Ecotourism Development in Pamban, a Coastal Town of Tamil Nadu—A Participatory Approach

Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable (coastal) tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation, and conservation. Contributions to government income, foreign exchange profits, job creation, and business prospects are the key positive economic consequences of sustainable (coastal) tourism. Ecotourism aims to achieve an equity by means of exploiting sustainable resources that afford to the community well-being. It also involves giving local people a living wage while helping them preserves their communities and culture. Thus, this study aspires to explore the scope of local community participation for the development of coastal tourism in the Pamban, a coastal town of Tamil Nadu, India. The study spotlights the sustainable ecotourism and reveals the relationship between biodiversity and the local community. The findings of the study suggested appropriate recommendations on coastal tourism practices for the local community that are considered to be requirements for ecotourism development.