Ecotourism Source of Poverty Alleviation and Natural Conservation in Kashmir India

TEcotourism is associated with nature and poverty alleviation. Ecotourism is believed to be significant for the generation of income, sustainability of the environment, political enable - ment of local societies as well as for educational purposes. Ecotourism generate economic benefits at local to national level and thus create incentives to preserve the resources. With its backward and forward linkages with other sectors of the economy, ecotourism is an effective tool for poverty alleviation and ensuring growth with equity. The Jammu and Kashmir has a vast potential to become one of the India’s best ecotourism destination and having nu merous attractive and beautiful tourist spots. Ecotourism helps in sustainable development. Ecotourism is believed to be associated with various challenges which are environmental deterioration, inability to contribute to local economy as well as cultural exploitation and deterioration. The study would attempt to explore the potential sites of ecotourism for future development in Kashmir and would examine the correlation between ecotourism and natural conservation with regard to the perception of tourist and conservation agencies. The study is exploratory in nature but empirical tools are also applied to highlight the potential of ecotourism. Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with diverse geographical features, offers a plethora of attractions to tourists. A balance between development and the environment should be created.


INTRODUCTION
The eco-friendly tourism movement evolved in the 1970s as a reaction to many negative consequences of tourism prostitution, crime, drugs trafficking, and cultural devastation, destruction of natural landscape and natural resources, and economic discrepancies. The movement grew to include cultural organizations, educational groups, ethnic institutions and friendship tours. Active participation and grass root involvement of local communities at different level is felt. Benefit sharing was greatly highlighted where the local community stands at the core of the debate. Conservationists and planners were realized the role of community in controlling the wilderness of the tourist destinations. The concept of ecotourism was coined in 1981 by Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, a Mexican environmentalist, through the Spanish term "turisimoecologico". He has been involved in the conservation of rainforest areas by promoting ecological tourism and he was one of the very first promoters of ecotourism. In the 1990s, he took part, along other practitioners and established scholars, in international discussions on the potential of ecotourism, and offered guidelines for active involvement by local communities and on the management of protected areas (Ceballos Lascurain, 1993) Ecotourism is a subset of the tourism industry that reflects an ethos of responsible involvement with the environment and with local cultures. Ecotourism includes, but is not limited to, nature hiking, diving, wildlife viewing, and cultural tourism, usually with some attention given to the ecosystem, biodiversity education, or sustainability. Hctor Ceballos Lascurain used to describe nature based travel to relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis on education. Since then, ecotourism has been one of the fastest growing sectors of global tourism. Ecotourism has been widely promoted as an important conservation tool and one way for people to have a positive impact on the environment. Ecotourism has the potential to improve public education on cultural and biological diversity, conserve wild habitats, and improve economic conditions for host nations (Buckley 2009). Ecotourism guarantees the sustainable use of environmental resources, while generating economic opportunities for the local people (Kiper T. 2013). The foundation of ecotourism is associated with poverty alleviation all over the world. That is, ecotourism is believed to be significant for income generation, improvement of people's standards of living, sustainability of the environment, political enablement of local societies as well as for educational purposes. The interaction between tourists and poor local communities through ecotourism has an immense potential to enhance the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of those poor local communities (Ahmad, 2014). The most accepted and agreeable definition of ecotourism today is defined by, The Ecotourism International Society in North Bennington. By 1989, the International Ecotourism Society was launched and they defined ecotourism as, "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people".

METHODOLOGY
The data for the study was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected from tourists and conservation agencies with the help of structured questionnaires. The survey was intended to understand the perception of tourists and conservation agencies towards Ecotourism and Environmental conservation. Secondary data is collected from government agencies, research reports, statistical reports and articles published in news papers, electronic media and websites. The primary information can be used as supplementary in the form of comments, interviews, observations, opinion, site analysis and community analysis etc. Mostly primary data was collected through interviews with the local community and local authorities.

Objectives
The proposed study would attempt to achieve the following objectives: 1. To explore the potential sites for future development of ecotourism in Kashmir.
2. To examine the correlation between ecotourism and natural conservation with regard to the perception of tourist and conservation agencies. Data collection process proceeded by an interplay of questionnaire and unstructured interview. Although the data collected is largely based on quantitative research techniques but face to face, unstructured interviews were also conducted simultaneously to substantiate the results obtained from questionnaire. The results were checked for reliability through Cronbach's alpha and the validity was ensured through measurement of total item correlation. As the results fulfilled the given criteria for initial assessment and purification, the researcher proceeded with the updated questionnaire for data collection. The data collected through questionnaires was analyzed using a multi-method statistical approach. Predominantly, statistical methods such as Factor analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Reliability Analysis, Spearman's correlation, Pearson's correlation and T-Test were used to analyze the collected data.

DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
Ecotourism has immense potential to help the global fight against poverty. A WTO initiated study that in developing countries, particularly in the least developed countries, tourism is almost universally the leading source of economic growth, foreign exchange, investment and job creation. Ecotourism has the potential to help reduce rural outmigration to urban areas, increase employment opportunities for the urban poor, and give them additional income to provide for their families in the rural areas. Tourism provides employment opportunities by diversifying and increasing incomes that help reduce the vulnerability of the poor. Through increased national income, additional funds can be diverted to poverty reduction programs. Ecotourism is accepted as a means that can satisfy local people. "It provides a means of empowerment to disadvantaged groups such as many native people (including women) by opening an economic and management role for them in ecotourism" (Gauthier, 1993). Tourism can contribute in other significant ways to poverty reduction. For instance, it can help communities to reclaim their cultural pride, sense of ownership and control over local development, reduce vulnerability through diversification and develop skills and entrepreneurial capacity (WTO, 2002). Ecotourism is now one of the fastest growing segments of the economy in many parts of the world. It signifies travel to relatively remote and undisturbed natural settings where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are seen as the main attractions. Besides protection and conservation of environment, it involves empowerment and participation of the local communities as important beneficiaries of the tourist activity. Earnings from visitors are generally ploughed back into preserving and conserving the natural environs of the destination and enhancing the cultural integrity of the local people. It is now being widely recognized that ecotourism, if properly envisioned, can have a substantial impact on both rural economy and poverty alleviation. It is essential to involve the local communities in these activities as one of the primary stakeholders, as tourists expect to see ecotourism as a sustainable practice and, besides acquiring new knowledge and experience, they want to ensure that their visit also has a positive impact on the local community and natural resources. This would require formulation of stringent policies across a number of public services, so as to permit a new balance of social forces to meet the needs and aspirations of host communities while at the same time safeguarding the environmental resource base concerned (Dar, 2014). Kashmir is a land of numerous valleys and places which are very beautiful and attracts and fascinate the tourists throughout world. In this work, the researcher aimed to assess the contribution of ecotourism in alleviating poverty in Kashmir valley, which is covered by the mighty Himalaya blessed with coniferous forests, large lush green meadows, rich wildlife and fresh water bodies in the form of lakes, rivers, streams and springs. The Kashmir Valley has a long list of places which reflects the nature's beauty at its best which attract tourists and ecotourism becomes accessible and conceivable and places are universally acknowledged by different names Table 1.1

