Highlighting UP's potential for eco-tourism, experts speaking at a workshop on eco-tourism on Friday shared their views on promoting it in the state and also making it commercially viable. The workshop was organised by UP tourism.

The forest minister, UP, Fateh Bahadur Singh said, "We will have to develop Dudhwa national park and its surrounding areas to attract tourists. For this, the forest department and UP tourism will have to co-ordinate to promote eco-tourism." Manoj Kumar Singh, director general, UP tourism on this occasion said, "Being an ideal and popular destination UP has great relevance and importance to sustain eco-tourism. Though the concept has gained importance recently, UP has been experiencing various forms of eco-tourism all through the ages."

The key elements of eco-tourism include a natural environment as the prime attraction, an optimum number of tourists, activities which do not have any serious impact on the ecosystem and the positive involvement of the local community in maintaining the ecological balance.

DNS Suman, PCCF, UP cautioned against over indulgence. He said that eco-tourism should be promoted but it should, in no may, affect wildlife. For this it is must that even tourists should be educated. Tourists will have to be sensitised towards wildlife. The speakers also talked about making the tourist spots easily approachable as per a report in TOI.

While developing wildlife corridors, other heritage sites in the vicinity or on the route, should also be brought under the focus. Tourists can be taken to these places but, first, such places will have to be identified. To promote eco-tourism, it is also needed that a serious thought be paid towards making the journey relaxing and interesting for the tourists.

There is a need to develop retreating points. "Eco-tourism can not be made viable without local participation," said Jasjit Walia, APCCF, Himachal Pradesh. Asset development and improvement and better management of ecosystems could be the ways. The need to focus on PPP model was also highlighted by experts.