We found that Kerala has many ecotourism projects. The Periyar Tiger Trail project includes 23 former poachers, who previously made a living y trading forest goods illegally! This is a joint collaboration between the Kerala forest department and the ex-vanaya-bark collectors ecodevelopment committee.

The former ex-cinnamon bark poachers turned tourist guides' intimate knowledge about plants and animals, and their survival instincts make them ideal guides for ecotourism activities. Besides taking small groups of tourists on foot into the forest, they also assist forest guards in patrolling. The intelligence network of the park authorities has improved tremendously.

The guide told us that Periyar Sanctuary has a total area of 777 square km. Most of this land is pristine. In fact, this is one of the rare places where the increasing number of lodges, hotels, shops and eating places in are not considered a threat to the sanctuary. Forest Guards are always on the prowl: hunting, fishing or other damage to the Sanctuary is strictly not allowed.

Tourists may not dramatically improve the habitat and lives of people they visit, the least they can do is to try and not be a burden and bear responsibility for their actions. Why feel self-congratualtory and hide behind a facade of ‘green’ or ‘eco’ label: All tourism should be "eco" and "sustainable". Right no?