Ecotourism Potentiality of Bholagonj Stone Quarry

An thesis

T.A.M. Aktaruzzaman

Reg, no.: 2007621022

Session: 2007-08

Department of Forestry And Environmental Science

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.

Supervised by

Kazi Mohammad Masum

Lecturer

Department of Forestry And Environmental Science

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.

Course No: FOR 521

Course title: Project Work

July, 2011

Department of Forestry And Environmental Science,

Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, BANGLADESH.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

At present, ecotourism is a new movement helping travelers to increase their knowledge about natural resources, the cultural identity of hosts and ways of preserving them. Ecotourism is dependable to natural vicinities that conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people. Ecotourism is a minute but promptly growing industry working within a place market that is governed by market forces and regulations. It is primarily advertised as being equivalent to nature tourism in the market place. Ecotourism particularly has potential for development in local areas that offer ecologically interesting natural environment which are often combined with settlements of traditional ethnic people. Ecotourism is growing worldwide, generating significant revenues & providing potential incentives for protecting natural environments.

The world Tourism Organization defines tourism as moving from one’s usual place of residence for less than one year and more than 24 hours for reasons that are not related to in come earning activities (Kumar, 1995). Tourism is an increasingly essential element of economic, social and cultural development and it has has become on of the largest global economic activities (Western, 1993). Today both developed and developing countries realize economic and social benefits from tourism and constantly strive to gain a larger share of its benefits (Sultana, 2001). Sekhar, 2003 state that, until recently, tourism had not been viewed as potential income generating activity by the governments of South Asia. According to the European Geoparks Network (EGN) charter and Global Geopark Network regulations, all geoparks have to be established in rural areas (Zouros and Martini, 2003); thus, geoparks and geotourism are opportunities for rural development, and they reduce the rate of unemployment and migration in rural areas. Geoparks, by increasing the number of tourists, play an important role in local economic development. When geotourists move to geoparks, the money moves in the same direction, as if geoparks were in fact exporting something such as agricultural and local products to other places. Geoparks have to support the establishment of local crafts and replicas, as well as support local products. Thus, visitors to geoparks can actually take with them, together with emotions and knowledge, manufactured goods (Frey et al., 2006).

The geographical diversity of Bangladesh is a wealth of ecosystem, which is well protected and preserved. Bangladesh offers tourist attraction that is, hills, forests, wildlife, mangroves, sea-beaches, sea, river, lake, archaeological and historical relics, natural beauty, tribal life style and the indigenous culture. The Government of Bangladesh has been in continuous endeavor to integrate her ecotourism resources, planning, management & utilization which are based on the Principal of i) Optimum Multiple use, ii) Maximum sustainable use iii) conservation and development of the natural resource base. Ecotourism is a sizeable and growing industry for Bangladesh. One of the primary advantages of ecotourism is that it provides an impetus to expand both conservation and tourism development. The key players in the ecotourism business are the Government, the local authorities, the developers and the operators, the visitors and the local community. Each one of them has to be sensitive to the environment & local traditions and follow a set of guidelines for the successful development of tourism. In addition, non-governmental organizations and scientific/research institutions also have to play key role in the development of ecotourism.

Bholagonj is largest stone quarry in Bangladesh and one of the most attractive tourist spots in Sylhet division. It's about 48 km northwest of Sylhet town and takes one hour drive to reach there. Bholagonj is also a scenic spot nearby amidst tea gardens and rate beauty of rolling stones from hills. It is situated besides the river Dalai enters Bangladesh at Bholagonj, flowing westward from India making its way through the unions of Dayer bazaar, Toker Bazar and Islampur and joining up with Piyain river near Companigonj. It’s here that Musai waterfall streams down from Khasi and Jaintia mountains, in the Indian state of Meghalaya, across the border. Musai waterfall has its source near the small mountain station of Cherapunji which is nestled away high up in the East Khasi hills, and is known as the wettest place on earth. Dhalai and Piyain River carry with them vast quantities of stone. (Banglapedia, 2011)

There is a scope of observing the stone collection from the river in Bholagonj as well as enjoying the boating in the river Dalai. Due to the availability of these attractive natural features many tourists visit this area everyday. The local inhabitants are dependent on this spot in many ways for their livelihood different stone and tourism allied business have been developed to provide the local people with their earning sources. The present study focuses on the nature of tourism in Bholagonj region so as to help the sustainable tourism management of Bholagonj region by creating awareness among the administrative bodies as well as the people in general.

1.1. Objective

Ø To evaluate the ecotourism potentiality of the Bholagonj stone quarry area.

Ø To identify the existing problem so as to explore possible ways of improvement of the current situation.

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review

At present, tourism is an innovative movement helping travelers to increase their knowledge about natural resources, the cultural identity of hosts and ways of preserving them. A recent estimate suggests that over 20 million people in the world depend on mineral resource extraction on an informal basis for their living, a figure that is immensely more than those employed by the formal mining industries. Indeed, employment in the formal mining sector is steadily declining (ILO, 2002).

Carney (1999) and estimates by IFAD (2001) show that close to 70 percent of the World’s poor live in rural areas depending on agriculture as a source of livelihood and additional research predicts increasing numbers of the rural poor in the foreseeable future.

Mbaiwa (2002) conducted a survey in Okavango Delta located within Ngamiland District in northwestern Botswana to discuss the socio-economic and environmental impacts of tourism development. According to the study, tourism has stimulated the development of a variety of allied infrastructure and facilities, such as hotels, lodges and camps, airport and airstrips, in the Okavango region. Through its backward linkages, wholesale and retail businesses have also been established, especially in Maun, to offer various goods to the tourist industry. Tarred roads and other communication facilities have also been developed in Ngami land District partly to facilitate tourism development. Tourism in the Okavango Delta also provides employment opportunities to local communities and it is a significant source of foreign exchange for Botswana. Despite its positive socio-economic impacts, the industry is beginning to have negative environmental impacts in the area such as the destruction of the area’s ecology through driving outside the prescribed trails, noise pollution and poor waste management.

ILO (2003) shows that, activities on farms account for 60-75 percent of rural work and together with associated industries and services, is central to the livelihood of the worlds’ communities shows that, activities on farms account for 60-75 percent of rural work and together with associated industries and services, is central to the livelihood of the worlds’ communities.

In addition, geological heritage sites can generate employment and new economic activities, especially in rural regions in need of new or additional sources of income (El Wartiti et al., 2009). In this regard, geological landscapes that draw visitors to Ireland and Britain support a thriving tourist industry; for instance, the dinosaur coast project has marketed geology directly to the tourists (Mc Keever et al., 2006).

2.1. Ecotourism

Global awareness increasing about the importance of tourism development, its benefit and its possible effects on the society. Tourism provides economic, social as well as cultural development on the society. In 1990s tourism has been shaped as a culture industry (Western. D.1993). The international ecotourism society defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people (IES, undated).

Ecotourism refers to tourism that is based on the natural environment but that seeks to minimize the harmful impacts and better still, seeks to promote conservation. It focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. Appropriate ecotourism management includes some programs that minimize the adverse effect of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

TAT defines tourism as visit to any particular tourism area with the purpose to study, enjoy and appreciate the scenery natural and social as well as lifestyle of the local people, bases on the knowledge and responsibility for the ecological system of the area. Institute of Eco-tourism (Sriakharinwirot University, Bankok, Thiland) defines eco-tourism as ‘nature based’, sustainable managed, inclusive of social and cultural aspects, and educational to tourist (Pleumarom, 1997).

Eco-tourism has been defined as 'environmentally friendly' tourism, and classified by the International Eco-tourism Society (1991) as: "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people". In addition, the World Conservation Union (1996) defined it as "visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, has low negative visitor impact and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations". This report evaluates Eco-tourism in relation to natural environment and contribution to sustainable community socio-economic development through active involvement. Eco-tourism is one kinds of sustainable tourism, both environmentally and culturally, which has the capability to ensure economic and social benefits to the whole society. On the other hand when tourism is carefully managed development of the natural environment for the holiday market.