Srinagar -Heaven On Earth
Srinagar is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and famous places to visit in Kashmir as well as in India. From boating to trekking, bird watching to water skiing, Srinagar place has it all. Srinagar is a first stopover for every traveler and there are long list of places to visit in Srinagar. This city is enclosed by the green mountains and the main highlight being the Dal Lake which is the gem of the city. This place gives a close outlook to the Kashmiri cuisine and the state's culture.

Gulmarg -Ski Your Way
Famously known as the 'Meadow of Flowers', Gulmarg is a treat to the eyes with its spread of vibrant flowers against snow capped mountains as backgrounds. Gulmarg is considered to be one of the best places to visit in Kashmir for all right reasons. This region of Kashmir is also known as the adventurer's paradise because of its vast options of skiing in the snow while enjoying the views around. The best time to visit Kashmir for snowfall is in winter season i.e. December-January.

Sonamarg -The Land Of Gold
Sonamarg, as the name suggests, is famous as the 'Meadow of Gold'. An endless stream of stunning flowers and undulated trekking routes are its attractions. The best season to visit Kashmir would be in summer i.e. May-June.

Pulwama -All About Natural Springs & Apple Orchards
Famously named as the "Rice Bowl Of Kashmir", this quaint village in Jammu and Kashmir is a great place to witness the nature's real beauty. Situated at a distance of 40 Kms from Srinagar, this place has many tourist sites. This multi hued city offers amiable weather, pleasant odor saffron fields, and malleable citizens.

Pahalgam -Get Allured By Picturesque Views
Pahalgam is considered as an illustration of the heaven on earth which is situated at an altitude of 2740 m. It is situated at distance of 95 Kms from Srinagar and surrounded by dense forests, beautiful lakes and meadows of flowers. Tranquility and serenity are the other names of Pahalgam. This tiny town is known to suck out all the stress of every visitor and is therefore counted amongst the best places to visit in Kashmir.

Anantnag -Home To Temples
Adorned with flourishing gardens and freshwater springs, Anantnag is a divine destination. There is a number of famous tourist places such as Verinag and Daksum which everyone comes Kashmir visits here.

Nishat Garden -Perfect For A Laid-Back Day
This one is considered to be amongst the largest Mughal Gardens located on the banks of Dal Lake. Nishat Garden is also known by the name the Garden of Bliss and rightly so, as there are breathtaking Zabarwan Mountains in the backdrop. This garden is historically famous and Asaf Khan, who was the brother of Nur Jahan designed it.

Garden -Photographer's Paradise
This garden was established in the year 1616 by the well-known Emperor Jehangir especially for his wife, Nur Jahan. After some time, another garden named Faiz Baksh was added to this one. One sees a canal inside the garden that has been embellished with polished stones at the boundaries.

Yusmarg -Sit In Tranquility
This is considered to be the best place when it comes to observing the natural aspects of Kashmir. This is one of the top tourist places in Kashmir that is not much explored. 4 kilometers downhill from this place, one sees the beautiful Nil Nag Lake.

Vaishno Devi -Haven For Pilgrims
Nestled in Trikuta Hills, Vaishno Devi is a town famous for the temple that goes by the name of the town. It is said that Vaishno Devi is a manifestation of Goddess Durga from Hindu mythology. This place is sacred as it is counted among one of the 108 Shakti Peeth. Services like palanquins, ponies, and helicopters are also available for those who cannot walk or wants to read early.

Patnitop -Picture-Perfect Paradise
Endless meadows and picturesque views describe Patnitop the best. Blanketed by the sky-high Himalayas covered with snow, Patnitop has created a niche in the tourism industry due to its surreal beauty. Along with this, the place also offers some thrilling activities. It proves to be one of the top tourist places in Kashmir.

