Dev Balaji Setty speaks of his ‘journey’ in the field of tourism till date and about Karnataka
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Dev Balaji Setty, Founder & Director, Nature Admire Treks, Bengaluru, Karnataka
12-16-2019
# India

Dev Balaji Setty speaks of his ‘journey’ in the field of tourism till date and about Karnataka

A graduate from National Outdoor Leadership School (USA), Dev Balaji Setty also completed a basic & advance mountaineering course from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, before venturing into this 17-year journey in promoting adventure sports. He has also been consulting for tourism development for Government agencies, Private homestays, resorts and adventure campsites.

An advisor and trainer for Karnataka Ecotourism Board, Dev Balaji Setty has developed many trekking destinations across the State, and prepared detailed project reports for the infrastructures. As a consultant, he has also worked with various resorts to introduce adventure activities in their properties to provide customers with unique value-added services.

Here, in an interview with EcoTourism EXPERT, Dev Balaji Setty speaks of his ‘journey’ in the field of Tourism till date; and also expresses his aspirations for the tourism sector’s growth in Karnataka, his home State.

- What is your background in this sector of Tourism/Ecotourism? What inspired you to enter this field and how have you fared over the years?

- I'm qualified mountaineer from reputed Mountaineering Institute in India and also alumni of NOLS, USA. Since childhood, I had a passion for the uniform services like Scouts, NCC, whose activities imbibed me to participate in many adventure activities which turned to be a part of my career.

- Can you spell out the initiatives you have taken in the organizations you have been associated till date? Which project has remained closest to your heart and why?

- As adventure tourism is a new industry in the market, Trekking is a great buzz word of late for youngsters. Besides, trekking activity was brisk in and around Bengaluru. Hence, as part of the Karnataka Ecotourism Board, we did the regularisation of the trail for more than 35 destinations across the state. As an experiment, we have initiated seven trails across the city and a few more yet to be started at the Tadiyendamol in Coorg and other parts of the State.

Regularisation of the trail helps participants to book it online and trek with a qualified guide, who is a native and trained by the department professionals to lead the teams with safety; and also educate the participants about the ecology, nature and wildlife.

- As an advisor and trainer for Karnataka Eco-Tourism Board, how many projects have you undertaken exclusively for Karnataka till date? Are there any new projects in the offing?

As an advisor, I’ve done a detailed project report for more than 35 destinations in Karnataka to regularise the trekking trails, but apparently, only seven trails have been implemented by the department and few more projects yet to be initiated.

Apart from the eco-tourism board, I’ve been instrumental in developing Jog Falls under Jog Management Authority - Department of Tourism (Government of Karnataka), wherein we have introduced water sports at Shirur Tank, just one km away from the waterfalls. I even organised many Children camps and family adventure camps to understand the feasibility.

- While 68% of Indians are living in rural areas at present, how do you think ecotourism will help in sustainable development in poverty eradication & environmental protection in India? What strategies do you suggest for developing good eco-tourism destinations in the country?

- Ecotourism is a new concept in the Indian Market, which promotes the undiscovered wildlands to the tourists. While promoting these destinations, the native inhabitants have been trained with proper communications skills, safety techniques and ‘do’s and don’ts’ of the forest, to ensure the tourists just carry memories and leave the nature behind as they saw it.

I feel that if there is a control mechanism, it will help the destination to be a self-sustainable. It will also be easy for crowd management and even trash management. The income generated by the entry fee and guide fees can be useful for a native to sustain his family. There is also a transformation of well being and cleanliness; eradication of open defecation, plastic waste. And the inhabitants will also understand the need for protecting their areas for their livelihood.

- How many wildlife sanctuaries are there in Karnataka? Trekking is your favourite activity, which trip according to you, was the best you organised? Can you elaborate on one such trip, the unforgettable experience?