Eco-tourism has emerged from western environmentalism and mostly geared to the demands of western travelers who are well educated and genuinely interested in culture and environment. In Asia, however, domestic and regional tourist has been exploding. (Ghimire, 1996)

The concept of ecotourism is widely misunderstood and in practice, is often simply used as a marketing tool to promote tourism that is related to nature. Critics claim that as practiced and abused often consists in placing a hotel in a splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecotourism. According to them, ecotourism must above all sensitize with the beauty and the fragility of nature.

Sustainable and responsible tourism:

From the definition is: “Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the nature.” “Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and corrective measures whenever necessary. Sustainable tourism should ensure a meaningful experience to the tourist, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.” (WTO,2004)

Sustainable development means the development of something that can use next generation. Sustainable development implies “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. (WCED,1987).

Responsible Tourism:

There are some principle of responsible tourism, when a tourism site fulfill these then this tourism can considered as responsible tourism:

a) It minimizes the negative economic, environmental and social impacts.

b) Generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well being of host communities.

c) Improves working conditions and access to the industry.

d) Involve local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes.

e) Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity.

f) Provides more enjoyable experiences to tourists through more meaningful connection with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues.

g) Provides access for physically challenged people.

h) It is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourist and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

(Source: Cape Town Declaration Responsible Tourism in Destinations, 2002)

Once upon a time, tourism only confined surrounding the beach resort with some recreational facilities. But now a day ‘eco-tourism’ has developed as major tourism trend. The concept of ‘eco-tourism’ is now a common issue for the developing countries where it is still a new idea for the tourist industries in Bangladesh. Ecotourism means quite simply “ecologically sound tourism” or “ecologically sensitive tourism”. Hector Ceballos Lascurain, emphasis to development of ecotourism, he defined ecotourism as “traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations found in these areas” (Lascurain Ceballos, 1991)

From the International Research Group (1992) ecotourism is “travel for natural attraction”. Smrdon (1994) define ecotourism as “observers demanding for a high quality natural experience with low environmental impact”.

2.2. Guiding Principles of Ecotourism:

From the view of ETS Ecotourism follow several basic principles. From these seven are important. Which are as follows:

a. Minimize impact

b. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect

c. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts

d. Provide direct financial benefits for conservation

e. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people

f. Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

2.3. Ecotourist:

Ecotourist are the tourists who travel in the natural habitat and out side from their residence. From the definition of UNWTO “Tourist are persons who are traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more then one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. The distance between these two places is of no significance.” WTO defined tourism and classified the various types of visitors (WTO, 1995 as cited in Latham and Edwards, 1989).

2.4. Forecast of Ecotourism:

Ecotourism is now most profitable sector in the world. It has both economic and social benefit to the community. The service economy is driving growth in most of the countries. It represents a large part of economic activity and its importance continues to grow. Tourism, a large, complex and fragmented industry which is still very difficult to define and measure, is a key component of the service economy (30% of international trade in services in the tropical area). In terms of revenue, tropical countries generate about 70% of world tourism activity. Tourism, which has expanded dramatically over the past 30 years, looks set to continue growing as societies become more mobile and prosperous. Obtaining better information on services, the least developed side of statistics, is an important challenge for statistical agencies and a necessity for political analysis. Measuring tourism is part of a wider move to improve our knowledge of how economies work, what they produce and what changes occur over time. It is no longer enough to measure physical flows (arrivals and overnight stays) and monetary data (revenue and expenditure relating to international tourism). In the early 1980s, the OECD began work to set up a model acceptable at international level which gave rise to the OECD Tourism Economic Accounts, which measure certain socio-economic aspects of tourism.

Furthermore, together with the United Nations, the World Tourism Organization and the European Commission (Euro stat), the OECD has developed a " UN-WTO-OECD-EUROSTAT Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework", approved by the 25-member United Nations Statistical Commission on 1 March 2000. OECD and Euro stat regularly organize international forums on tourism statistics to share ideas, experiences and concepts with Member and non-members countries, the scientific community and the tourism industry.

2.5. Necessary Elements for Tourism Development:

For the successful development of ecotourism, most important is to create awareness among the local about conservation of nature, because nature is main base of ecotourism. Community assets, appropriate management strategy are the key driven force for tourism development in a country. There are various types of nature tourism, these are as follows:

Table 1: Elements of tourism development

Types of nature tourism	Hardcore tourist	Dedicated nature tourist	Main stream nature tourist	Causal nature tourist
Characteristics	Researchers or specialist educational groups.Local conditions essential as part of experience.	Make trips specifically to see protected areas. Local conditions part of experience	Elites, status conscious groups, on expensive, usual tours.	Incorporated into tour itineraries, seek western amenities.
Example in Asia	Collaborative research projects at Danjugan, Pi and Banggai, ID	Seashore watching at Handumon, PI	Tiger tops, Chitwan Hotel, Everest view, Nepal	Taman Negara Resort, Malaysia

2.6. Elements of Ecotourism:

There are several of factors, which attracts Ecotourist’s. It is important to recognize them and identify all potential ecotourism resource. Most ecotourist do not specialize but they are interested in all aspects of the environment and interesting culture. They don’t seek to become experts but they do want to be well informed. Important resources of ecotourism are as follows:

a) Geography: Peoples are interested in soils and what makes them different. They are fascinated by the erosion and other factors which help shape the surface of the earth as glaciers.

d) Spectacular features: The spectacular features like waterfall, lakes, grand forest, hilly topography etc attract all tourists including eco-tourist.

e) History: People want to know centenary of a very significance historical events.

f) Culture: There are many aspect of culture, which attracts eco-tourist.

g) Plants: All kinds and ages of tourist are interested in all sorts of plants from the largest to the smallest and they want to know what makes them special.

h) Animals: Animals are always interesting, however while large animals like tiger, elephant etc and small animals like earthworms and spiders.

2.7. Stakeholders of Ecotourism:

There are various interests, different motives, and aims of stakeholders in tourism. These are as follows:

Tourist: Visiting place of natural beauty and authentic culture for leisure, adventure.

Tourism-related industries: New marketing strategies to offer new products to environmentally oriented travels.

Local community as well as people: They are benefited from the employment opportunity.

Government: Boost tourist arrivals to increase foreign exchange.

Development agencies and financial institutions: Here include United Nation Funded Agencies, European Economic Community, USAID, World Dank, ADB, etc.

Conservation groups: This includes, WWF, IUCN, WRI

Consultant and researchers: Universities, international researchers on ecopark, tropical forests, tourism and eco-tourism, amongst others.

Students: Students of universities, Schools College, and other institution.

2.8. Amenities Provides by Ecotourism:

a) Increase funding for parks and reserve through tourism

b) Environmental education for visitors

c) Development of community based tourism

d) New jobs for local communities

e) Increase public awareness

f) Development of infrastructure

2.9. Impacts of tourism

2.9.1. Environmental impact of tourism

Areas with high-value natural resources, like oceans, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, unique flora and fauna, and great scenic beauty attract tourists and new residents (in-migrants) who seek emotional and spiritual connections with nature. Because these people value nature, selected natural environments are preserved, protected, and kept from further ecological decline. Lands that could be developed can generate income by accommodating the recreational activities of visitors. Tourist income often makes it possible to preserve and restore historic buildings and monuments. Improvements in the area’s appearance through cleanup or repairs and the addition of public art such as murals, water fountains, and monuments (part of making a community ready for tourism) benefit visitors and residents alike. Tourism is generally considered a "clean" industry, one that is based on hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions, instead of factories. Tourism can also degrade an environment. Visitors generate waste and pollution (air, water, solid waste, noise, and visual). Natural resource attractions can be jeopardized through improper uses or overuse. Providing tourist services can alter the landscape's appearance. For instance, visual pollution may occur from billboard proliferation. As tourism develops, demand for land increases, especially for prime locations like beachfronts, special views, and mountains. Without forethought, natural landscape and open space can be lost. The destruction or loss of flora and fauna can happen when desirable plants and animals are collected for sale or the land is trampled. Tourists or the businesses that cater to them often remove plants, animals, rocks, fossils, coral, and cultural or historical artifacts fro an area. Uncontrolled visitation or overuse by visitors can degrade landscapes, historic sites, and monuments. Where water is scarce, tourists can overwhelm the available supply. Travelers can also inadvertently introduce non indigenous species, as can increases in the trade of animals and plants. A constant stream of visitors and domestic pets may disrupt wildlife by disturbing their breeding cycles and altering natural behaviors. (Pirnar, 1993).