Amarnath -Marvel At The Natural Occurences
Amarnath is a haven for pilgrims and is counted among the top places to visit in Kashmir. Worshippers of Lord Shiva visit this place every year to take blessings and witness the enshrined image of Shiva. People from all over the world resort to this place and indulge 'Amarnath Yatra'. It is believed that this is the same cave where Lord Shiva told about the secret of life and eternity to Goddess Parvati.
The list of beautiful places to visit in Kashmir is quite long. These places are quite famous and boast nature's finest beauty. These tourist places that one must visit strengthen and revitalize tourism industry and enlighten and appraised ecotourism. Kashmir attracts lots of tourists to visit the religious and historical sites due to great cultural heritage and social cohesion. The annually holy Hindu pilgrimage traditionally culminated on the auspicious day of Shravan Purnima as per Hindu Calender depicted from 2001-18 chanting of religious hymns and prayers Ecotourism resulted into participation of local communities in tourism sector which has improved the socio-economic condition of people in Kashmir and helped in reduction of poverty. It can lead to social, educational, economic and technological empowerment in Kashmir (Malik, I, 2016). Ecotourism promotes an enhanced appreciation of natural environments and environmental education by exposing visitors and locals to nature and conservation. It encourages travelers to protect the environment and contribute to local communities. Tourism meets the needs local residents while protecting future opportunities. The valley of Kashmir is dotted with the places of great tourism potential. However, natural resource depletion and environmental degradation associated with tourism are often serious problems in tourism rich region of Kashmir. There is a greater need to regulate tourism and the environment, not only to preserve environment for future generation but in the interest of tourism business and quality of life of local residents. Viewing of river borders wildlife, rafting, canoeing, fishing, boating. In view of the immense possibilities and spread of cultural riches in the state, we also propose that some cultural visits can be involved within the larger framework of ecotourism activities. These include visitations to temples located within parks and so on.
Ecotourism is accepted as a means that can satisfy both local people in need of gainful economic activity as well as conservationists. Tourism can contribute in other significant ways to poverty reduction. For instance, it can help communities to reclaim their cultural pride, sense of ownership and control over local development, reduce vulnerability through diversification and develop skills and entrepreneurial capacity (WTO, 2002). Ecotourism to some degree and other forms of tourism have been successful in reducing poverty in the areas where this business is established. With sufficient care and planning ecotourism has great potential for poverty alleviation. It can be a tool not only for the economic improvement of local host economy but also the country as a whole. It can also help address other dimensions of poverty and complement conservation efforts (Richard, Paul & Trent, 2017).
Ecotourism has become an important strategy for local development in underdeveloped regions. Many studies show that tourism development has significant impacts on impoverished rural communities where the option for development is limited. Development of ecotourism impact poorer positively and help them to come out of poverty. It is an approach to open opportunities for the poor. There is a need for enhancement of the linkage between ecotourism and poor so that they can reap the benefits of tourism development. Evidence shows that sustainable tourism is a great tool for development and poverty alleviation in developing region. Forecasts of high tourism growth in developing regions, where widespread poverty exists, has led to considerable interest in tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation (Wear & Neil, 2009). It is a powerful tool for growth in developing countries. Tourism creates important opportunities to diversify the local economy by providing jobs, generating income, diversifying the economy, protecting the environment, and promoting cross-cultural awareness. Many international initiatives have revealed that tourism can make a substantial contribution to socioeconomic development and help to improve living conditions for local people in different destinations (WTO, 2004). The study reveals that tourism has not only provided a supplementary income and new employment opportunities to the rural community, but also has increased the appreciation of local culture and rural lifestyle. The following ecotourism sites have been explored that act as a Catalyst of Poverty Alleviation. These Ecotourism sites has become a major source of income for local people either through direct employment such as managers, guides, housekeepers, and boat drivers, or from sales of foods, handicrafts, transportation or other services. Eventually have implications in the livelihoods of local people; particularly of those whose paid work opportunities and income sources are somehow limited. Apart from natural beauty, this region is dotted with several religious sites, places and other historical monuments which are important determinants of ecotourism development in the region. There are various determinants of ecotourism potential including physical, cultural, social and historical in this region.

Table 1.5 Hokersar
This wetland is located close to Srinagar and can be developed as a popular ecotourism site with basic accommodation for overnight guests. This will provide an opportunity for the birdwatcher to make the most of the visit rather than travelling back and forth to Srinagar. In conjunction with Dachigam, this site holds great potential for further development and transformation into an ideal ecotourism venture. The wetlands of Hokersar and Shallbaug could be used for bird watching by the bird lovers by travelling through Shikaras. Watch towers at strategic locations should be planned.

Dachigam National Park
Dachigam is a beautiful National Park with lush forests, fast flowing rivers, stunning landscapes and of courses the dramatic seasonal changes. The park is proximate to the popular tourist destinations of Gulmarg and also not very far from Srinagar city. The park has tremendous tourism potential considering the diversity in terrain and its proximity to Srinagar. With the revival of tourism over the past few years, there has been an unprecedented increase in the flow of tourists to this National Park The famous Mughal Gardens Nishat, Shalimar and Cheshmashahi are located near to the Dachigam National Park.

Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary
Much of the sanctuary is suitable for mountaineering. Sites like Alphatri, Khilanmarg, etc. located in this area have since a long time remained favourite destinations for rock climbers and trekkers. The sanctuary, therefore, can have a vital role in boosting the tourism potential of the area. Gulmarg like Pahalgam is also a popular tourist destination. However, the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary needs a large-scale infra-structure development for habitat improvement/protection/conservation and management for developing as an ecotourism spot. Bangus Valley An unexplored region, Bangus Valley is situated in the northwestern region of Tehsil Handwara in the Kupwara district. 128 kilometres away from Srinagar, this pristine site is perched at an altitude of 10,000 ft above the sea level. A unique blend of ecological systems can be found here including grasslands, flora, fauna, Coniferous forests etc. Sprawling over an area of more than 300 square kilometres, the valley is bifurcated into two: the main valley, known as "Bodh Bangus", and the smaller valley or "Lokut Bangus".

Sattbarran Kalaroos
Located in the gorgeous Lolab Valley in Kupwara, Sattbarran Kalaroos is a unique sight. A beautiful place bathed in the ancient architecture, it is situated in the region of Kalaroos on the outskirts of the Madmadav village. The ancient caves dating back to the stone-age are located on the backside of Sattbarran, where one can witness the hand paintings done on the walls dating back to the period of stone-age. It is believed that these caves hold tunnels which lead till Central or North Asia, all the way up to Russia.

Wayan
Wayan is a beautiful place, which is a famous picnic spot for the locals in Kupwara. Recently Kashmir University Satellite Campus has been established here.

