Ecotourism and Socio-Economic Transformation: A Case Study of Native Communities Around Khutaghat Dam, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

In Chhattisgarh, including places like Khutaghat Dam and Bilaspur, ecotourism has become a popular tactic to support economic growth while protecting the state's natural and cultural resources. With its abundance of species and natural beauty, the area has a great chance of drawing eco-aware tourists. To provide other sources of income for the local rural and tribal populations, efforts have been undertaken in recent years to promote ecotourism around Khutaghat Dam. The socioeconomic status of the local villages around Khutaghat Dam is still mostly undeveloped, nonetheless, in spite of these efforts. Programs for skill development are either inadequate or poorly executed, and women in particular continue to be underrepresented in ecotourism-related activities. Because of this, the expected advantages of ecotourism have not quite materialized into raises in the level of life for the local populace. Although ecotourism has raised awareness of sustainability and conservation, it has not yet succeeded in achieving the more general objectives of sustainable community development, according to an analysis of local government programs, tourist development plans, and scholarly findings. In the majority of nearby communities, the principal goalspoverty reduction, gender parity, better health and education, and food security remain unfulfilled. This circumstance emphasises how urgently integrated development planning and cooperation between the government, tourist authorities, local panchayats, non-governmental organisations, and community stakeholders are needed. To be really sustainable, ecotourism at Khutaghat Dam has to directly benefit the local people that protect and preserve the region's natural resources. The money received from tourism should be used to fund capacity-building, education, and infrastructure projects in the area. In summary, the socioeconomic standing of the local people around Khutaghat Dam does not currently correspond with the fundamental tenets of sustainable development. For ecotourism to become a vehicle for long-term socioeconomic development, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation in this area, inclusive policies and systematic implementation are desperately needed.