourism, which is the usual trend in this area s sea resorts (e.g., Digha, Shankarpur and Mandarmoni). While the existing literature on the Digha coast has studied diverse themes, for instance, tourism, shoreline changes and impacts on land use, LULC changes, natural resources and economic activities, research exploring the ecotourism potential of the Purba Medinipur coast has, so far, been limited. The present study, therefore, seeks to contribute to this area of research, with a specific focus on geospatial techniques and statistical analysis to understand the impacts of tourism activities in the study area and the scope for developing ecotourism. Ecotourism, in this case, as this research suggests, can help in the sustainable development of the coastal stretch and protect it from the negative impacts of mass tourism. Moreover, ecotourism can also contribute to greater community participation and the growth of the economy of the villages surrounding the beaches (e.g., Soula and Changasuli), which have been discussed as potential sites (Chapter Four of this thesis). newlineChapter Two of this thesis discusses the change detection analysis used to identify the periodic changes (2005-2020) in LULC in these four coastal blocks, fulfilling the first research objective. The third chapter, which covers the second research objective, analyses the existing infrastructure situation of the study area u