PHYSICAL DETERMINANTS Valleys
Kashmir is famous for the elongated Valley through which the river Jhelum flows, and this main Valley is garlanded by various small side valleys. These side valleys are dotted with transparent lakes, gushing streams, green turf, magnificent trees, mountains and cool and pleasant atmosphere (Hussain, 1998). Lidder Valley is a picturesque valley that forms one of the main attractions among the tourism destinations in and around the pleasant hill station of Pahalgam. The Lidder Valley is decorated with beautiful brooks and streams. One remarkable feature of the Lidder Valley is the presence of pleasing glaciers. Sind Valley is another beautiful small side valley which lies to the northeast of Srinagar and is carved by the river Sind. This is an area of massive snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes and fast flowing rivers. The majestic Zojila pass marks the boundary from the Sind valley to the Ladakh region. Lolab Valley is another beautiful valley which is an untouched and unexplored tourist destination with dense forest ranges. Bangus Valley is also an upcoming destination which is surrounded all sides by dense forests and snow covered mountains. This Valley is most attractive and is famous for adventure tourism.

Meadows
Meadows are considered as an important determinant of tourism development and form a very prominent part of tourist attractions in Kashmir. The slopes available at Sonamarg, Yusmarg, Pahalgam and Gulmarg etc. provide a wide scope for development of summer as well as winter tourism. These meadows attract tourists in large numbers due to its mesmerizing beauty. Some of the famous meadows in Kashmir are: Gulmarg meadow-Gulmarg is undoubtedly the bestknown meadow of the Kashmir and one of the most splendid hill resorts. This green meadow of flowers receives tourists throughout the year. It has an undulating topography which adds to its scenic beauty and majestic charm. The scenery here is comparable with the loveliest regions of Switzerland. Apart from the beautiful scenery, nature has provided this region with a great variety of flora and fauna. All the basic amenities i.e.; hotels, market, boarding houses and transport etc. are available at Gulmarg (Hussain, 2005). It also has the highest golf course in the world at an altitude of 2,650 m, which is one of the major attractions of hill stations Sonmarg-The word Sonmarg literally means the meadow of gold. This beautiful tourist resort lies in the Sindh Valley of Kashmir 87 kilometers away from Srinagar at an altitude of 3000 meters and is situated on the Srinagar-Ladakh road. This green meadow is surrounded on all sides by mountains and spread with bright colored flowers. This golden meadow is girdled by dense forests of fir, birch and sycamore with river Sind meandering quite slowly and steadily. It provides a base to the snow line and number of glaciers. These mighty glaciers and silent lakes add to the magnificence of this place. Yusmarg: Yusmarg green meadow plays an important role in attracting tourists to Kashmir valley. This green meadow is located 47 Km from the Srinagar and lies in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is referred to as "mini Gulmarg" as its scenic beauty and topography resemble that of Gulmarg. Daksum: Daksum meadow is counted as one of the best meadows of Kashmir Valley in terms of tourist attraction. It is a natural scenic spot situated at a distance of 40 km from Anantnag District and about 85 km from Srinagar. It offers trekking to the Sinthan top. The landscape of Daksum is quite irregular. There are snowcapped mountains in the background that further add to the beauty of this place.

Lakes
Kashmir is decorated by a number of big and small lakes found all along the length and breadth of the valley. Besides these lakes, which are fed by melting snows from the mountains, there are hosts of mountain tarns formed glared by the glacial action and other phenomenal activities of range nature. Some of the beautiful lakes that attract the hearts and minds of the tourists are: Dal Lake: Dal Lake is counted among the best and wellknown tourist destinations of Kashmir. It is famous all over the world and is described as Lake par excellence by Sir Walter Lawrence. Dal Lake houses the world famous shikaras and houseboats which provides an opportunity for tourists to enjoy the atmosphere of peace and calmness in the lake. It is one of the most beautiful lakes and is second largest in the Jammu & Kashmir. The lake is 8 Km long and 4 Km wide and covers an area of 26 sq. kms. It lies in the east of Srinagar city, at the foot of Zabarwan hills, with Shankaracharya hill (Takhti-Sulaiman) in its south and the Hariparbat fort on its west (Khan, 2007). The fascinating lake is dotted by islands, floating gardens, fields of lotus blossoms and houseboats that add more charm to this picturesque splendour of nature. Nageen Lake: Nageen Lake is small and most lovely part of Dal Lake and is separated from the large Dal Lake by a small narrow causeway. It is known as the "Jewel in the Ring". It has deep blue waters and is encircled by a ring of green trees from which it derives its name. It has also a number of houseboats moored around its parameter. Nageen Lake is another popular venue for water sports like water skiing, swimming, diving and sailing. This lake is also favorite among tourists who are in search of peaceful houseboat holiday. Wullar Lake: Wullar Lake is said to be the largest freshwater lake of Asia. It is approximately 60 Km from the city of Srinagar and falls in under the jurisdiction of district Baramulla. The lake is 19 km long and 10 km wide and is spread over an area of 125 km in an elliptical form. The average depth of the lake is about 12 feet. This lake is surrounded by mountains and hills. The sunset is worth seen at Wullar Lake which creates a magical show by reflecting the magic of surrounding hills. The lake is popular for adventure sports activities like water sports, yachting, and water skiing. The river Jhelum enters the lake in the south and leaves it from the west. The streams of Madmati, Erin and Bohnar flow into the lake from the eastern side. Manasbal Lake: Manasbal lake is considered as one of the best lakes of Kashmir in terms of tourist attraction. This lake is located in Ganderbal district about 30 Km north of Srinagar city. It is a popular bird-watching area and is ideal water sport resort. It offers one of the best campaign sites in Kashmir (Khan, 2007). Harwan Lake: Harwan Lake is situated at a distance of 21 km from Srinagar and is about 278 meters long, 137 meters wide and 18 meters deep. This lake is the main source of water supply to Srinagar city. The scenic beauty of this lake attracts visitors in large numbers especially local visitors. Hokarsar Lake: Hokarsar Lake is located on the Baramulla road about 13 km from Srinagar. This Lake is surrounded by willow trees grown in abundance on its bank. The willow trees enrich the beauty of this lake in all seasons. It is spreading on about 5 km in length and 1.5 km in width and is worth beautiful. Mountain Lakes: Kousarnag Lake is the largest mountain lake in Kashmir. This lake is surrounded by some of the most picturesque peaks of Pir Panjal range and this lake lies at an altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level. This lake is fed by glaciers and is said to be the source of river Jhelum. In spring and summer, the water is some 40 feet higher than in winter. In the spring season, the surface is covered with icebergs which are driven about by the wind. Sheshnag lake is another mountainous lake lies beyond Pahalgam. This three kilometers stretch of water has an exquisite pale-blue colour similar to that of Lake Lucerne. The Apharwat Lake or Alpather Lake is also a mountainous lake that lies near Gulmarg. This lake is also called frozen lake because of its freezing cold water. It remains snow-covered for most of the year and is 13,000 feet above sea level.