2.9.2. Economic Impacts of Tourism:

Tourism is one of the largest and dynamically developing sectors of external economic activities. Tourism increases employment opportunities. Additional jobs, ranging from low-wage entry-level to high-paying professional positions in management and technical fields, generate income and raise standards of living. Particularly in rural areas, the diversification created by tourism helps communities that are possibly dependent on only one industry. Its high growth and development rates, considerable volumes of foreign currency inflows, infrastructure development, and introduction of new management and educational experience actively affect various sectors of economy, which positively contribute to the social and economic development of the country as a whole. Most highly developed western countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, and France have accumulated a big deal of their social and economic welfare on profits from tourism. According to recent statistics, tourism provides about 10% of the world’s income and employs almost one tenth of the world’s workforce. All considered, tourism’s actual and potential economic impact is astounding. Many people emphasize the positive aspects of tourism as a source of foreign exchange, a way to balance foreign trade, an “industry without chimney” — in short, manna from heaven. But there are also a number of other positive and negative sides of tourism’s economic boom for local communities, which not always considered by advocates of tourism perspectives. Therefore in this paper I will consider the main social and environment impacts of tourism at the country level.

Horn and Simmons (2002) noted that the economic importance of tourism plays a role in determining residents' attitudes. As economic benefits increase, residents' attitudes become more favourable. In general, tourism is favoured by developing economies because it is a so-called invisible export (Brohman, 1996). This means it brings foreign exchange into the country without shipping any resource or product abroad.

The money that tourists spend remains typically in local hands. Research by Hampton (1998) and Scheyvens (2002) validates this point. Both researchers found that backpackers, typically explorers or drifters by nature, make significant contributions to local economies without triggering significant leakage. The money that backpackers spend goes directly to local people who themselves are supported by a network of local producers ranging from farmers to labourers to artisans. Therefore, small-scale, local investment in tourism has positive impacts on the local economy.

The enhanced economic performance of participating businesses will make ecopark a powerful economic development tool for communities. Such parks are likely to attract leading-edge corporations and open niches for new or expanded local ventures. Both will create new jobs in much cleaner industrial facilities. Companies in the region will gain new clients for services and buyers for products in the new firms in a park. Development of Ecopark will create programs for extending their economic and environmental benefits across a community’s whole industrial sector. This promises cleaner air, land, and water, major reductions in waste, and a generally more attractive environment.

2.9.3. Social Impacts of Ecotourism:

Socially tourism has a great influence on the host societies. Tourism can be both a source of international amity, peace and understanding and a destroyer and corrupter of indigenous cultures, a source of ecological destruction, an assault of people’s privacy, dignity, and authenticity.

Here are possible positive effects of tourism:

i. Increasing self-esteem of hosts and tourists

ii. Reducing negative perceptions and stereotypes

iii. Developing positive attitudes towards each other

iv. Learning about each other’s culture and customs

v. Developing friendships

vi. Psychological satisfaction with interaction

vii. Developing pride, appreciation, understanding, respect, and tolerance for

each other’s culture.

So, social contacts between tourists and local people may result in mutual appreciation, understanding, tolerance, awareness, learning, family bonding respect, and liking. Residents are educated about the outside world without leaving their homes, while their visitors significantly learn about a distinctive culture. Local communities are benefited through contribution by tourism to the improvement of the social infrastructure like schools, libraries, health care institutions, internet cafes, and so on. Besides, if local culture is the base for attracting tourists to the region, it helps to preserve the local traditions and handicrafts which maybe were on the link of the extinction. For example in Uzbekistan, particularly in such famous regions as Samarqand, Buhara, and Horezm tourists contribute significantly to the preservation of traditional handcrafting wood carving, hammered copper work, handmade silk and carpets, and of course to preservation and maintenance of architectural and historical monuments. Since Uzbekistan proclaimed its independence in 1991 many museums and monuments were renovated or opened to promote the national culture and traditions. Growing interest in this culture makes the local people proud of their way of life. On the other side tourism can increase tension, hostility, and suspicion. Claims of tourism as a vital force for peace are exaggerated. Indeed there is little evidence that tourism is drawing the world together (Robinson, 1999). In this context economic and social impacts on the local community depend on how much of the incomes generated by tourists go to the host communities. In most all-inclusive package tours more than 80% of travelers’ fees go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies, not to local businessmen and workers. On the other hand large hotel chain restaurants often import food to satisfy foreign visitors and rarely employ local staff for senior management positions, preventing local farmers and workers from reaping the benefit of their presence. Tourism has the power to affect cultural change. Successful development of a resource can lead to numerous negative impacts. Among these are overdevelopment, assimilation, conflict, and artificial reconstruction. While presenting a culture to tourists may help preserve the culture, it can also dilute or even destroy it. The point is to promote tourism in the region so that it would both give incomes and create respect for the local tradition and culture. There are also both negative and positive impacts of tourism on the local ecology. Tourism often grows into mass- tourism. It leads to the over consumption, pollution, and lack of resources. However, from the ecological point of view tourism is often more acceptable and preferable than any other industrial production, as it is environmentally friendlier. The problem is that it is not easy to change the traditional way of life of the local communities. It often creates pseudo conflicts. Undoubtedly in some regions or countries the alternative industries are even more harmful to the environment than tourism. Besides that in many countries of Asia and the Pacific, for example in Cook Islands, Samoa and others, tourism is the main source of income or the friendliest to the environment. It is at least better than chopping down the forests or destroying coral reefs.

2.10. Contribution of Ecotourism :

Ecotourism can provide direct and indirect financial benefits, it also play an important role in forest conservation. Contribution of ecotourism in forest conservation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are as follows:

a) Voluntary payment of higher entrance fees when the revenue is proven to support conservation efforts.

b) Donation of a portion of revenue used for conservation projects managed by reliable environmental organization.

c) Training of park rangers to be able to professionally guide and serve tourist.

d) Selection of responsible tourists who are highly motivated to protect nature and conserve wildlife.

e) Provision of knowledgeable guide who understand park interpretation and wildlife conservation. (sumarwoto, 1997).

2.11. Ecotourism in Bangladesh:

Ecotourism is the only way to develop sustainable tourism in any country. However, ecotourism is a very innovative concept in South Asian country especially in Bangladesh. Sustainable tourism allows visitors to enjoy an attractive phenomenon, communities, of region in such a way the local culture and environment remains unimpaired.