- Karnataka has many wildlife sanctuaries one among them is "Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary", located in the border of Coorg and South Canara district, with the hillocks like "Jenukalagudda", "Doddabetta", "Pushapagiri and Patla betta", where river Yagachi flows amidst the sanctuary at the periphery of the Hassan district and joins the Kumaradhara river in the small pilgrimage village hamlet called "Kukke Subramanya". Pushpagiri is also popularly known as "KUMARAPARVATHA"… rising to the height of 5850 ft height.

Without any doubt, I’ll say it’s the trekking to Kumaraparvatha, which I’ll always remember. Trekking in Western Ghats of Karnataka, which is home for biodiversity is amazing. The topographic features such as valleys, waterfalls, ghats, hillocks, weather and the flora and fauna overwhelm you.

It was the summer vacation time, сhildren around the age of 12 to 15 years were planning for a trek to Kumaraparvatha, hence, we decided to take them on a trek before the monsoon begins to avoid leeches. The trek lasted for three days, covering almost thirty kilometres…walking between the Pushpagiri and Kumaraparvatha, which is starting from Coorg side and descend towards South Canara, making it as a circuit trek.

We began our journey with ten kids in chartered transportation from Bengaluru, which took around six hours to reach the destination. The evening was spent time in the waterfalls and reached the local homestay at the entrance of the hillock for a night stay. As there are lots of snakes as well as elephants roaming around in the forest, we were warned not to camp.

Next day early morning, we began our trek with our light back bags with snacks, a few clothes and the emergency rations. After filling up our details at the forest Check Post at Pushpagiri, we walked about seven kms to reach the peak. Trek was walking through the deciduous forest on an established trail, with gradual uphill. As we reached closer to the top, trekking is through the grasslands and open meadows.

The children, tired walking for seven kms in a humid climate and picking the leeches, started descending to reach the base camp, which is around eight kms from the peak, popularly known as ‘Girigade or Bhattara mane.’ An elderly Brahmin person resides there, providing food and shelter for the trekkers at a reasonable price. On the last day, we descended to Kukke Subramanya, where our vehicle was parked and began our return trip to Bengaluru.

The entire trekking was a very good experience for the children as it gave them confidence, judge their energy levels, meet new people and understand the magic of teamwork. Also, they learnt to be independent and take care of themselves. These types of activities help children to hone their leadership skills as well.

- In Karnataka State, tourism contributes about 14.8 per cent towards its GDP and supports about 16 million people currently. Do you think Karnataka has more potential that can be exploited usefully? In your opinion, what are the impacts of tourism on indigenous people in Karnataka?

Karnataka Tourism promotes “ONE STATE. MANY WORLDS”, and is being promoted well. However, there are many areas which have not been exploited yet by the tourism sector. There is a need for ‘checks and balances’ at a few locations, which have been choking with too many tourists.

While promoting tourism, the Department needs to bring in some initiatives for ‘trash management’, ‘crowd management’ and also keep vigilance on safety and quality check.

Apart from that, the tourists also need to be more sensitive while exploring the destinations, to protect the beauty of nature and leave fewer footprints in these areas. Also, the tourism department is lacking in a dynamic leader who can spearhead the operations to ensure the quality of tourism. What is needed is a self-sustainable and controlled tourism activity, rather than promoting it in totality, which may eventually not get the desired results.

- On 2 September 2019, there was a news item in Times of India that 80% of the posts are vacant in Karnataka Tourism Department. If true, do you think that ‘lack of political will’ plays a negative role in harnessing the ecotourism potentials of the State? Your thoughts…

- True, there are a lot of vacancies in Karnataka Tourism. It is the corruption in the bureaucracy and lack of vision of Politicians that is abruptly pulling down the development of various tourism departments in our state.

The Government needs to do a new experiment if interested to develop the tourism sector. They should keep bureaucrats and politicians as a catalyst only, and allow youngsters who are dynamic and can bring new changes in operation and new ideas to promote tourism in the State.

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