Rivers and Streams
Kashmir region is gifted with a large number of rivers and streams. The rivers and streams form a secondary component of the physical landscape and play an important role in attracting tourists. Jhelum River which originates in Verinag spring has emerged as a major tourism attraction. The Mangla Dam built on the river is one of the largest earth-fill dams and a great tourist spot. The nine bridges which were built long ago over the river Jhelum also provide as hot tourism sites. The river is navigable from Khanabal to Baramulla and is one of the prime beauties of the valley. Dudhganga River is another important river of Kashmir which rises in the central part of the Pir Panjal range round mountain Tata  This glacier provides trekking source to tourists. Apart from these two glaciers, there are many small glaciers of local importance (Mir, 2013).  (Khan, et.,al, 2012). The sanctuary provides refuge to 13 species of mammals most of which are on the verge of extinction. Some of them are musk deer, hangul, serow, langur, leopard, etc.

Ecological Determinants Biodiversity Regions
The Overa Wildlife Sanctuary gives the glimpse of the rich variety of Kashmir's floral species. The main species are Pinus griffithii, Cedrus deodara, Morus Alba, Abies pindrow, Juglans regia etc.

Historical Determinants
The beautiful valley of Kashmir attracted the kings and emperors who constructed numerous temples and palaces, which are still present in elegance and grandeur. This region is dotted with a number of gardens, shrines, monuments and historical sites

Historical Mughal Gardens
The This famous tourist spot also offers shopping facilities to its visitors. Cheshmashahi Garden: Cheshmashahi garden is architecturally the most charming Mughal garden, located about 9 Kms from the heart of Srinagar city. This garden was set up by Shah Jahan in 1632 A.D on the foot hills of Zabarwan Mountains. This garden is quite famous for spring of energizing digestive mineral water inside it. This water is credited with medicinal properties and is highly prized. Cheshmashahi garden offers a striking view of the scenic Dal Lake and Jawahar Lal Nehru Botanical garden. The garden has a number of terraces and fountains built right through its center. The variety of fruits, flowers and chinar trees that grow in the garden also adds more beauty and charm to Cheshmashahi garden. Naseem Bagh: Naseem Bagh of Srinagar is the oldest of the Kashmiri"s Mughal Gardens. This garden was built by Akbar in 1586 and is situated on the western side of Dal Lake and offers a splendid view of the Dal Lake. It is about one kilometer beyond Hazratbal. Naseem Bagh is one of the favorite destinations in tourism itinerary. This garden is dotted with hundreds of magnificent chinar trees which are very much beautiful and attractive. The breezes of the Dal Lake make it an abode of calm and peaceful (Khan, 2007).
Harwan Garden: Harwan garden has very much importance from the tourist point of view. This famous beautiful garden is located in the district of Srinagar. It is beautiful tourist spot and is very much popular among excursionists. A beautiful canal, fed from a lake just behind the garden passes through its center. The canal is bordered with blossoming flowerbeds and Chinar trees.
Harwan garden does not have the usual terraces, artificial fountains, etc like other gardens of Kashmir. It has been deliberately kept devoid of these man-made things. The main attraction of Harwan garden which has made it one of the best tourist spot is its natural beauty that is present in plenty. Achabal Garden: Achabal Garden is situated in Anantnag district at a distance of 58 Km from Srinagar. It served as the pleasure retreat of the Mughal Empress Noor Jahan. Achabal Garden is adorned with one of the best Mughal Gardens in India. The beautifully laid out garden in the Mughal (Persian) style sparkles with a charm and character, which is quite unique to it. This garden is beautifully decorated with chinar trees. The other attractions of Achabal Garden that make this garden more attractive are its stepped terraces, conventional elegance, ornamental shrubs, gleaming fountains and flowering water (Rehman, 2005) Tulip Garden: Tulip garden is one of the most beautiful flower garden located in the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range with an overview of picturesque world famous Dal Lake. Tulip Garden is surrounded on three sides by the Nishat Bagh and Chashma Shahi Mughal Gardens of Srinagar. It spreads over an area of about 12 hectares. Earlier this garden was known as Siraj Bagh but later its name was renamed as Indira Gandi Tulip Garden (Naik, 2008). Tulip garden is the Asia's largest garden that has around two million multicolored tulips of more than 70 varieties that ornament and add colour to 12 acres of the Kashmiri Landscape. This garden resembles beautiful carpets that has hundreds of colours and provide a heavenly view and display their beauty to the thousands of visitors. A Tulip Festival is held annually in Kashmir in the month of April since 2007 to promote tourism of Kashmir and has been quite successful in attracting people from all over the globe. Thousands of tourists from different places come each year to celebrate tulip festival in Kashmir.