Bangladesh is the home of Royal Bengle Tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephant, monkeys, gibbons, otters and mongooses. Reptiles including the sea tortoise, mud turtle, river tortoise, phythons, crocodiles, gharials and a varieties of snakes. There are more then 600 species of birds, including the paradise Flycatcher and the most spectacular kingfisher and fishing angles (IUCN, 2000). The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical and tropical and there are six main seasons, namely: grishmo orsummer, Barsha or Monson, Shorot or Fall, Hemonto or Fall, Sheit or Winter and Bashonto or Spring. The

Table 2 : Foreign Exchange Earnings of Bangladesh from Tourism & Other Travels

Month	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Jan	273.80	297.50	259.00	457.00	450.42	653.71	561.13	749.28	649.24	495.98
Feb	218.10	260.60	327.00	393.70	502.73	554.11	624.04	585.06	579.46	496.98
Mar	196.10	336.20	355.90	425.90	468.50	538.94	471.90	527.79	518.90	565.97
Apr	219.00	312.50	241.10	309.40	335.56	411.62	387.22	459.35	473.85	427.37
May	240.50	282.70	226.30	305.00	347.95	452.02	449.95	423.06	538.21	342.11
Jun	221.70	313.00	288.00	279.70	301.23	394.96	366.17	509.52	417.71	473.03
Jul	207.10	267.50	302.30	303.60	296.98	398.14	346.63	461.98	453.03	320.97
Aug	170.50	251.50	232.00	285.90	354.61	424.16	363.72	417.30	439.32	431.37
Sep	193.40	245.90	217.30	293.10	334.14	362.29	342.54	464.46	350.65	368.06
Oct	187.00	205.00	265.10	247.90	332.67	327.95	359.68	415.67	361.99	525.26
Nov	234.80	277.70	224.20	250.42	324.45	444.50	440.25	519.39	461.28	477.14
Dec	291.80	262.50	371.80	415.94	444.65	568.25	551.96	591.66	518.60	638.46
Total	2653.8	3312.6	3310.0	3967.56	4493.9	5530.6	5265.1	6124.5	5762.2	5562.7
% Change	1.02	24.82	-0.08	19.87	13.27	23.07	-4.80	16.32	-5.92	-3.46

Sources: Bangladesh Bank

bangle region has a multi-faced folk heritage, enrich by its ancient animist, Buddhist, Hindo, and Muslim roots. Weaving pottery and terracotta sculpture are some the earliest from of artistic expression. The world heritage committee has included the Sundarban in World Heritage List. Largest unique sea beach in the world, situated in Cox’s Bazar, in one of the most attractive tourism place in Bangladesh.

Under Bangladesh Forest Department, 23 Protected Areas, 5 Eco-parks & 1 Safari Park (below table). The Safari & Eco-park project, Nishorgo-USAID Support Project, Sundarban Biodiversity Project, Forestry Sector Project have taken initiative step for the implementation of Ecotourism Project. Some of the protected area and eco-parks of Bangladesh specified below.

Table 3: The protected area and eco-parks of Bangladesh:

Sl.	Protected Areas	Forest type	District	Area (ha)	Established (Extended)
1.	Bhawal National Park	Sal Forest	Gajipur	5,022	1974 (1982)
2.	Madhupur National Park	Sal Forest	Tangile	8,436	1962 (1982)
3.	Ramsagar National Park	Sal Forest	Dinajpur	27	2001
4.	Himchari National Park	Hill Forest	Cox’s Bazar	1,729	1980
5.	Lawachara National Park	Hill Forest	Maulvibazar	1,250	1996
6.	Kaptai National Park	Hill Forest	Rangamati	5,464	1999
7.	Nijhum Dweep National Park	Coastal mangrove	Noakhali	16,352	2001
8.	Medha Kachapia Nat. Park	Hill Forest	Cox’s Bazar	395	2004
9.	Satchari National Park	Hill Forest	Habiganj	242	2006
10.	Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary	Hill Forest	Habiganj	1,795	1996
11.	Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary	Coastal mangrove	Bhola	40	1981
12.	Sundarbans (East) Wildlife Sanctuary	Mangrove Forest	Bagerhat	31,226	1960 (1996)
13.	Sundarbans (West) Wildlife Sanctuary	Mangrove Forest	Satkhira	71,502	1996
14.	Sundarbans (South) Wildlife Sanctuary	Mangrove Forest	Khulna	36,970	1996
15.	Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary	Hill Forest	Rangamati	42,087	1962 (1983)
16.	Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary	Hill Forest	Chittagong	7,761	1986
17.	Teknaf Game Reserve	Hill Forest	Cox’s Bazar	11,615	1983
18.	Banskhali Eco-Park	Hill Forest	Chittagong	1,200	2003
19.	Madhob-Kunda Eco-Park	Hill Forest	Maulvibazar	253	2000
20.	Kua-Kata Eco-Park	Coastal mangrove	Patuakhali	5,661	2000
21.	Sita-Kunda Eco-Park	Hill Forest	Chittagong	403	2006
22.	Madhu-Tila Eco-Park	Sal forest	Sherpur	100	1999
23.	Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park	Hill forest	Cox’s Bazar	900	1997
Visitors Guide to Bangladesh’s Protected Area.

Our country enjoys a unique position that easily accessible from many popular destinations in south Asia. This is a real adventure, and particularly true of the Chittagong Hill Tracts that provides a truly pristine and exiting destination for travelers. According to the lonely planet Bangladesh profile, three destinations were visiting are the Govinda Shiva and Jagannath Temple Putia, Rajshahi. St. Martin Iland, and Rangamati and Kaptai Lake in Chitaagong hill tracts and Madhabkunda waterfall in sylhet. All these features are very much popular in the country and all over the world. These tourism places are very much potential to provide employment opportunity, government revenue and earn foreign currency.

CHAPTER THREE

Study Area

3.1. General Information

Sylhet has a long and rich history, stretching back hundreds of years. Before it was conquered by the Muslims in the 14th Century, it was ruled by local chieftains. But Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal, came to Sylhet to preach Islam, defeating the then Raja Gour Gobinda. These days, Sylhet is one of the biggest tea producing regions in Bangladesh, including the three of the largest tea gardens in the world. Bholagonj in Sylhet district is another tourist spot which famous for the largest stone quarry in Bangladesh, purposively selected for my project work. The whole work was conducted Bholagonj under East Islampur union at the Companygonj upazilla of Sylhet district. Companygonj Upazila with an area of 278.55 km² is bounded by Meghalaya state of India on the north, Sylhet sadar on the south, Sunamgonj district on the east, Goainghat upazila on the west. Bholagonj is an important vivid tourist spot. A 100 square kilometer area around Bholaganj has an average elevation of 213 meters above sea levels.

3.2. Geography and Climate

Bholagonj, the largest stone quarry in Bangladesh under the West Islampur Union of Companiganj Upazila, is situated in the north eastern part of Sylhet and Sylhet is the North western part of Bangladesh and. Bholagonj is located at latitude and longitude are 25.16°N and 91.75°E. The Bholagonj stone quarry is surrounded by Chhatak Upazila in the east, Gowainghat Upazila in the west, Sylhet Sadar Upazila in the south and the Indian state of Meghalaya in the north. Bholagonj covers an area of about 5 square kilometres, of which the main quarry takes up about 2.5 square kilometres. It’s here that small mountain station of Cherapunji which is nestled away high up in the East Khasi hills, and is known as the wettest place on earth. Dhalai and Piyain River carry with them vast quantities of stone, which clog up around Bholagonj, Jaflong, Ballaghat and Bicknakandi, forming a series of bottlenecks.

Sylhet experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. The city is within the monsoon climate zone, with monthly average highest temperatures of 31°C (Aug-Oct) and average lowest temperature of 12°C (Jan). Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 3,334 mm occurs between May and September.

Table 4: Monthly average temperature, rainfall and no of normal rainy day

PARAMETER	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Max Temp (°C)	25.3	27.1	30.4	30.8	30.7	30.9	30.9	31.6	30.9	30.9	29.2	26.3
Mini Temp (°C)	12.5	14.2	18.3	20.9	22.6	24.4	24.9	25.0	24.3	22.5	18.4	14.1
Average Rainfall (mm)	9.4	36.2	155.3	375.6	569.6	818.4	819.2	612.6	535.9	223.9	30.4	9.4
N0. of Normal Rainy Day	2	4	9	16	20	22	25	22	18	8	2	1

3.3. Area

Bholagonj stone quarry is located at companygonj upazila . There are six union in companygonj upazilla. General information about East and West Islampur union given below:

Table 5: General information of Companygonj Upazilla:

District	Sylhet
Upazila	Companiganj
Total No. Unions	6
Total No. Villages	148
Union	East Islampur	West Islampur
Area	51.46 km2	53.68 km2
No. Villages	29	32
Population	19,056	27,800
Families	3,279	4,752
Colleges	-	2
High Schools	3	4
Primary Schools	11	15
Madrasas	4	6
‘Katcha’ Road	52 km	46 km
‘Pucca’ Road	4 km	13 km
Health Centres	0	0
NGOs	-	8

Figure 1: Google map of the study area

Figure 2: Map of Study area

3.4. History of Study Area

Sylhet has a long and prosperous history, stretching back hundreds of years. Before it was conquered by the Muslims in the 14th Century, it was ruled by local chieftains. But in 1303, the great Islamic religious teacher, Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal, came to Sylhet from Delhi with a band of 360 disciples to preach Islam, defeating the then Raja Gour Gobinda. Inspired and influenced by Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal, Sylhet became famous for its religious teachers, shrines and saints. These days, Sylhet is one of the biggest tea producing regions in Bangladesh with over 150 tea gardens, including the three of the largest tea gardens in the world. The stone quarries located in Sylhet District have been active since the end of the Second World War, in the late 1940s.

