There is no move to ban tourism in the tiger reserves, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday though he added that his ministry was working on strict regulations on tourism in the 39 Project Tiger reserves in the country.

In a statement, he said his ministry is concerned over mushrooming tourist lodges around tiger reserves such as the Corbett National Park and that is why it is working on detailed guidelines for promoting 'eco tourism' that does not cause any damage to these reserves.

The new guidelines will ensure that tourism in the reserves is ecologically sustainable and is in line with the carrying capacity of the particular reserve, Ramesh said, stressing that he would like the locals in forests to actually benefit from such tourism.

He said: "The ministry believes that tourism is essential and that the revenue from tourism must flow back directly into the management of each of the tiger reserves, so that local communities benefit."

"The advantage of tourism should be felt by these local communities who should be encouraged to develop a stake in the protection of these tiger reserves. This policy of ploughing back is already in place in most reserves and it will be in place in all Project Tiger reserves very soon," Ramesh added.