CMNS 1810: Impact of Niche Tourism on Tribal Destinations

This report examines the impact of niche tourism on tribal destinations, focusing on the Andaman Islands and the Jarawa tribe as a case study. It explores the concept of niche tourism, highlighting its potential to diversify tourism products, reduce seasonality, and distribute tourists to less-visited areas. The report analyzes the effects of niche tourism on the host community, the tourism industry, and the tourists, with a particular emphasis on the ethical implications of 'human safaris' and the exploitation of the Jarawa people. The analysis discusses the adverse impacts of niche tourism, including encroachment on tribal areas, the treatment of indigenous people as attractions, the introduction of diseases, and the introduction of alcohol and drugs. The report also examines the role of tour operators, government officials, and international organizations in the context of niche tourism. Recommendations are provided, including implementing stricter laws, establishing governing bodies, and promoting alternative tourism approaches. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to niche tourism that protects the rights of indigenous people while promoting sustainable development.

RUNNING HEAD: TOURISM
Title: Impact of Niche Tourism on the Tribal areas
Name of Student:
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Author Note;

1IMPACT OF NICHE TOURISM ON TRIBAL DESTINATION
IMPACT OF NICHE TOURISM ON TRIBAL DESTINATION
Introduction:
For niche tourism, a specific product, or specific issues can be tailored to fulfil the
needs of specific viewers. Tourism can be boosted by niche tourism. The positive aspect of
niche tourism is it diversify the product or issue, reduce the impact of seasonality, and curtail
the pressure on the primary areas, which are the key attraction for the tourists, by distributing
tourists to lesser-visited places (Stainton, 2016). Because of niche tourism, tourists, host
community and tourism industry can be affected. The goal of this report is to analyse the
impact of niche tourism on the tourist industry.
Background:
In this part, the impact of niche tourism on the Andaman Islands will be discussed.
Tour operators promote ‘human safaris’, one of the most popular attractions for the tourist.
Tourists travel along the Andaman Trunk road through the forest of Jarawa (Chamberlain,
2012). In this area, tribe people are treated as an animal in a safari park. The road brings a
daily invasion of hundreds of travellers into the core area of Jarawa reserve. Though it is
illegal yet tourist operators promote this activity as a key attraction for the tourists. Jarawa,
one of the last Afro-Asian people, are an indigenous people of Andaman Islands. The impact
of niche tourism on these tribe will be analysed in this report.

2IMPACT OF NICHE TOURISM ON TRIBAL DESTINATION
Thesis statement:
Thesis statement of this report argues that the effect of niche tourism on the tribal
destination is beneficial for the tourism industry or not’.
Analysis:
In this part, the impact of niche tourism on the tribal destination will be discussed. It
can be said that the host community get the benefit of niche tourism in the tribal destination.
Through this type of tourism, the economy of the host community is developed. Not only the
host community but also the tourism industry get the benefits. However, in certain situation
niche tourism create an adverse impact on the tourism industry and the host community. In
the case of ‘human safari’ in Andaman Island, niche tourism are creating adverse impact
which will be analysed in the following part.
How niche tourism is generating a contrary impact on the tourism industry and the
host community will be discussed here. Jarawa people are trusting, innocent and largely
vulnerable to exploitation. The first thing in the existence of Jarawa comes from
encroachment on to their area. A highway through the forest was developed in the 1970s
(Forbes.com, 2015). The second negative impact in tourists treats these people as an animal
in a forest safari. This activity is a violation of human rights. Through the Andaman Trunk
Road, tourists come to the heart of Jarawa’s territory. The third disadvantage of this tourism
is the impact of outside diseases. These indigenous people are vulnerable to outside diseases
as these Jarawa people have very little or zero immunity for the outside diseases. A wipe-out
of this indigenous people happened between 1999 and 2006 due to the outbreak of measles
(Forbes.com, 2015). The fourth negative impact is alcohol and marijuana are introduced by
outsiders among these indigenous people. There are several incidents of sexual abuse of

3IMPACT OF NICHE TOURISM ON TRIBAL DESTINATION
Jarawa women (Agoramoorthy & Sivaperuman, 2014). So it can be said that though niche
tourism can create a positive impact on the tourism industry and host community, yet in this
specific situation, both the host community and tourism industry are facing the problem. Not
only the Indian government but also several international organisation is interested to protect
these indigenous people from outsiders. Due to the pressure of international governing
bodies, the Supreme Court of India bars the entry of travellers in Jarawa tribe habitat.
Why niche tourism is creating an adverse impact on these indigenous people will be
discussed here. There are several photos and videos of Jarawa people, shared by several
tourists (Times of India, 2013). Capturing this type of photos and videos are a dream for the
tourist. Outsider and curious about this indigenous group. Some tour operators are using this
curiosity for their own interest, which must be prohibited. Not only the tour operators but also
the people, who have the responsibility to control the administration, using this curiosity of
tourists for their own benefit. By taking the bribe, they allow tour operators to continue these
illegal activities. Instead of implementing the law strictly, these people, who have the
responsibility to control the administration, are supporting the tour operator to continue this
type of tourism (Chamberlain, 2012). So it can be said that niche tourism can boost the
economy of the host community and tourist industry yet there are some drawbacks which
must be restricted.
Recommendation:
In this part, recommendations for niche tourism will be provided. In the case of
human safari of Andaman, the government of India must implement strict laws to safeguard
the Jarawa people. A governing body must be formed by the government to monitor the
implementation procedure of law and monitor each and every activities government
department regarding these Jarawa people. In 2012, the Supreme Court of India declared this

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zone as a ‘no-go zones’ (Times of India, 2013). The administration of this area curtailed the
number of vehicles from two hundred to sixty per day. The administration has limited the
number of tourists. As an alternative way, the government of India has started promoting the
new sea ferry for the tourists which will reduce interference of the outsiders.
However, niche tourism has several positive aspects and that is the reason this type of
tourism must be promoted. The economy of the host community and tourism industry will be
benefited. But strict monitoring is needed. It can reduce the negative impact of this type of
tourism.
Conclusion:
This report can be concluded in this way that Niche tourism has some positive and
negative aspects. With appropriate precaution, this tourism can deliver its benefit. The
economy will be boosted. But the rights of indigenous people must be protected. Rules and
regulation must be followed for sustainable development. The curiosity of modern people
towards tribal people must be balanced. Otherwise, this type of indigenous groups will not
remain.

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References:
Agoramoorthy, G., & Sivaperuman, C. (2014). Tourism, tribes and tribulations in Andaman
Islands. Current Science, 106(2), 141.
Chamberlain, G. (2012). Andaman Islands tribe threatened by lure of mass tourism. Retrieved
13 February 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/07/andaman-
islands-tribe-tourism-threat
Chamberlain, G. (2012). India orders crackdown on 'human safaris' in the Andaman Islands.
Retrieved 13 February 2020, from
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/14/andaman-jarawa-india-human-safari
Forbes.com. (2015). A Human Zoo on the World's Most Dangerous Island? The Shocking
Future of North Sentinel. Retrieved 13 February 2020, from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2015/09/28/will-the-worlds-most-dangerous-
island-become-a-human-zoo-the-shocking-future-of-north-sentinel/#1553baa32688
Stainton, H. (2016). A segmented volunteer tourism industry. Annals of Tourism
Research, 61, 256-258.
Times of India. (2013). Supreme Court bars entry of tourists in Jarawa tribe habitat.
Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Supreme-Court-bars-entry-of-
tourists-in-Jarawa-tribe-habitat/articleshow/18124643.cms