Most of the stone was collected by using local river-rafts made of three timber planks, known as ‘barkees’. The village included a school, a mosque, rest houses, homes and shops. With the help of the ropeway, extracted stones were transported to Chatak for use in the railway. With the development the local roads and construction of a major highway since 1996, the demand for stones has increased dramatically, and this has seen intensified efforts to harvest the stones in the Dhalai River. A direct consequence of this is that the river’s surface deposits have been virtually depleted, and since 2000 local workers have had to dredge the river banks during the dry season, just to meet their stone-collecting quotas. Also, the recent installation of crushing machines has sped up stone processing operations, and this has increased overall productivity rates.

3.5. Limitation of the study:

This study symbolized the actual condition of the study area. As the study was conducted for educational importance the field work was not intensified due to shortage of time and fund. Sufficient secondary data was not available because of No previous study performed on the estimated area. Moreover the study area was so far from the institution. It was also a problem that the respondents sometimes was also not interested to provide the correct information.

CHAPTER FOUR

Materials and Methods

The study covered the Bholagonj and includes Companigonj Upazila, under Sylhet district. The study involved collection of field data and review of the existing secondary information on the study area, with secondary data being acquired from various government and non-government sources and primary data through field inventory and observation, and informal interviews and in-depth discussions with various local people, business man, shopkeeper, inside villagers and local elites of the region. Attempts were also made to informally interview a few tourists. The study carried out during May to Feb-May’2011. There is no previous research work undertaken in the area. All the search were made to assess the potentiality of Bholagonj stone Quarry on the basis of 3 ecotourism core criteria:

Nature Based Atraction: Ecotourism is primarily nature-based in terms of its attractions and products, with associated cultural influences - contemporary, historic and archaeological - constituting a significant ancillary component. Fcotourism products can range in scope from a 'holistic' emphasis on an entire ecosystem (with its associated cultural influences) to an 'elemental' focus on specific charismatic megafauna (e.g. giant pandas, quetzals, orangutans, koalas, sandhill cranes), megaflora (e.g. redwoocis, rafflesia) or megaliths (e.g. caves, volcanoes, mountains) that is largely driven by popular consumer image and demand.
Learning Opportunity: Ecotourism fosters learning opportunities, partly through the provision of formal product interpretation, but also through the maintenance of conditions (e.g. tranquillity, trails designed to minimise visual contact with other walkers, etc.) that facilitate informal personal interactions with, and appreciation of, the natural environment and associated cultural influences. Principles of effective interpretation, such as those proposed by Weiler and Ham (2001), should at a minimum foster visitor satisfaction and a basic understanding of target natural and cultural attractions.
Socio-cultural and economic sustainability: Third and most contentiously, ecotourism should be managed so that it is conducive to sustainability. Socio-cultural and economic sustainability were measured in terms of the following parameter -

a. Tourists potential

b. Visiting Intensity

c. Visitor’s perception

d. Demography of local people

4.1. Selection of the study area:

Bholagonj is a recognized as tourism place of Sylhet. It is well known to the country people for its unique tourism value and greatness in quarrying stone. So Bholagonj region was selected purposively to conduct my study.

4.2. Pre-testing of Questionnaire:

To finalize the questionnaires, one pre-test was carried out with the following objectives:

a. To obtain a proper design for the questionnaires.

b. To test and verify the coverage of items and deficiencies in the questionnaires.

c. To make it meaningful, Practicable and convenient to the respondent.

Finally, the questionnaires drafted were a compromise between the requirement and ability of the respondents to furnish the data. While designing the questionnaires, factors regarding easy statistical analysis, processing of raw data and information generation, requirements were pre considered.

4.3. Preparation of Questionnaire:

Two semi-structured questionnaire one for the tourist and one for the local resident. was designed to elicit relevant information covering tourism statues of the local people , operational characteristics of the respondent and tourist such as occupation, type of accommodation, type of business, purpose of visit, mode of travel, tourism related employment, no of tourist visit per day, leasing price of this spot per year, in a word, over all management pattern and tourism condition of this spot

4.4. Selection of Respondent:

Visitors were selected randomly to know the nature of visitors and their opinion. And to know the status of tourism of the local community total 50 tourists and 30 local responded in which 15 stone quarry labor were selected randomly in Bholagonj stone quarry village region.

4.5. Collection of primary Data:

Relevant primary data were collected from respondent tourists through field survey using the prepared semi –structured questionnaire. Face to face interviewing of the respondents was under taken to have answers of the semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed wide areas relating to the socio-economic, demography, educational status of the respondent; tourism pattern of the study area, environmental reliability, employment opportunity of the respondents, type of employment, sanitation facilities of the respondent family and tourist center and over all information of tourist and other various information were collected from the field. Three visits were made in six months research time schedule with the questionnaire, each at two month interval to the study sites for necessary correction, collection and modification of field data.

4.6. Collection of secondary data:

General background information and maps of the study area were collected from the office of Bangladesh Bureau of statistics in Sylhet and Companigonj Upazila. Relevant information about the study was compiled in the literature review. Information had been collected from different books, articles, journals, brochures, thesis papers from the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, (SUST) seminar library, central library of SUST, Companigonj TNO office and Thana Education office and parjatan office of Sylhet.

4.7. Sorting of Data:

Finally all the information collected from the field was analyzed carefully. All the secondary data were sorted carefully and then only the necessary and relevant information were set aside for compilation and analysis to avoid unnecessary bulk of paper. Intensive care was taken regarding the applicability, reliability and validity of information.

4.8. Compilation and Analysis of Data:

The required information from the field so collected and sorted out were compiled to prepare meaningful master data sheet, manipulated into convenient forms as usual in the result and discussion section subsequently. After sorting data were complied and then analyzed statistically with the aid of calculator and some computer package programmed viz-MS –Word, MS Excel. Percentage of different parameters was found out to generate information. Processed data were presented in the form of table.

CHAPTER FIVE

Result & Discussion:

An emphasis on nature-based attractions, learning opportunities, and management practices that adhere to the principles of ecological, socio-cultural and economic sustainability are described below with a complete reference from Bholagonj Stone Quarry, the most attractive nature based tourist attraction of the north eastern part of Bangladesh.

5.1. Nature based attractions

Sylhet is well known for its lavish hospitality, traditions, varied life styles, cultural and natural heritage. It’s Bholagonj stone quarry is not only naturally attractive but also has historical value.

5.1.1 Attraction for visit:

In Bholagonj there are five categories of natural beauty were identified. Among these 33% area occupied by the river Dalai followed by stone quarry 23%. Bholagonj is

Figure 1: Different category of Nature Based attractions in the study area

the border side area of Bangladesh. Indian Khashi hills adjacent to this area that can satiate the tourist mind. Ropeway conveyor of Bholagonj stone quarry take up 17 % attraction for the tourist view. Orange garden of Bholagonj can magnetize the tourist in Bholagonj.

5.1.2 Dalai river: The Dalai River is the natural heartbeat of Bholagonj, the stone quarry's location right on the river banks makes Bholagonj one of the most beautiful place at Sylhet. There are hundred and twenty boats available on Bholagonj. As all of the boats use to collect stone these are called barkee. Tourists can rent a boat in hour basis and go to other side of the river that is belong to Bangladesh Tourist can enjoy boating and at the same they can observe the stone collection from the river also can enjoy the crystal clear water of the

Table 6: Nature based attractions of the study area.

