1. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of local people."
2. Responsible tourism observes basic eco-ethical tenets. Fundamental rights like the right to exist or to live in peace, right to pure air and pure water are basic rights even for wildlife, indigenous people as well as for nature as a whole.
3. Nature tourism and wildlife tourism are top priority for most foreign tourists, but in the Indian context, all picnics, nature walks, nature camps, trekking, hiking, safaris, jungle trails, mountaineering, cultural tours, pilgrimages, beaching, water sports, canoeing, boating and game-fishing should all observe eco-ethics. One step forward in ecotourism is to get involved in eco-restoration, biodiversity restoration and eco-development of local people in any degraded tourist ecosystem.
4. India, with her kaleidoscopic ecosystems and a wealth of cultural heritage of great antiquity has immense scope for ecotourism. Constant research to identify newer areas and spots for eco-tourism, preparing brochures on them and on the eco-ethics relevant to each, organising environmental trails and training knowledgeable guides, preferably using the services of the local people are the obligations of the tourism department.
5. This novel concept of ecotourism is so visionary that in the long run, it would be much viable economically, sustainable ecologically, acceptable socially and ideal philosophically rather than traditional tourism.
In the author's opinion, most Indian tourists -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → should observe ecotourism ethics
Paragraph 3 says that, in the Indian context, all picnics, treks, safaris, pilgrimages and other trips "should all observe eco-ethics". The author is saying what Indian tourists ought to do, so "should observe ecotourism ethics" is the author's opinion.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: observe ecotourism ethics — Incorrect. Misread: this states as a fact that Indian tourists already follow eco-ethics; the passage says only that they should.
Option 2: lack ecotourism ethics — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the passage does not say that Indian tourists lack these ethics; it gives advice, not a complaint.
Option 3: are aware of ecotourism ethics — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the passage says nothing about whether Indian tourists are aware of eco-ethics.