Tapping the Potential of Birdwatching for Eco-Friendly Tourism

The study by IIM Lucknow investigates how birdwatching influences tourists to adopt environmentally-responsible behavior. It suggests that improving birdwatching experiences can enhance tourists' environmental consciousness. With over 1,300 bird species in India, avi-tourism offers significant potential to promote sustainability and conservation through well-designed tourist activities.

In a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, researchers explored the potential of birdwatching to encourage environmentally-responsible behavior among tourists. Published in the 'Tourism Recreation Research' journal, the paper examines how birdwatching creates an immersive nature experience, motivating individuals to adopt eco-friendly habits.

The research team, led by Anirban Chakraborty of IIM Lucknow and Debankur Saha from Krea University, employed the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework to assess responses from over 300 birdwatching tourists. Findings reveal that the quality of the birdwatching experience is instrumental in strengthening tourists' motivation for environmentally-responsible behavior.

Tapping into India's rich avian diversity, the study highlights avi-tourism's potential to foster sustainability. It calls on tourism operators and policymakers to enhance tourist experiences and design eco-friendly policies, ultimately benefiting conservation efforts and local communities.

(With inputs from agencies.)