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ABSTRACT
The aim of the present paper is to study the ecotourism potential of Salher Fort and to study the physical and biological features of the study area and to find the role of stake holders in sustainable tourism and environment friendly development. Ecotourism is defined as 'responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people.' The domestic tourists visiting Maharashtra doubled during the last decade, from 41.29 lakhs in 1991 to 84.8 lakhs in 2001, whereas the number of foreign tourists visiting Maharashtra increased from 7 million 1991 to 8 million in 2001. (Tourism Policy of Maharashtra - 2006, DTCA). Field visits and semi-structured interviews in an informal manner have been organized to collect the primary data. Target group has been set for an action plan in the form of the tourists and then comes the hotels, forest department and local indigenous people of the area. Salher fort is one of the hill forts in Western Ghat of Maharashtra. Salher is located at 20° 43' 50'' N latitude and 73° 56'45'' E longitudes. It has the distinction of being the highest fort in the Sahyadris. This site has a great ecotourism potentiality. The environment and culture of this place is undisturbed by unchecked growth that observed in city area. Tribal people of this area have their own culture and traditions. The researcher summed up the results like Period of Stay, Tourist disliking about the area, Transportation used, Occupation, Age and sex wise distribution, local food, craft and culture, season wise inflow of tourists to the area, benefits from tourism, expectations of local people from the ecotourism, etc have been studied thoroughly. The researcher is finally concluded that, the Salher fort is still unspoiled natural place. This site is an ecotourist attraction having good biodiversity, pleasing beauty of nature and ruggedness of physical landscape along with rich social and cultural heritage. The researcher tries to expose the ecotourism potentiality of Salher fort in the present paper. The present paper will be immensely helpful to the students, scholars, researchers, tourists, and the Government and will be a modest contribution in this field.
Keywords: Ecotourism, Salher Fort, biodiversity, Tourists, Tribal People.
INTRODUCTION:
The term ecotourism was coined...