International Journal of Enhanced Research in Management & Computer Applications, ISSN: 2319-7471 Vol. 3 Issue 5, May-2014, pp: (17-21), Impact Factor: 1.147, Available online at: www.erpublications.com Page | 17 Eco-Tourism: Its impact in the conservation and development of Kaziranga National Park, Assam Seemanta Kumar Deka 1 , Sangeeta Kakoty 2 Abstract: Environmental pollution possesses a serious threat to life on earth and this is true not only to the areas where there is a great concentration of industry but also to those areas where there is a concentration of tourism activities. The new concept of tourism popularly termed as “Ecotourism” came into existence where utmost consideration is given to the conservation and development of the natural and socio-cultural environment in a particular tourist destination. In this paper an attempt has been made to study Kaziranga National Park on the principles of eco-tourism concept practices by Forest department and related organization for the conservation of the park. This paper also investigates the environmental impact caused by the development of tourism in Kaziranga National Park and also to search the path to minimize the negative impact on the environment by the use of eco- tourism concept. Keywords: Environmental pollution, industry, eco-tourism, natural and socio-cultural environment, tourist destination. I. Introduction Tourism Industry in today’s context is considered as one of the fastest growing industry of the world. As per “United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO),Tourism Highlights,2013 editions”, in 2012,international tourism generated US$1.3 trillion in export earnings and international tourist arrivals grew by 5% in 2013 to 1.087 billion. UNWTO also forecasts a growth in international tourist arrivals of between 4% and 4.5% in 2014. In the earlier times, the Romans practiced travel activities for pleasure purpose which was confined to the wealthy people but gradually with the development of industrialized societies in Western Europe and North America, large scale tourism had become a phenomenon among the masses. The introduction of railways, waterways, road and air transport have also boost up in the development of modern tourism. Now-a-days tourism has come within the reach of the common man and hence more and more people are travelling thereby increasing tourism related activities to all the parts of the world. II. Eco-tourism: The new emerging concept The “tourism industry”, though it may be considered as “smokeless industry” since it has the capability of earning foreign exchange for a country without exporting any tangible product, but the tourism activities in a particular tourist destination has a great capacity to pollute the environment as would any smoke ridden industry does. Today, environmental pollution possesses a serious threat to life on earth and this is true not only to the areas where there is a great concentration of industry but also to those areas where there is a concentration of tourism activities. Due to which a new concept of tourism popularly termed as “eco-tourism” came into existence which means tourism about nature, in nature and for nature. It is a concept used in tourism industry which gives more emphasis on environmental principles in the process of tourism activities in a particular tourist destination. Eco- tourism impact on the environment of particular tourist destination could be seen in the following ways. 1. It encourages the protection of the natural environment. 2. It helps in the development of economy of the local communities. 3. It provides a nature based environmental and cultural education experience for tourist.