Apart from the religious facets which attract multitudes of pilgrims to Rishikesh, white water rafting, canoeing and eco-based tourism activities now attract a substantial number of visitors to the banks of Ganga in Rishikesh.

However, uncontrolled tourism related activities which violate environment regulations and Government directions, could inflame the negative effects of tourism on environment, especially considering the importance of Ganga River and the environmental wealth of forests in this region.

According to local sources, though authorities had prohibited entry of tourists and human activity on a stretch of the bank of Ganga in Rishikesh, a constant stream of domestic and international tourists is being diverted as part of tourism activity to this environmentally sensitive area where a narrow stretch of sandy scrubland separates the Ganga from dense forests.

According to local sources, authorities had prohibited human activities including tourism, along the banks of Ganga at Gauva which is mispronounced as Goa beach by those employed in eco-tourism activities. Locally based commercial adventure tourism providers are allegedly using the area on the banks of Ganga at Gauva to facilitate activities for adventure tourist which also include poaching of fish in Ganga and shooting of jungle fowl near the forest area, to facilitate which operators charge substantial fee from foreign tourists.