Impact of Tourism on Vembanadlake System in Alappuzha District

Abstract

Vembanadwetland is the largest wetland system in India which is the official site of the Ramsar convention on Wetlands. Human Intervention on the lake is severe which affects the function, structure and entire composition of the Vembanadwetland system. There is a drastic growth in tourism sector in and around Vembanad Lake for the past two decades. The paper focuses on the impact of tourism on Vembanadlake system as a result of the tremendous growth of Backwater tourism in and around the VembanadLake. Data from both primary and secondary sources are used for the study and analysis. Even though the Lake flows through three districts of Kerala the study area is limited to Alappuzha district only. Recommendations are found out for the sustainable development of tourism onVembanad Lake system.