India’s national parks attract millions of tourists every year. In the 2023-2024 financial year, Kaziranga National Park alone saw 3,27,493 footfalls, while Bandipur National Park registered 1.4 million visitors in 2023. Recently, the Bombay High Court issued a notice to Maharashtra’s chief conservator of forests after viral videos emerged showing safari vehicles carrying tourists obstructing the path of a tigress and her cubs in the Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. Uploaded on December 31, 2024, safari vehicles can be seen crowding around the tigress, identified as F-2, and her five cubs from both sides of a road in the buffer zone of the sanctuary. A fine of INR 25,000 was imposed on the SUV drivers, while nature guides were fined INR 1,000 each. Additionally, cases have been registered against them under relevant sections of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

　　This incident comes just two months after a committee appointed by the Supreme Court advised the permanent discontinuation of a bus service in the core zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), noting that wildlife like tigers and elephants were negatively impacted by it.

　　In light of these incidents, is overtourism becoming a problem in India’s protected reserves?

　　Not quite, says Dr Samir Kumar Sinha, chief ecologist at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), a not-for-profit nature conservation organisation that works to protect India’s wildlife and wild habitats. “The issue of overtourism has been significantly addressed after the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued guidelines for tourism inside tiger reserves,” he says. “However, non-tiger reserve protected areas may still face challenges. The problem largely stems from irresponsible tourism practices, as seen in the video of safari vehicles blocking a tigress and her cubs. Many tiger reserves have implemented measures to prevent such incidents. Safari drivers and nature guides, as key stakeholders in tourism, must act more responsibly.”

　　Compared to the past, the aforementioned incidents appear to have reduced after the forest department began taking stringent action to clamp down on irresponsible tourism operations, says Sinha. He recommends sensitising [Maruti Suzuki] Gypsy drivers and nature guides so that they understand that such behaviour reflects poorly on the protected area, with appropriate punishment meted out to repeat violators.

　　As for tourists who visit national parks, there are many ways they can model proper etiquette for themselves and others. For instance, they should respect the laws of the land and encourage others to do the same; request Gypsy drivers or nature guides to showcase less charismatic yet important and unique elements of the ecosystem; and appreciate and enjoy all components of the ecosystem.

　　Choosing a responsible tour outfitter is not an impossible task, either. Sinha recommends selecting operators who exert a minimal impact on local resources; partnering with those who directly benefit local communities through tangible contributions and responsibly used local resources; and selecting operators who have sensible and knowledgeable nature guides on their books. If visitors see a tour operator disrespecting the landscape and wildlife, they should provide this feedback to the forest department via a proper complaint/feedback mechanism, avoid using the services of such operators in the future and share their reviews on social media or travel websites.