Ratna Bharali Talukdar

Date of Publish: 2016-09-06

Kaziranga attracts 82 per cent of National Park visitors in Assam

 

A data analysis of the number of tourists visiting five National Parks in Assam between 2009-10 and 2014-15 has shown that there is a huge gap in the number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, visiting Kazirnaga National Park and four other National Parks of the state--Manas National Park, Rajib Gandhi Orang National Park, Nameri National Park and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. Kaziranga alone attracts 82 per cent of visitors to these five national parks.

Data analysis during this period also revealed that there is a huge gap in revenue earning between Kazirnaga Natonal Park  and four other National Parks.

These five important National Parks of the state covering a total geographical area of  2074.86 suqare km, provide shelter to a large number of endangered faunal and floral species.

 

Table – Tourists visit  KNP and other National Parks and revenue collected (2009-10- 2014-15)

National Parks	Domestic tourist	Foreign Tourist	Revenue collected in Lakh
Kazirnaga Natonal Park	6,71,360	44,882	1,176.88
Manas National Park	84, 781	1,783	142.69
Rajib Gandhi Orang National Park	12,130	795	14.87
Nameri National Park	33,099	3524	38.94
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park	20,069	244	7.32
Total	8,21,439	51,228	1,380.70

 

During this period altogether 8,21,439 domestic tourists and  51,228 foreign tourists have visited these National Parks. However, revenue generation of these tourists stood at only 1,380.70 Lakh.

 

Tourists visit KNP and other National Parks

Year	Kaziranga national park	Other National Parks
2009-10	1, 12, 844	17,485
2010-11	1,19,839	21,688
2011-12	1,24,829	32, 849
2012-13	1,01,165	25,598
2013-14	1,26,211	34,039
2014-15	1,31,354	26011
TOTAL	7,16,242	1,57,670

 

Altogether 7,16,242 tourists visited Kaziranga National Park during this period while the combined figure of tourists to other four National Parks stood at only 1,57,670.

 

TABLE - YEAR-WISE REVENUE COLLECTION OF NATIONAL PARKS   (2009-10 to 2014-15)

 

Year	Revenue earning KNP	Revenue earning other National Parks
2009-10	121.68	23.46
2010-11	136.73	19.75
2011-12	149.46	28
2012-13	205.76	33.86
2013-14	268.66	46.71
2014-15	294.59	52.08
Total	1,176.48	203.83

 

The yearwise data anayalis of revenue generation of Kaziranga Natioal Park and other National Parks too, has shown the differences. While revenue generation of Kaziranga National Park alone stood at  Rs. 11.76 Crore between 2009-10 and 2014-15, revenue earned by the  other four other National Parks was only Rs. 2.03 crore during this period.

 

Table - Tourists visit and revenue earning of KNP

Year	Indian tourist	Foreign  tourist	Revenue collected (in Lakh)
2009-10	1,05,264	7,580	121.68
2010-11	1,12,392	7,447	136.73
2011-12	1,17,308	7,521	149.46
2012-13	93,747	7,418	205.76
2013-14	1,19,289	6,922	268.66
2014-15	1,23,360	7,994	294.59

 

Kaziranga National Park

*Area- 858.98 Square kilometre

^*UNESCO World Heritage Site

*A tiger reserve

*A home to 80% of world’s total one horned rhinoceros.

*Highest ecological density of Royal Bengal Tiger.

*Home to world’s largest population of Asiatic Wild Buffalo and Eastern Swap deer

*Home to and nearly 500 species of birds.

*Significant population of Asiatic wild elephant

 

Table- Tourists visit and revenue earning of MNP

Year	Indian Visiors	Foreign Visitors	Revenue collected in Lakh
2009-10	8030	139	16.96
2010-11	10,843	503	14.67
2011-12	19,705	237	21.17
2012-13	15,890	218	25.48
2013-14	20,527	211	30.93
2014-15	9,786	475	33.48

 

Manas National Park

*Area 500 square kilometre.

*UNESCO world Heritage Site  in 1985

*Home to 55 rare and endangered mammal species, 50 species of reptiles and over 500 species of birds.  

Data analysis of MNP has revealed that inflow of tourists, both domestic and foreign -  to this National Park, having the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site, is very fluctuating. This has a subsequent impact on revenue generation of the National Park.   

 

Table – Tourists visit and revenue earning of RGONP

Year	Indian Tourists	foreing tourists	Revenue collected in Lakh
2009-10	1,628	325	3.11
2010-11	1,702	180	1.82
2011-12	2,678	159	2.44
2012-13	1,847	70	2.76
2013-14	2,329	16	2.43
2014-15	1,946	45	2.31

 

Rajib Gandhi Orang National Park

*Area of 78.8 suqare km

*The National Park is a birdwatchers paradise with varieties of resident and migratory birds.

 

Table - Tourists visit  and revenue earning of NNP

Year	Indian Tourists	Freign Tourists	Revenue Collected in Lakh
2009-10	4,342	346	2.79
2010-11	4,460	352	2.72
2011-12	5,601	457	3.5
2012-13	4,370	528	4.54
2013-14	5,886	806	11.26
2014-15	8,448	1035	14.13

 

Nameri National Park  

*Area  of 212 suqare km.

*This National Park  adjoins the 800 Square Km Pakhui Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh. *Home to over 300 avian species, Indian Bison, Asiatic Wild dog, Hialayan Black Bear, Capped Langur, Wild bear, Coulded leopard, Hornbill etc.

Data analysis has also revealed that there has been a steady flow of increase in Domestic and foreign tourists to this National Park, which has been reflected in revenue earning too.

 

Table - Tourists visited and revenue earning of DSNP

Year	Indian tourists	Foreign Tourists	Revenue collected in Lakh
2009-10	2,613	62	0.61
2010-11	2,351	40	0.55
2011-12	3,970	42	0.89
2012-13	2,656	19	1.08
2013-14	4,230	54	2.09
2014-15	4,249	27	2.1

 

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

*Area of 425 sq. km.

*It is home to a sizeable number of tiger, elephants, leopards, Asiatic water Buffalo and feral horses.   

 

The analysis of data of five National Parks has shown that possibilities of wildlife tourism is yet to be tapped thorough infrastructure development and  eco–tourism.

It is also needed to be studied if excessive pressure of tourists in  Kaziranga National Park would have any impact on the faunal species of the park, as only 15 per cent of the entire Park area is open for tourists.

The steady flow of domestic  as well as foreign tourists of Nameri National Park can be attributed to the approach to tap the potentialities through eco-tourism. Such approaches can be extended to other National Parks, and wildlife sanctuaries as well.  

 

Ratna Bharali Talukdar

Data source - Economic Survey, Assam 2015-16

 

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