Budget 2026 Boosts Eco-Tourism: India Focuses on Sustainable Mountain and Wildlife Trails

• Budget 2026 proposes developing a network of trekking, wildlife, and coastal trails across India's ecologically rich landscapes.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined plans for sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Araku Valley, and Podhigai Malai.
• The budget also includes turtle trails along nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka, Kerala, and bird-watching trails around Pulikat Lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• While hoteliers see potential, ecologists caution against large-scale human congregation in fragile high-altitude regions, emphasizing scientific carrying-capacity studies.
• The initiative aims to shift tourism towards slower, experience-driven travel, improving safety, standardizing routes, and creating local employment.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 prioritizes sustainable eco-tourism, developing nature trails while raising ecological sustainability concerns.