Serial No.	Attraction	Related pleasure
1	Dalai River	Boating Swimming River side charm Crystal clear water Stone collection from the river
2	Stone Quarry	Stone of three types Stone collection procedure Water way transportation
3	Indian Khasi Hill View	Eye soothing beauty Waterfalls Indian hill slope homegarden and roads.
4	Ropeway conveyor	Ropeway Landing stations
5	Orange Garden	Garden view

Dalai river. Other side of the river from the parking point is the ideal place for swimming. From this side can observe stone quarry, Indian hills and waterfalls from the hills.

Slide 1: Stone collection from the river

5.1.3: Bholagonj Stone Quarry surrounds an area of about 5 square kilometres, of which the main quarry takes up about 2.5 square kilometres. Stones are categorised differently, according to size, and from the smallest size to largest, and cheapest to most expensive, are known as Single, Botu and Bolders.

Table 7: Types of stones quarried in the study area.

Name of the stone	Type of stone
Single	Small stone (1 inch or below)
Botu	Medium stone (1-5 inches)
Bolder	Big stone 5 inches or above)

Slide 2: Bholagonj Stone quarry

Slide 3: Panoramic view of stored stone with the hills

5.1.4. Hills: Bholaganj near Companyganj, with eye-soothing view of Indian Meghalaya hill in the northern side, emanates the murmuring sound of the Dalai River and allures the visitors. There are a series of hills and ranges which gradually slope down to an altitude. In the central sector, the hill ranges run parallel from west to east forming the highest part of the district with an average altitude of about 1,400m. Migratory birds, natural beauties and stone collection enrich the significance of Bholaganj. The hill possesses eye soothing beauty for the tourists of home and abroad.

Slide 4: Unloading of stone from Barkee

5.1.5. Ropeway conveyor: Ropeway conveyor will definitely satiate the desires of tourists. Ropeway conveyor is a type of lift that carries goods (stone) rather than passengers was constructed to advance stone transportation system. One hundred and

Slide 5: Ropeway conveyor is carrying stone

Slide 6: Busy portion of Dalai river

twenty towers, four substations and an excavation machine were set-up along the eleven-mile long ropeway and the whole thing was powered by two diesel-run electric generators on either side.

5.1.6 Orange garden: There are private owned orange garden besides Bholagonj at east Islampur Union. The garden view is so pleasant to attract a tourist. But it is matter of great sorrow that for increasing the stone quarry zone the area of orange garden are decreasing rapidly. As a result the production of Orange reducing day by day.

Slide 7: Barkee of inseparable part of stone quarry

5.2. Learning Opportunity:

Bholagonj stone quarry has unique characteristic and could provide some important learning opportunity for the visitors such as follows:

Table 8: Learning opportunities available in the study area:

Sl. No.		Learning opportunities
1.		Stone collection procedure
2.		Stone crashing process
3.		Ropeway stone transportation
4.		Livelihood pattern of stone collector
5.		Identify the traditional culture
6.		Border side security information
7.		Interaction between human and nature
8.		Deforestation through stone quarry
9.		People dependency on natural resources
10.		Orange cultivation

a) Stone collection procedure: Stones are collected from Bholagonj stone quarry using two different procedure one is using the local barkee or stone-carrying boats that’s the miners use Jhaki to remove the stones from the riverbed, and lift them onto the barkee. After collecting stones from one spot on the river, the barkees move on, and repeat the process in another suitable spot. The other common technique that’s typically used for stone collection is the well-excavation method. Usually some investors rent a parcel of land and they recruit a group of laborers to work that area known as pathorer kup or stone excavation area, in the local language. The laborers extract the stones by install sand-clearing or shallow machines, the rods with attached fans, to clear out this water. Workers use crowbars, shovels, strainers and baskets to remove the stones from the well.

b) Stone crashing process: After collection the stone from the river to get desired sized stone need to crash it. The crashing station is located beside the stone quarry.

c) Ropeway transportation: To minimize the shortage of labor ropeway conveyor play a big role. Carrying system of the stones by ropeway conveyor is one of the prime learning opportunity in Bholagonj stone quarry.

d) Livelihood pattern of stone collector: The indigenous people and the foreign worker and business man vastly depend on the Bholagonj stone quarry. Few of them collect stone from the river, someone transport it to the river bank and many of them convey it to the quarry zone. Thus the whole system of the quarry has a major effect on local people’s livelihood.

e) Cultural heritage: Traditional cultures existing in natural areas. These could be the best way to know about the cast and culture of that area and also persons representing local cultures or indigenous peoples.

f) Interaction between human and nature: Bholagonj bring tourist closer to nature, open up to new ideas and give a wonderful new experience without harming the environment.

g) Border side security knowledge: Bholagon stone quarry right on the border between India and Bangladesh. BGB men are guarding the pillars and constantly reminding the stone collector and the tourists what need to do to keep the BSF from accidentally firing.

h) Deforestation through stone quarry: Stone quarry is not suitable for the growth of plantation. Again to get early return day by day enlarge the stone collection at a alarming rate. As a result oblivious residents of this area indifferent for plantation rather then cut the trees to expand the area of stone quarry.

5.3 Socio-Cultural and Economic Sustainability:

From the study it was found that the residents of the village around Bholagonj stone quarry, engaged directly to the stone quarry. About 500 families directly or indirectly engaged in the stone quarry. It was found that the socioeconomic condition as well as their monthly income, income from the area, their educational facilities and impact of establishment of this area increasing day by day. It was originated that, about 70% of household directly engaged in this spot for their daily income. Some family moderately depends on the spot for their livelihood.

5.3.1. Tourists potential

5.3.1.1. Number of Tourist visited the study area:

Bholagonj stone quarry is one of the popular tourist spot in Sylhet region and the tourists are frequent here. Tourists are available all round the year, but tourist arrivals increases in holydays and pick season (December-March). Study revealed that maximum number of tourists visit the area from December to March. On the other hand, least number of tourists visit the area in the month of July. In case of year 2008, the total number of tourists visiting in the area 27,271. In case of year 2009 and 2010 total numbers of tourists visiting Bholagonj were 35596 and 44560 respectively. Therefore it is shown that the number of tourists visiting Bholagonj are increasing every year i.e. as a ecotourism venue this spot is becoming popular day by day.

Table 9: Total No. of tourist visited the study area during 2008-2010

Month	Year,2008	Year,2009	Year,2010	Year Total	Average
January	4245	5149	5743	10892	3631
February	4156	4960	5823	10783	3594
March	3274	5396	5474	10870	3623
April	1965	2783	3594	6377	2126
May	1459	1967	2645	4612	1537
June	685	946	1298	2244	748
July	612	876	1063	1939	646.3
August	1243	1637	2149	3786	1262
September	1527	1854	2374	4228	1409
October	1723	2175	3756	5931	1977
November	2985	3568	5264	8832	2944
December	3397	4285	5323	9608	3203
Total	27271	35596	44506	80102	26701
Monthly average	2273	2966	3709	6675	2225
Daily Average	76	99	124	222.5	74
Increasing rate from the previous year	-	30.48%	25.05%	-	-

5.3.1.2. Visitor’s Education Level:

Most of the tourist in the study area is educated. Among the literate tourists, the highest 37% tourists are undergraduate followed by secondary 13%. This implies that education plays a vital role in determining the demand for nature based recreation

Figure 2: Visitor’s Education Level at the study area

in the study areas. Thus it seems the spot attracts educated persons who like to take advantage of unique opportunities. According to the survey, the lowest 3% are Illiterate. Figure 2 shows the education level of the tourist in the study area.

5.3.1.3. Occupation of the visitors

Study refers that approximately 2200 people visit the area in the pick season (winter) and in summer at least 1500 tourists visit this place per day from different part of the country. In the study area found that the highest 42% of tourists are service holder

Figure 3: Occupation of the visitors in the study area

and 24% are students. Only the lowest 13% of the tourists are others. This indicates that service holder dominate recreational activities in the study area. The students enter here to complete their study tour. The service holder and businessman are entering here to pass their holiday. Figure 3 enclose the occupational demography of the traveler.