RELIGIOUS DETERMINANTS
Kashmir Valley is well-known for its cultural uniqueness right from the olden days. It has from times immemorial been the home of gods and godess, renowned mystics, sadhus, pandiths, rishis, peers and faqirs. The numerous temples, shrines, mosques, which have survived the ravages of time and in clemencies of weather are living testimonials to prove the fact. There has been a very unique tradition among the people of Kashmir for preaching and worshipping of each other"s religious and pilgrimage centers. There are well renowned Hindu shrines co-existing with the equal famous Muslim pilgrimage centers that are in the highest esteem by the people of every faith. Kashmir is the abode of Holy shrines; this aspect is responsible for attracting a large number of devotees every year, which has ultimately led to a boom in the tourism industry (Bhat, 2013). Some of the important sacred places that attract tourist are:

Masjids and Shrines
Jamia Masjid of Srinagar-Jamia Masjid is located in the core of the old city of Srinagar. This mosque was originally built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400, and enlarged by his son Zain-Ul-Abidin. The principal characteristics of the mosque are the four minars (Pillars) and eight wooden columns as support. This mosque is visited by thousands of people for the Friday prayers. It has also very much importance from the tourist point of view and it plays an important role in increasing the economy of Kashmir (Naik, 2008).

Hazratbal Shrine-Hazratbal Shrine is the most sacred
Muslim shrine located on the western shore of Dal lake. The architecture of the shrine is a combination of Mughals and traditional Kashmiris. This shrine has special sanctity as the Prophet Mohammad"s (S.A.W) relic that is the "Moi-e-Muqqadus" is preserved in this shrine. This relic was brought thousands of years ago from Medina by Sayed Abdullah in 111 A.H and is usually displayed to the public on certain sacred and holy days (Hussain, et, al., 1985). This shrine provides an opportunity for the people to participate in the colourful and exciting fairs that are being held every year. This shrine attracts thousands of devotees from all over the country who pay homage at the shrine (Rehman, 2005).  (Hussain, 2000). Amarnath Shrine-Amarnath cave is one the most sacred pilgrimage destination of Hindus. It is located at an altitude of 5000 meters inside the glacial gorge in the Himalayas about 141 Kms from the Srinagar and 45 Kms from Pahalgam tourist destination. The cave is 9 meters deep and is 14 meters high in the middle . It is one of oldest and the holiest of all Hindu shrines and is said to be over 5000 years old. This sacred shrine has a mythological and historical importance as according to the Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva has explained the secret of creation and immortality to his wife, Goddess Parvati in this cave.

Khanqah of Shah-E-Hamdan-Khanqah of Shah-E-
The Amarnath cave is visited by millions of Hindu pilgrims on the full moon day on the month of Sawan (July-August) every year. According to a common faith, the self-formed ice lingam in the cave reaches the maximum height on Purnima in the month of Sawan (July-August), when Shiva is supposed to have divulged to Parvati the secret of salvation. On this day millions of pilgrims negotiating the most difficult ridges arrive at the holy cave for worship or Dharshan of Lord Shiva. The Holy "Amarnath Cave", enclosed by the awe-inspiring Himalayas, attracts tourists to experience the beauty, apart from offering worship. (Naik, 2008).  (Hussain, et., al, 1985). Besides these there are many other historical shrines which have very much significance among pilgrims and that plays a key role in boosting the tourism sector, such as Baba Rishi Shrine, Mosque of Saint Madin Sahib, Temple of Sarika Devi, Pandrethan, Shrine of Syed Janbaz wali, Pampur shrine etc.

Historical Heritage Sites
Kashmir has a complex cultural and historical fabric. The many historical monuments and places of worship are long-standing evidence of the historical unity of Kashmir. There are several temples that are more than 1000 years old as well as ancient mosques that are landmarks of Kashmir. Numerous Gurudwaras and monasteries can be found in many places of Valley which are most significant in the development of tourism of Kashmir.

Monuments
Shankaracharya Temple-Shankaracharya Temple is one of the best historical monuments of Kashmir which is situated on the top of Takht-e-Sulaiman hill, to the south-east of Srinagar city. The ancient temple is believed to have been built about 2500 years ago by King Gopaditya. Dating back to 250 BC, it is believed that it was the place where the great philosopher and saint Shankaracharya stayed when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago. It was then this place came to be known by his name instead of its former name Gopadri. The temple of Shankaracharya commands one of the finest views in the whole Kashmir. The view of the city with its green, turfed roofs, covered in the spring with iris, tulip and variety of other flowers is without a doubt unique. Pari Mahal-Pari Mahal is situated in Srinagar and the Mahal was initially a Buddhist Monastery, which was later converted into an observatory and a school of astrology by Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. He devoted the Place to his Sufi teacher Mulla Shah. It is enriched with a number of charming fountains. The five storey building is almost ruined, but the remnants are still maintained by the Government. The picture sight of Dal Lake and illuminative images of Pari Mahal at night is an important tourist attraction. Hari Parbat Fort-The Hari Parbat hill crowned by the Pathan fort, which is able to be seen from every part of the city, has from time immemorial been a place of great sanctity in Kashmir. It is an ancient Mughal Fort which is situated to the western side of the Dal Lake. The surrounding walls of the fort were built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1590. But the present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of Shuja Shah Durrani and Atta Muhammad Khan, an Afghan governor. The presence of the Muslim shrine Makhdoom Sahib, Hindu temple, Sikh shrine Chatti Padshahi and the Chakreshwari in the vicinity add to the significance of the fort. Tomb of Zain-ul-Abidin's Mother-Tomb of Zainul-Abidin"s Mother is located in the area of Sri Ranbir Ganj of old city Srinagar. This monument has very much importance because it is that historical monument which is unlike and unparallel from others. However, it is attrac-tive in a couple of ways, the first being in the structural design of the main mausoleum itself, and second in the evidence of it having being built at the site of an earlier Hindu temple. This ancient monument was built by Zain-ul-Abidin (A.D. 1421-1472 in the memory of his beloved mother. The main characteristics of this tomb are the glazed and moulded blue bricks, which are studded at intervals in the exterior walls, the semicircular brick projections, on the drum of the main dome. Awantipora Temples-The famous Awantipora Temples are believed to have been built in honour of God Mahadev by Awanti Varma. These temples are located in Awantipora twenty-nine kilometers away from Srinagar. The temples although in ruins, are of great archaeological importance. King Awantivarman founded the city in the 9th century. There are two main temples, one of which is Shiva-Avantishvara, which is larger and marked by massive walls. The sculptured relief is principally found on the walls of the entrance and the flank walls of the stairs depict men and women in the act of drinking, lovemaking and other such merriments. The base is either a plain square block with the upper edge (Rehman, 2005).

