Exploring Nature’s Abode: Unveiling Kerala’s Enchanting Forest Ecotourism Products
Abstract
The state of Kerala, renowned for its lush forests and diverse ecosystems, has embraced forest ecotourism as a means of sustainable economic development. This paper goes through the realm of Kerala’s enchanting forest tourism products, investigating tourist satisfaction levels and variations across different categories of tourists. The study’s objectives encompass comprehending tourist satisfaction with Kerala Forest ecotourism’s products and services and discerning whether satisfaction varies among foreign, domestic, and local visitors. The primary data was collected through structured interviews with a sample of 400 tourists who visited 16 forest ecotourism sites across Kerala. Secondary data was sourced from records maintained by the Kerala Forest Department, including official reports and information provided by the Ecotourism wing of the department. Satisfaction levels were measured using a 5-point Likert scale for 17 forest products. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and subsequent univariate ANOVA tests unveiled significant variations in satisfaction levels across different categories oftouristsforspecific products. Results showcased that tourist satisfaction with forest ecotourism products was moderate on average, with distinctions observed in satisfaction levels among different tourist categories. The study underscores the necessity of tailoring marketing strategies and product offerings to suit the preferences of diverse tourists. The findings provide insights for policymakers, tour operators, and local communities to enhance the attractiveness and sustainability of forest ecotourism in Kerala. Hence this research also sheds light on the complex dynamics of tourist satisfaction in Kerala’s forest ecotourism context.
References
Ambarita, S. T. P., Basyuni, M., Sulistyono, N., Wati, R., Fitri, A., Slamet, B., Balke, T., Bunting, P., & Munir, E. (2018). Landscape planning and economic valuation of mangrove ecotourism using gis and google earth image. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 96(19), 6306–6317.
Anderson, J., Mehta, S., Epelu, E., & Cohen, B. (2015). Managing leftovers: Does community forestry increase secure and equitable access to valuable resources for the rural poor? Forest Policy and Economics, 58, 47–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2014.12.004
Babu, R. A. (2012). Ecotourism; the Multiplier Waves: A Learning Experience of Thenmala Eco-Tourism Project in Kerala, India. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(5), 19–22. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-0451922
Bhuiyan, M. A. H., & Darda, M. A. (2023). Local perspectives of ecotourism development in the terengganu state of malaysia. Journal of Tourism and Development, 41, 187 – 200. https://doi.org/10.34624/rtd.v41i0.32418
Buultjens, J., Tiyce, M., & Gale, D. (2012). Sustainable Forest-Based Tourism in Northeast New South Wales, Australia: a Problematic Goal. Tourism Review International, 7(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427203108751776
Chen, B., & Nakama, Y. (2013). Thirty years of forest tourism in China. In Journal of Forest Research (Vol. 18, Issue 4, pp. 285–292). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-012-0365-y
Haron, H. I. C., Abdullah, H., Tajuddin, S. A. F. S. A., & Rahim, N. A. A. A. (2023). Bootstrapping on Tourist Satisfactions: Examine the Mediating Effects Between Determinant Factors and Tourist Intention to Revisit Terengganu’s Edutourism Destinations. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 18(6), 1691–1706. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.180605
Kerala Forest Department. (2022). Administration Report. 1–132. https://forest.kerala.gov.in/
Kumavat, P. P. (2021). A Study on Kerala Ecotourism and role of Marketing Strategies in the promotion of Ecotourism sites. Revista Review Index Journal of Multidisciplinary, 1(1), 21–26. https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm2021.v01.n01.005
Latham, J. E., Sallu, S. M., Loveridge, R., & Marshall, A. R. (2017). Examining the impact of forest protection status on firewood sufficiency in rural Africa. Environmental Conservation, 44(3), 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892917000066
Liang, H. (2016). Influence mechanism of development effect of forest ecotourism in China. Forestry Studies, 64, 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1515/fsmu-2016-0006
Nishad, A., GNANADHAS, M. E., & Rathiha, R. (2018). a Study on the Devlopment of Eco Tourism in Kerala. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 5(3), 52–58. http://www.ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_1590.pdf
Ogar, A. M., & Enete, A. A. (2010). Performance of forest management committees in Cross River state, Nigeria. Outlook on Agriculture, 39(4), 299–304. https://doi.org/10.5367/oa.2010.0020
Ranjith, M. (2020). To Examine the Potential and Scope of Ecotourism in Kerala with a Special Focus on Tourists to Ecotourism Destinations in Trivandrum. J.Tourism Hospit, 9(433), 269–2167 https://doi.org/10.35248/2167-0269.20.9.433
Rao, A., & Saksena, S. (2021). Wildlife tourism and local communities: Evidence from India. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 2(1), 100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annale.2021.100016
Rijal, S., Techato, K., Gyawali, S., Stork, N., Dangal, M. R., & Sinutok, S. (2021). Forest Cover Change and Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Community Forest in Mechinagar and Buddhashanti Landscape (MBL), Nepal. Environmental Management, 67(5), 963–973. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01430-9
Soman, D., & Anitha, V. (2020). Community dependence on the natural resources of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. Trees, Forests and People, 2(July), 100014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100014
Sreerekha, M. (2020). Ecology and Economy: A Case Study on Thenmala Ecotourism in Kerala , India. 8(6), 351–354. https://doi.org/10.12691/aees-8-6-4