5.3.2. Visiting Intensity:

5.3.2.1. Pattern of visit

Tourism is the natural habit of people. Most of the tourist visit different famous place for passes their leisure period or holiday with friends and relatives. Bholagonj is such type of tourism place. From the study found that the composition of tourists indicates the highest 43% tourists prefer visit this place with their friends followed by family 27%. Figur 4 indicates the visiting pattern of the tourist.

Figure 4: Pattern of visit

5.3.2.2. Frequency of Visiting:

From the two types of tourists were found in Bholagonj: first time visitors, which was the largest group 93%, followed by second time visitors 7%. From this study found

Figure 5: Frequency of Visiting in the study area

that first time visitors were more than the second time visitors. Therefore, it can be said that as an eco-tourism potentiality of Bholagonj is now in explore stage.

5.3.2.3. Duration of Stay:

The field study indicated that maximum tourists stay at Bholagonj for four hours followed by 3 hours (20%). Therefore the average stay at the spot by the tourists is 3 hours. The table 10 represents the duration of stay by the visitors in Bholagonj.

Table 10: Duration of Stay of the visitor in the study area

Visitors Category	Total No. of Tourist (%)	Duration of Stay (Hours)
Family	27	4
Couple	3	2
Educational	20	3
Individual	7	2
Friends	43	4
Total	100	15
Average		3

5.3.3. Visitor’s perception

5.3.3.1. About recreational development activities:

From the study found visitor’s perception about recreational development activities on existing condition in Bholagonj Forty seven percent of the respondents were of the opinion that Bholagonj needs moderate improvements, followed by 33% who desired huge improvements.

Figure 6: Visitor’s perception about recreational development activities

5.3.3.2. Willingness to come in future:

From field survey it was found that maximum tourist willingness to coming here in future that was 73%, which indicate greater potential of the area for ecotourism.

Figure 7: Willingness to come in future

5.3.3.3. Problem faced by the tourists:

The interviewed tourists identified the main problem was transportation. Other problems were unhealthy toilets, scarcity of pure drinking water, sitting arrangement, security etc. There was not enough sitting arrangement especially after heavy downpour. 8% mentioned sitting arrangement problem. Here only two toilets but its’ conditions were

Figure 8: Problems focused by the visitor

so poor. 9% respondents mentioned sanitation problem. 26% respondents seemed that drinking water was the another vigorous problem. There was no pure supply of drinking water. People visited here with bottled water but indifferent and unconscious visitors through it here and there so plastic bottles create another problem. 6% interviewee emphasized security problem.

5.3.4. Demography of local community

5.3.4.1. Occupation of the respondent in the study area:

Socio-economic status of the local community was observed to be influenced not only by their direct and indirect affiliation with the stone quarry area but also their income generating activities in the surrounding areas. This study explored that respondent in the study area engaged in different types stone collection, quarry and crashing related occupation .The highest 45% respondent engaged with stone quarry labor followed by 25% respondents are work as related business such as stone, cosmetics, local handicrafts, toys ,restaurants, sil pata etc. The day labors work in stone crashing industry and put out stone from Dalai River adjacent to the study area. They earn for this away 100-250 taka per day. Followings are the demography of the occupation of the respondent in the study area.

Table 11: Types of occupation of the respondent

Name of the occupation	Percentage (%)
Business	25
Guide	5
Farmer	10
Day labor	45
Others	15
Total	100

5.3.4.2. Monthly income of the respondents in the study area:

The study reveals that in the area the highest (33%) respondent’s monthly income range fall under 5001-7000 TK followed by 23% respondent’s monthly income range fall under 7001-9000TK. The lowest 6.7% respondent’s monthly income is 12000+. Bellow figure ascertains the income range of the respondents.

Table 12: Monthly income of the respondent in the study area.

Income range	Respondent Number	Percentage (%)
<2000	1	3.3
2001-5000	6	20
5001-7000	10	33
7001-9000	7	23
10001-12000	4	13
12000+	2	6.7
Total	30	100

5.3.4.3. Seasonal variation in income level of local community:

From the study it was found that there was a big change of income of local community in Bholagonj as a tourist spot. The local community was not economically good condition. Most of the respondent’s income of study area sources is stone related business. But later than rainy season stone collector become jobless. And then many of them like labor, related businessman engage with tourism activities. In peak-season (Oct-March) the income group of 5001-7000 tk/month was 40% that was higher than the non-tourism activities income. Again the non-tourism activities income group of over 12000 tk/month was less than the peak-season tourism income.

Table 13: Tourism related (Guide, parking, boating, small business) income:

Income Level/Month(Taka)	Off-Season Income(May- Sep)		Pick-Season Income(Oct-April)		Income Average
Income Level/Month(Taka)	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
<2000	8	27	0	0	4	13.3
2001-5000	6	20	2	6.7	4	13.3
5001-7000	7	23	12	40	9.5	31.7
7001-9000	5	17	9	30	7	23.3
10001-12000	3	10	4	13	3.5	11.7
12000+	1	3.3	3	10	2	6.67
	30	100	30	100	30	100

5.3.4.4. Changes of Socioeconomic Condition of local People:

The people of these villages are poor. A small quantity of people are educated, others are illiterate. Main income source is agricultural and stone related business. But increasing family member is the main cause of their poverty. Now they have no sufficient land for cultivation, as a result they are depend on other stone collection, quarry and crashing activities. After establishment of this tourist, huge people got employment opportunity. In the pick season the people of surrounding villages are absolutely depend on the park for their daily income activities. No. of people are engaged with the business of showpiece, ornament, food, water selling inside the park. Local Upazila Parishad informed me that after establishment of this area as a tourist spot unemployed people decrease last five years. From field survey it was predict that, positive socioeconomic change is occurring in the study area. Table 14 shows the changes of socioeconomic condition of this area:

Table 14: Change of local socioeconomic condition

Year	2006	2008	2010
Percentages unemployed people	27%	22%	16%
Percentages of education	14%	19.5%	23%
Percentages of poor people (under poverty line)	47%	42%	33%

Source: Local Union Parishad & Banglapedia

Table 14 shows the higher positive change in the study area day by day only for a tourist spot.

5.3.4.5. Participation of Local community in developing activities:

The local people are not directly involved in management and development of the Bholagonj stone quarry area. The stone quarry area manages by union porisod and some local people. But there are tremendous opportunities for local people to be involved with the recreation based business and activities. However a number of local people have been found to be participating in tourism activities and thus involved in various services such as proving Gift shop(4%), grocery shop(12%), hotel(16%), mobile phone service(4%), cooling corner(28%), confetionary(10%) and snacks shop(12%). Figure 9 represents the different Participation of Local community in developing activities.

Figure 9: Participation of Local community in developing activities

5.4. Visitors Impacts assessment:

While interviewing the key informant and the residents some comments in line with ecotourism impact have been experienced.

Positive Impacts		Negative Impacts
1.	Conservative, superstitious and illiterate society is modernizing with positivism.	1.	Crime (drug addiction, child and woman trafficking, hotel – killing) has increased.
2.	Literacy rate and academic institutions are increasing day by day in the area.	2.	Traditional culture / life style is fading.
3.	Modern ideas, values and behavior are being introduced in the local community.	3.	Price-hike of the essentials and local community is suffering much.
4.	Living standard of the local community has improved.	4.	Seasonality of jobs during off-season the large number of local staffs loses jobs.
5.	Income-generating activities are increasing. Income and financial capacity is risings.	5.	Land valuation is so high. So land grabbing is common. Poor people are selling land at high prices and occupying the govt. khas land.
6.	Cultural exchange between host community and tourists from home and abroad.	6.	Vandalism is serious problem
7.	Money circulation is going on in local economy. So economic activities increases.	7.	Passage of tourism vehicle have adverse effects on vegetation.
8.	Employment opportunity/ job creation for local community has increased.	8.	Soil compaction caused by trampling
9.	Investment has increased manifolds in Bholagonj.	9.	Stone quarry hamper the tree growth.

