Sustainable Tourism In India: Achievements And Emerging Challenges
Keywords:
Tourism / tourist, Sustainable / sustainability, Environmental, communities / community, Heritage, Development, Resources, Management, InfrastructureAbstract
India's sustainable tourism relies on balancing economic growth with environmental and infrastructural limits.With roughly 318 million tourist visits in 2024 concentrated in states like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, tourism contributes substantially to regional GDP but strains scarce resources and elevates waste generation in ecologically sensitive zones such as the Himalayas and Sundarbans. The economic analysis identifies gaps in the implementation of sustainability initiatives and limited local participation, reducing policy effectiveness. Examining environmental, socio-cultural, and infrastructure-related factors throughout the nation, this article delves into the challenges encountered when developing sustainable tourism. The study rely on secondary data from government reports and academic sources to assess challenges and opportunities. Its findings highlights that Tourism boosts local economies, especially via community-based initiatives, but unmanaged activities cause environmental degradation in sensitive areas (e.g., Himalayas, Sundarbans). Waste generation and cultural commodification threaten traditional practices. The study thrusts robust government policies, strengthen waste management, leverage technology for efficient resource allocation, enforce stricter ecological regulations, and offer tax incentives for energy-efficient restorations; collaborate with tech firms to optimize tourist flow for sustainable tourism in India.