Sri Pratap Singh Museum-Sri Pratap Singh
Museum has a historical well as archaeological importance, as it was the one-time summer place of the past kings of the princely state of Kashmir. Sri Pratap Singh Museum was established in 1898. The main characteristics of this museum are that it houses some of the exceptional terracotta heads of 3rd century that were collected from the Buddhist place in Ushkur Baramulla of Kashmir. It has many moulded terracotta plaques dating back to 4th and 5th century from Harwan (Mir and Ahmed, 2015). Tomb of Madin Sahib-Tomb of Madin Sahib is a unique tomb and is has historical importance from the very beginning. This historical monument was built in the memory of Saint Madin Sahib and the inscription on the lintel of the entrance of the tomb records the date of its erection as A.H 1483 in the regin of Zain-Ul-Abidin. This tomb lies towards the north side of Madin Sahib Mosque in Zadibal area of Srinagar city of Kashmir. It has the 15th century Kashmiri architectural style with the peripheral walls decorated with tiles (Bhat, 2014).
The main objective of study is to analyze the correlation between Ecotourism and natural Conservation based on primary data collected from tourists and Conservation Agencies. Keeping in mind the mentioned objectives, a structured questionnaire was developed and used as an instrument to gauge the factors measuring Ecotourism and natural Conservation. For this purpose factor analysis was done to extract various constructs. In the present study Spearman's and Pearson Correlation is used to study the correlation between Ecotourism and natural Conservation with regard to the perception of Tourists and Conservation agencies. As shown in the table above, it is observed that the gender composition of the tourists was nearly even, male (52%) and female (48%). The large number of the respondents were tourists (92.6%) followed by conservation agency (7.4%). More than half of the respondents were Indian (89.70%) and the rest (10.29%) were foreigners. Majority of the respondents (83.8%) were of the age group of 20-39 years while only 1% of the respondents were above 59 years of age. Most of the respondents had an education till university level (72.8%) followed by the college level (17.64%), only a handful had been to primary school (2.6%). The majority of the respondents had an income between Rs. 50000 -99999 below (41.17%).
In the current study, factor analysis was carried on two data sets i.e. Ecotourism and natural conservation to reduce the variables and to determine the underlying factors of two constructs. Moreover, it explained the dimensions associated with data variability.
Measures of Ecotourism 20 items (20 Questions in questionnaire) of ecotourism were explored retained by pilot study statistics. All the preliminary number of items (20) was subjected to factor analysis, which later got reduced to 18 items and were retained for attaining reliable results. After initial refinement and purification, 5 factors were produced by PCA.

Comprehensive Process of Factor Analysis on Ecotourism
The process of factor analysis conducted has been explained below: Therefore, Factor Analysis can be used for the dataset. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been used as Extraction Method. PCA is an extraction procedure that tries to reduce the number of variables to a smaller set of variables. With the help of this method unique results may be determined. Thus, the original data may be reconstructed from the result. As this method takes the total variation among the variables, therefore, the solution generated will include as many factors as there are variables although it is unlikely that they will meet all the criteria for retention. In other words, the variables which have over 30% extracting are included to study further. PCA uses an orthogonal transformation to convert a set of observations of possibly correlated variables into a set of values of linearly uncorrelated variables called principal components that are interpreted as dimensions.
Since there is no single variable in the table above that is less than 30%, all the items will be considered for making the factors.
As per the methodology of PCA, the total factors that will be made are 5 as there are five Eigen values greater than 1 and those 5 factors will comprise of 51.818% of the total information. Another important aspect that needs mention is the Rotated Component Matrix. While deciding how many factors one would analyze is whether a variable might relate to more than one factor. Rotation maximizes high item loadings and minimizes low item loadings, thereby producing a more interpretable and simplified solution. The rotated component matrix is one which helps to inspect the extracted factors from different

Measures of natural Conservation
Initially it was performed on all 29 items that were explored and retained by pilot study. But based on the initial exploratory results, preliminary number of items (29) was further reduced to 21 for attaining reliable results. After initial refinement and purification, only 5 factors were produced by Principal Component Analysis.

Comprehensive Process of Factor Analysis on natural Conservation
The process of factor analysis conducted by the researcher has been explained below From the above Table it can be seen that the dataset understudy is suitable for Exploratory Factor Analysis, as the KMO value is 0.817. The dataset indicates that the sample is adequate and we may proceed with the Factor Analysis. This also gets satisfied as the Bartlett's Test of Sphericity in the table above indicates that our results are statistically significant.  On the basis of this matrix, the factors were constructed; that is, a specific variable was placed in a particular factor. In the present study PCA with Varimax rotation was used.

Reliability Analysis
The purpose of a reliability analysis is to determine how well a set of items, i.e., observed variables, go together into a single scale. Reliability analysis also reveals how strongly each item in the scale is associated with the overall scale. This is called item-total correlations. Reliability analysis is usually based on reliability coefficient which is named as Cronbach's alpha. This coefficient has a maximum value of 1.0. Generally speaking, when a collection of items (i.e., a scale) has a Cronbach's alpha of .70 or larger; the scale is considered to be reliable. The value of this measure shows the percentage of reliability of the data. It has been proposed that Cronbach's measure α can be viewed as the expected correlation of several tests that measure the same construct. By using this definition, it is implicitly assumed that the average correlation of a set of items is an accurate estimate of the average correlation of all items that pertain to one construct. In the current study, the researcher has run a separate reliability analysis for the items related to Ecotourism and a separate reliability analysis for the items measuring natural conservation. Reliability Analysis (For items that measure Ecotourism) The dataset under study comprises of the reliability analysis of the items that measure "Ecotourism" and the same have been shown below. Throughout the analysis the researcher bears in mind that for a scale to be considered sufficiently reliable, the Cronbach's measure α must be greater than 0.70. Scale and Reliability Statistics (Against items that measure Ecotourism) Table shows the correlation between each item and a scale score that excludes that item (uses all the other items, but not that one). The maximum item-total correlation is of ECET22 which is 0.497 and minimum item-total correlation is of ECET4 which is 0.167. One may look for items that, if deleted, will lead to substantial increase in the scale of α.

