Recently, the UP Government has started tourism initiatives in core zones of tiger reserves, where the NTCA had precisely prohibited such constructions. Core areas within tiger reserves are designated as prime habitats with minimal human intervention. The NTCA had prohibited new permanent tourism infrastructure in the core areas in an order issued in 2019 based on a judgement by the Supreme Court in the year 2012.
Among the various ecotourism infrastructures created is the boating facility at the protected zones. The fact is that a boating facility has come to be operational even in the centre of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, while a bamboo cabin has also been constructed at Chukha Beach along the Sharda River.

The UP Government has allocated INR 38 lakh for constructing a lawn and parking facilities at Ranipur Tiger Reserve to enhance visitor experience. Furthermore, jungle safari services at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve have been revived, with plans to expand ecotourism across additional wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The UP Government officially opened the eco-tourism season for 2024-25 across its tiger reserves, including Pilibhit, Amangarh, and Dudhwa, on November 6—marking an earlier-than-usual start.
 

UP Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena announced plans to further develop Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary to line up with the facilities available in Dudhwa. Contrary to the NTCA guidelines which had called upon states to phase out permanent tourism facilities from core zones within five years, UP has continued with its tourism initiatives. UP has reportedly spent over Rs 3 crore to revive the tourist stay facilities-there are Tharu huts and a new boating site-on the Sharda Sagar Dam within the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

The local conservationists and state officials of the states that have adopted NTCA suggestions-Which include Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra-are protesting UP's decision to continue and expand its tourist infrastructure in the core tiger habitats. For instance, Maharashtra has cancelled all overnight stay visitor infrastructure and prohibited tourist night stays in the core areas, and Madhya Pradesh has allowed access only to people who are presumably necessary .

With increased focus of UP on the expansion of tourism, the policy changes raise a whole host of questions regarding consequences for tigers as well as long-term sustainability of India's protected zones of tigers. According to conservationists, core zones have to be preserved to minimize human impacts on natural habitats of these endangered animals.