Environmental impact of backwater tourism: with special to Kumarakom, Kottayam Dit. Kerala

This paper examines the environmental impact of backwater tourism in Kumarakom region. Vembanad wetland is the largest wetland ecosystem of the south west coast of India. The lake is a popular tourist destination and land surrounding it is highly sought after for development. Some voice concern that development could affect lake water quality negatively and threaten future regional growth. Backwater tourism in Kumarakom is gaining much attraction and importance nowadays. Of all the stake holders, the host local community in Kumarakom has great influence on the development and sustenance of tourism activities in their place. Their perception on tourism have far reaching consequences which affect themselves and the backwater tourism industry in Kumarakom. The results of the study show that the environmental impact of back water tourism is medium which means that there are negative effects on host community from their perceptions. At this point the research methodology contains a combination of qualitative and quantitative forms of enquiry, also called as ‗triangulation‘. Thoughtless visitors, their pet animals, and overuse of natural resources may disrupt wildlife by disturbing their breeding cycles and vary their character. These negative effects of backwater tourism not only vitiate the healthy tourism concept in Kumarakom but also it leads to the ultimate destruction of the estuary ecosystem of Vembanad Lake.