Guwahati: Assam’s Manas National Park reopened to tourists on Friday under a new tourism model designed to balance wildlife conservation, community livelihoods and responsible travel. The system introduces compulsory trained local guides, expands tourism into buffer areas, offers premium full-day routes and establishes a waste-management facility at the park entrance.
The changes come as visitor numbers have risen from 52,962 in 2021-22 to 63,723 in 2025-26. Foreign arrivals increased from 45 to 4,951 over the same period, while domestic visitors reached 58,772 in the latest season.
At the centre of the new approach is the mandatory participation of trained guides from villages around Manas. Young people from these communities will accompany visitors, sharing their knowledge of the landscape, wildlife and culture while earning income directly from guiding. Tourism opportunities are also being expanded through homestays and curated cultural experiences under rural initiatives such as Aamar Alohi, allowing local households to participate more directly in the sector.
Tourism is also spreading beyond the park’s core safari zones. Subankhata, Bhutan Chowki and Bogamati are being developed as low-impact destinations in the surrounding buffer landscape. Officials hope this will reduce pressure on sensitive areas and encourage longer stays. A broader circuit is planned around Manas National Park, the 1st Addition to Manas, Raimona National Park, Sikhna Jwhalao National Park and the Barnadi and Chakrashila wildlife sanctuaries.
At the entrance, a Responsible Tourism Centre will allow visitors to leave prohibited single-use plastic items before entering the park. It will also provide drinking-water refill points and guidance on responsible waste disposal. The initiative involves the Forest Department, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, Royal Enfield Social Mission, The Midway Journey, local communities, guides, safari associations, resorts and homestays.
The visitor experience is also set to expand beyond wildlife. The foundation stone of the Bodoland Manas Heritage Centre at Bansbari has been laid, with the proposed centre showcasing the region’s conservation history, culture and heritage. Together, the initiatives reposition Manas as both a conservation hub and a source of income for surrounding communities, while raising the challenge of managing growth without harming one of Assam’s most ecologically sensitive landscapes.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/uncategorized/assam-manas-opens-to-tourists-with-conservation-first-tourism-model.html
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Publish Date: 2026-10-02 18:51:00