5.5. Stone Quarry Disturbances:

Though stone quarry on Bholagonj has scenic beauty and historical background, It has also some negative impact. Stone business is the early return job in this area. As enhancing the collection of the stone from the river and extend the stone quarry area generate pressure on environment attributes. The key environmental problems arising out of quarry activities are:

a. Land degradation

b. Degradation of forest and loss of biodiversity

c. Soil contamination

d. Air pollution

e. Surface and ground water pollution

f. Stone quarry area pessimistic for the plantation.

Even, stone quarrying and crushing has been known as a highly hazardous work, whereby workers are affected by many debilitating occupational health hazards and diseases. Mostly the migrant workers are engaged in this highly unorganized industry. The most common exposure is from silica dust, which causes Silicosis (a type of Occupational Lung Disease known by a common name of Pneumoconiosis) among the exposed workers.

CHAPTER SIX

Conclusion and Recommendation

In brief the study reveals has found that the local residents perceived the economic aspects of ecotourism impact most favorably. Residents also evaluated social and cultural impacts of ecotourism positively. However, quality of environment, community attitude, and crowding and congestion were found to be the least favorable aspects of tourism impact in Bholagonj. According to Shaw & Williams (2004) it is possible to prevent negative outcomes and promote positive outcomes through sustainable tourism as it can protect the social environment of a destination. The also argue that integrating the needs and ways of life of the local community in relation to development of ecotourism is necessary to prevent problems as conflicts and negative outcomes for the local culture. We need to establish domestic ecotourism which is socially and psychologically acceptable, environmentally and ecologically sustainable, and economically viable. So based on the study the following recommendations for total management of Bholagonj as a tourist spot is prescribed:

A. The development of tourist facilities should be taken up in a planned manner at government and non- government levels. Let ecotourism be considered a major instrument for social integration and economic development.

B. Communication is one of the big problem in Bholagonj tourist spot. So our government should conquer this dilemma.

C. Create awareness, amongst all concerned, about the importance of sound echopractic in tourism development.

D. Bholagonj is a backward place. It is located 48 km way from Sylhet city. There have no huge accommodation facilities that are hazardous for the tourist. So our government should overcome this problem to establish hotel, guest house etc.

E. There are a large number of stone crushing industry is already playing there that is very harmful for tourist as well as environment. So the authority should take initiatives immediately to minimize it.

F. There can be established a eco-park that will increase the attraction of tourist about Bholagonj.

G. Everyday here gather a large number of car but there have no suitable parking place. So there should necessary to establish a parking place.

H. To establish a plantation program that will protect the biodiversity of Bholagonj. Bank of the Dalai River should be planted not only to protect the landslide but also to increase the natural beauty. Also tourist can enjoy scenery sitting down under tree.

I. Thus available sanitation facilities is very necessary for sustainable ecotourism but sanitation facilities in Bholagonj is not adequate. One of the major problem for the tourist here is sanitation insufficiency.

J. Diversifying ecotourism products efforts should be made to improve planning, management and marketing of ecotourism, not only as a sector with a great potential for economic development

K. Develop and raise ecotourism oriented education. And holding joint training, seminars, courses, workshops and conferences on ecotourism activities by Porjoton Corporation and other ecotourism industry. These will help change the people’s perception regarding ecotourism and raise their awareness of the opportunities and challange involved in tourism.

References

Afroze, R. Ecotourism and green productivity in Bangladesh. pp.36-45. Available at (http://www.apo-tokyo.org/gp/e_publi/gplinkeco/07chapter5.pdf.Downloaded on 2 March 2011)

BBS. (2001), Population Census 2001, Sylhet Zilla series ,Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, Bangladesh FORUM, a monthly publication of The Daily Star, volume 2, issue 9, November 2007

Blamey, R. (2001) Principles of ecotourism. In D. Weaver (ed.) Tiic Eiiciiclopvdia of

Ecotourism (pp. 5-22). Wallingford: CABI.

El Wartiti M, Malaki A, Zahraoui M, Di Gregorio F, De Waele J. (2009). Geosites and touristic development of the north-western Tabular Middle Atlas of Morocco. In Proceedings of Desertifi cation and Risk Analysis Using High and Medium Resolution Satellite Data, Marini A (ed.). Springer Netherlands: Toze ur Tunesia; 143–159.

Fennell, D. (1999) Ecotourism: An Introduction. New York: Routledge.

Frey ML, Schaefer K, Buchel G, Patzak M. (2006). Geoparks — a regional, European and global policy. In Geotourism, Dowling R, Newsome D (eds.). Elsevier, Ltd.: Oxford; 96–117

Fonnell, D.A. & Weaver D. (2005), The Ecotourium Concept and Tourism Conservation Symbiosis. Journal of sustainable tourism, Vol. 13, No. 4, 2005.

Ghimire, (1996). Washington Park Arboretum (“Greenprint”) Master Plan. The Arboretum and Botanical Garden Committee, University of Washington, Seattle, Wa., USA.

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Jafari, J. (2001) The scientifieation ot tourism. In V.L. Smith tind M. Brent (eds) Hosts and Guests Revisited: Tourism Issues of the 21st Century (pp. 28-41). New York: Cognizant.

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Questionnaire

A. Questionnaire for the Tourists of Bholagonj stone quarry’2011:

1) Name of the respondent:

2) Sex:

3) Name of location:

4) Occupation:

5) Educational Status

Educational level		Respondent number	Group
Illiterate
Literate	Primary
	Middle
	Secondary
	Intermediate
	Graduate
	Post Graduate
	Others

7) Visiting Time:

Group of Respondent	Rainy Season	Summer	Winter
Primary
Secondary
Others

8) Frequency of Visiting

Group of Respondent	First time	Second time	Willing to come next
Family
Couple
Educational
Individual
Friends

9) Reasons for visit:

a. Cultural attraction b. Natural beauty c. pleasant climate d. Hill’s view

10) Pattern of visit:

a. Family

b. Couple

c. Educational

d. Individual

e. Friends

11) Type of accommodation:

a. Guest House

b. House of relatives

c. others

12) Mode of travel

a. An inclusive tour package.

b. Individual travel arrangements.

13) Duration of Stay

a.1 hour

b. 2 hours

3. 3 hours

4. 4 hours

14. Where do you dispose your waste?

a. Water b. any where c dustbin.

15. Number of tourist visit per day here.

16. How many cars enter per day here?

17. Type of land ownership of the place.

18. Which transport do you use? Is there any parking place?

19. Which product do you like to buy?

a. Local handicrafts b. Indian products others

20. What do you think about the local people?

a. Friendly b Hostile.

21. Do you think there enough facilities of tourist?

a. Yes b. No

22. What are the initiatives should be taken to increase facilities for tourist?

23. Do you want to come in future?

(a) Yes (b) No

24. Impact you are observing become a tourist:

Positive Impact	Negative Impact

B. Demographic information of the local respondents

Name of the respondent:

Sex:

Name of location:

Occupation:

1. Household size by age:

Age class	Male	Female	Earning member	Occupation
Age class	Male	Female	Earning member	Primary	Secondary
0-10
10-20
20-30
30-40
40-50
50-60
>60
Total

2. Educational status:

Educational level		Respondent	Wife/Husband	Sons	Daughter	Others
Illiterate
Literate	Primary
	Middle
	Secondary
	Intermediate
	Graduate
	Post Graduate
	Others

3. Source of income:

Category	Source	Amount (Tk)
Category	Source	Monthly	Yearly
Primary
Secondary
Others

4. Participation of Local community in developing activities:

Category	Respondent No
Saloon
Grocery shop
Gift shop
Hotel
Mobile phone
Snacks
Photo Studio
Cooling Corner
Cosmetics
Confectionary

5. Seasonal Income Level:

Income Level/Month(Taka)	Off-Season Income(May- Sep)		Pick-Season Income(Oct-April)
Income Level/Month(Taka)	Number	%	Number	%
<2000
2001-5000
5001-7000
7001-9000
10001-12000
12000+

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CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

5.5. Stone Quarry Disturbances:

CHAPTER SIX

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