Title: Exploring community-based ecotourism in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, India: a literature review

Authors: Pawas Chaturvedi; Akhilesh Kumar Singh; Vaibhav Bhatt; Jigmie W. Bhutia; Amit Kumar Singh

Addresses: Department of Tourism, School of Professional Studies, Sikkim University, 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, India ' Department of Tourism, School of Professional Studies, Sikkim University, 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, India ' Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Central University of Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Tourism, School of Professional Studies, Sikkim University, 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, India ' Department of Tourism, School of Professional Studies, Sikkim University, 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, India

Abstract: Ecotourism has emerged as a sustainable alternative for fostering socio-economic development while safeguarding natural resources and cultural heritage. Protected areas (PAs) use ecotourism projects and initiatives as a strategic framework for conserving natural resources and community-led approaches to sustainable tourism development. This paper analyses the various issues, challenges, and opportunities for community participation in ecotourism initiatives within and around Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), an untapped wildlife ecotourism destination in Uttar Pradesh. An in-depth analysis (quantitative data analysis) based on relevant literature on the selected indicators, framed with the help of an appropriate literature review of community-based ecotourism (CBET), has been applied to answer the study's objectives. The study found the potential of untapped CBET in and around (in the peripheral areas) KWS. This paper provides an overview of the current state of ecotourism in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and highlights avenues for future research on community-based ecotourism in the area.

Keywords: ecotourism; community-based ecotourism; CBET; Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary; KWS; ecotourism opportunities; literature analysis; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2025.147805

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2025 Vol.24 No.3, pp.269 - 290

Received: 19 Mar 2025
Accepted: 22 May 2025
Published online: 01 Aug 2025 *

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