Conservation)
The dataset under study comprises of the reliability analysis of the items that measure "Natural Conservation" and the same have been shown below. Throughout the analysis the researcher bears in mind that for a scale to be considered sufficiently reliable, the Cronbach's measure α must be greater than 0.70. Scale Statistics (Against that measure Natural Conservation) Table shows the correlation between each item and a scale score that excludes that item (uses all the other items, but not that one). The maximum item-total correlation is of ECET42 which is 0.709 and minimum item-total correlation is of ECET41 which is 0.329. All other items also have positively correlation. One may look for items that, if deleted, will lead to a -substantial increase in the scale a.

Respondents: Tourist Only
The below dataset has been achieved after taking into consideration the responses of the tourists group only. The Rotated Component Matrix, helped in constructing new factors as given below: The variable -Ambient Air Quality Water Quality and Noise Quality is mean of ECET30, ECET31 and ECET38 Factor-5: Recycling The variable -Recycling is mean of ECET34 and ECET35 Major Factor: Natural Conservation (Tourist) The Variable -Conservation (Tourist) is the mean of all new variables of natural conservation. (i.e. Mean of Factor 1, 2 3, 4 & 5)

Respondents: Conservation Agency Only
The below dataset has been achieved after taking into consideration the responses of the Tourists group only.
The Rotated Component Matrix, helped in constructing new factors as given below: The variable -Creating Awareness and Local Involvement is the mean of the items ECET5, ECET6, ECET46 and ECET57 Factor-2: Minimizing Negative Impact on Environment Factor-2: The variable -Minimizing Negative Impact on Environment is the mean of the items ECET8, ECET17, ECET21 and ECET22 Factor-3: Mix of Tourism and natural Conservation Factor -3: The variable -Mix of Tourism and natural Conservation is the mean of the items ECET10, ECET11, ECET12 and ECET23 Factor-4: Upliftment of Local Communities Factor -4: The variable -Upliftment of Local Communities is the mean of the items ECET7, ECET14 and ECET24 Factor-5:Responsible Travel to Natural Areas Factor -5: The variable -Responsible Travel to Natural Areas is the mean of the items ECET4, ECET16 and ECET18 Major Factor: Ecotourism (Conservation Agencies) The Variable -Ecotourism (Conservation Agencies) is the mean of all the above new variables of Ecotourism. (i.e. Mean of Factor 1, 2 3, 4 & 5) Natural Conservation -New Variables (Respondents: Conservative Agencies Only)

Factor-1: Efficient Planning and Proper Waste Disposal
The variable -Efficient Planning and Proper Waste Disposal is mean of ECET15, ECET20, ECET26, ECET27, ECET28, ECET29, ECET32, ECET33 and ECET39 Factor-2: Green Building Standards and Efficient Use of Resources The variable -Green Building Standards and Efficient Use of Resources is mean of ECET41, ECET51, ECET52 and ECET53 Factor-3: Creating Awareness and Proper Site Inspection The variable -Creating Awareness and Proper Site Inspection is mean of ECET37, ECET50 and ECET58 Factor-4: Ambient Air Quality Water Quality and Noise Quality The variable -Ambient Air Quality Water Quality and Noise Quality is mean of ECET30, ECET31 and ECET38

Factor-5: Recycling
The variable -Recycling is mean of ECET34 and ECET35 Major Factor: Natural Conservation (Conservation Agencies) The Variable -Natural Conservation (C. Agencies) is mean of all new variables of natural conservation. (i.e. Mean of Factor 1, 2 3, 4 & 5)

Normality Distribution
Assessing Normality of the data is paramount for the reason that it would determine the application of various statistical measures. In order to assess normality of vari-ables the Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests are applied. Both these tests are suitable for numerical continuous or quasi-continuous variables. Significance level is set at α=5%.  As the test statistics of both variables assessed by both tests drive p-value above the significance level, it can be concluded that data is normally distributed. H0 is retained for both variables. Thus, it may conclude that there is a positive relationship between ecotourism and natural conservation with regard to the perception of tourists arriving in Kashmir. There is also a positive relationship between ecotourism and natural conservation with regard to the perception of conservation agencies operating in Kashmir. The ecotourism in Kashmir, where nature and culture is plentiful and to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between conservation and ecotourism, while at the same time adding to existing research and helping develop ecotourism in Kashmir. The study is conducted to determine the relationship of ecotourism and natural conservation with regards to the perceptions of tourists and conservation agencies. A total of 408 respondents were selected for the study, out of which 30 were local conservation agencies composed of government officials, NGOs and travel firms and 370 were tourists. A questionnaire is distributed measuring eco-tourism and natural conservation and the level of perception of the respondents to each, then; responses were tabulated, tested for normality and analyzed for significant results. The correlation between ecotourism and natural conservation is examined with regards to the perceptions of tourists and conservation agencies alike. Data shows that there is a significant and positive relationship between eco-tourism and natural conservation as perceived both by tourists and conservation agencies. Also it was found that there is no significant difference between the perception of tourists and conservation agencies with regard to the relationship between ecotourism and natural conservation. This indicates a high level of awareness of the link between these two concepts as inextricable and necessary in any touristic activity. Implications for on the conduction of tourism in Kashmir highlights a stronger local tourism policy and framework that is responsive to environmental concerns as well as strengthening awareness of both locals and tourists. Lastly, doing so has allowed us to suggest ways to strengthen the development of ecotourism in Kashmir.

CONCLUSION
Various tendencies also occur in the understanding of ecotourism upon changing living conditions. Unless, attention is paid now for developing tourism in ecologically sustainable manner and maintaining environmental integrity, it may cause irreparable damage. To encourage