Status of Ecotourism in Hill Area: A Case Study of Shoghi Camping Site, Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh

Ecotourism is a sustainable form of tourism which profoundly promotes environment conservation and community development. Ecotourism is even more valuable to those regions which are fragile and need development by sustainable means. Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh is a hilly region with huge prospect and potential for ecotourism activities. Expansion of ecotourism is even more important in this region for diversification of tourism activities and reducing the burden on few tourist destinations present in the district. The present paper tries to analyse the trend, prospects and limitations of ecotourism in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. There is only one declared ecotourism site namely Shoghi camping site in Shimla. Secondary sources of data have been utilized for conducting the study and it has been found that ecotourism is in an underdeveloped stage in the district. Though, its financial contribution in the tourism industry is commendable but its proper utilisation and development is necessary to reap its full benefits. Shimla district has enormous potential for various ecotourism activities and only full utilisation of its forms would lead in revenue generation and community development.