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Implications of Ecotourism Development in Protected Areas: a Study from Rema-kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh

MP Rana
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet- 3114 (Bangladesh)

MP Rana
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet- 3114 (Bangladesh)

SA Mukul
Institutute of International Forestry and Forest Products, Dresden University of Technology, 01735 Tharandt (Germany)

S Akhter
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet- 3114 (Bangladesh)

Q Chowdhury
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet- 3114 (Bangladesh)

M Koike
Forest Policy Laboratory, Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa-Mura, 399-4598 Nagano-Ken (Japan)

MSH Chowdhury
Forest Policy Laboratory, Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa-Mura, 399-4598 Nagano-Ken (Japan)

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This article is based on visitors profile study of protected area based tourist spots of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary (RKWS), Bangladesh to ascertain the potential of ecotourism. Study findings shows that 69% male constitute the visitors group while the maximum number of visitors was found in the age of below 30 years. Most of the visitors were literate and among them 43% visitors were student. Most (53%) of visitors preferred to get recreation in holidays as they were employed. Visitors were highly preferred to come with friends group. About 92% respondents showed positive mind to come here in future while 89% respondents view that park has tourism potential. Most of the respondents reported the presence of wildlife (48%) most notable followed by plant diversity and tribal community as recreational. From χ² test it is found that highly significance association present between tourism potentiality of the wildlife sanctuary and some demographic variable like income of tourists (χ² = 49.138, p < 0.000), visiting pattern (χ² = 19.344, p < 0.000), education of tourists (χ² = 50.226, p < 0.000), traveling distance (Km - χ² = 11.427, p < 0.022), duration of staying (χ² = 12.867, p < 0.002), frequency of visit (χ² = 8.456, p < 0.015), visiting time (χ² = 6.530, p < 0.011), problem in the study area (χ² = 14.962, p < 0.021), occupation of tourists (χ² = 8.848, p < 0.031). If the problems addressed by the visitors were solved, RKWS would be a bright place of eco-tourism in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Ecotourism Search for “Ecotourism” on: iForest | PubMed | GScholar , Protected area, Tourism potential, Visitors, Bangladesh

Location: Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Tourism

Objectives:

Taking this view a head the present study was conducted in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary of Bangladesh to assess the recreation potential as a protected area, which will help the planner to provide an effective plan for its management and improvement. Also influence to increase protected areas for ecotourism development in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Site profile Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary (RKWS) is located approximately 130 km east-northeast of Dhaka and 80 km south-southeast of Sylhet in Chunarughat Thana, a sub-district of Habiganj District, Sylhet. The sanctuary is bounded by Tripura State (India) to the south and east, and Kalenga Forest Range to the north and west. Geographically, the area lies between 24°06’-24°14’N latitude and 91°34’-91°41’E longitude. The area falls under the Sylhet Hills zones ([26]), and the administrative area is known as the Rema-Kalenga Forest Range. Table one describes the main features of the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Data collection and analysis ^{To collect data and information, an opinion pull was conducted in the study areas. This was because most of recreation seekers were willing to pass their spare time in these eco-tourism spots. Visitor’s survey method was conducted for valuation of outdoor recreation. A total of 150 respondents were interviewed representing different socio-economic and occupational groups. The selection of respondents was done randomly to avoid serious biasness. The respondents were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaires designed for this purpose. The aim of survey was to gather information related to demography of visitors as the major stakeholder (e.g., age, education and occupation), visits to the park (e.g., frequency, season, time, purpose, form of visit, willingness to further visit), tourism potential of the park and problems faced by the visitors during visits. Descriptive statistics were derived to summarise the property of the dataset, while analytical methods (correlation and chi-squared test) were used to analyse the data and test for differences (at 95% level of significance). Analysis was conducted using SPSS ver 10.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Here, chi-squared test explains the relationship between tourism potential with other demographic variable.}

Source of Information: iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages 23-29 (2010)

Article Link (Online Journal): doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor0520-003

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Tourism in RKWS is a very new development. In order to develop this sector further, separate management plan and an action plan for tourism should be developed. Numerous people come to RKWS to see forests, wild life, and natural beauty and to visit the surrounding attractions. The park has a good potentiality for eco-tourism even though it does not offer any lodging facilities. Bangladesh government can create opportunities to develop the tourist industry (ecotourism) based on protected areas. Tourism as a wildlife and forest conservation and sustainable development tool can be promoted and from a community perspective it is expected to provide benefits that ultimately enhance local support for the conservation of natural resources. The result of the study did not reveal negative attitude about tourism development at RKWS but pattern of attitude involving tourism may change in the future as tourism develops. Therefore, further studies will be needed in the future to gather quantitative data on the performance of tourism at the protected areas in terms of ecological, socio economic and community conservation levels.

Knowledge Management: Journal