Sustainable Tourism: Meaning, Challenges and Way Forward

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Picture Courtesy:  NEWSONAIR

Context

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $126.42 million loan agreement to promote sustainable tourism in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Lake region.

What is Sustainable Tourism?

Sustainable tourism, as defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is "tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities."

It integrates three core pillars:

• Environmental Sustainability: Minimizing ecological footprints through resource conservation, pollution reduction, and biodiversity protection.
• Economic Sustainability: Generating inclusive growth, supporting local businesses, and creating sustainable livelihoods.
• Socio-Cultural Sustainability: Preserving cultural heritage, respecting local traditions, and fostering intercultural understanding.

For India, sustainable tourism aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), ensuring long-term resilience.

Tourism Sector in India

The tourism sector contribute to 5% of GDP and created 7.6 crore jobs in FY23. International tourist arrivals (ITAs) in India have rebounded to pre-pandemic level in 2023. The share of India’s ITAs in World ITAs stands at 1.45% in 2023.

Foreign exchange earnings through tourism were $28 billion. India received 1.8% of world tourism receipts and attained a rank of 14th worldwide in world tourism receipts during 2023. (Source: PIB)

Cultural and Natural Assets: India have 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with diverse landscapes from the Himalayas to coastal regions.

Economic Multiplier Effect: Tourism boosts hospitality, transport, and local crafts, reducing regional disparities through infrastructure development (e.g., UDAN scheme)

Significance of Sustainable Tourism

Economic Growth: Job creation (e.g., Kaziranga National Park generated ₹10.9 crore in 2024-25 through ecotourism), tourism circuits like Ramayana Circuit boosting local economies.

Environmental Conservation: Ecotourism aligns growth with biodiversity protection, reducing carbon footprints and supporting India’s net-zero target by 2070.

Socio-Cultural Preservation: Promotes cultural diplomacy through festivals and heritage sites, preserving traditional practices and empowering communities (e.g., homestays in Sikkim).

Regional Development: Tourism drives infrastructure in remote areas, with UDAN enhancing connectivity and Jammu & Kashmir’s tourist influx reducing geographic inequalities.

Global Leadership: Sustainable tourism positions India as a responsible global destination, aligning with UNWTO’s sustainability goals and enhancing soft power.

Challenges to Sustainable Tourism in India

Environmental Degradation: Over-tourism in ecologically sensitive areas like Shimla, Manali, and Joshimath causes biodiversity loss, water shortages, and pollution.

Overcrowding: Popular destinations face infrastructure strain, with hill stations witnessing severe pressure due to unchecked tourist inflows.

Infrastructural Deficits: Poor roads, inadequate accommodations, and limited amenities in states like Jharkhand hinder competitiveness compared to Rajasthan or Kerala.

Skilling Gaps: Hospitality workforce lacks training in languages, customer service, and technology, impacting service quality.

Safety and Security: Issues like tourist safety, and regional instability like Manipur, deter international visitors and harm India’s global image.   

Policy Gaps: Weak enforcement of carrying capacity norms and fragmented implementation of sustainability policies.

Government Initiatives and Schemes

National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism (2022): Identifies seven pillars—environmental sustainability, biodiversity protection, economic and socio-cultural sustainability, certification, capacity building, and governance—to make India a global leader in responsible tourism.

Swadesh Darshan 2.0: A revamped scheme with a destination-centric approach, investing in eco-tourism, heritage conservation, and community-based tourism (e.g., Ramayana Circuit).

PRASHAD Scheme: For pilgrimage site development, emphasizing sustainability and cultural preservation (e.g., Kashi Vishwanath Corridor).

Travel for LiFE: Launched under Mission LiFE, this campaign encourage domestic tourists and businesses toward sustainable practices, aligning with net-zero goals.

Dekho Apna Desh: Promotes domestic tourism to lesser-known destinations, reducing pressure on overcrowded sites and promoting inclusive growth.

UDAN Scheme: Expand regional connectivity to make remote destinations accessible while promoting eco-friendly aviation practices.

Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI): Certifies hotels, resorts, and tour operators for adopting green practices like solar energy, waste management, and water conservation.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat: Enhances cultural exchange through festivals and tribal arts, integrating traditional practices into tourism circuits.

Way Forward 

Capacity Management: Implement carrying capacity policy for fragile ecosystems (e.g., Shimla, Manali), adopting Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) model to ensure that tourism directly benefits the local community and conservation efforts.

Low-Impact Transport: Expand electric vehicle networks (e.g., Kerala’s e-boats), integrate eco-friendly aviation (Sustainable aviation fuel) under UDAN to reduce carbon footprints.

Community Empowerment: Scale up community-based tourism models like Mawlynnong, ensuring locals benefit economically through homestays, craft promotion, and skill training.

Digital Innovation: Leverage AI for visitor flow management, virtual tourism, and smart signage to decongest popular sites; expand Dekho Apna Desh into a digital ecosystem for low-carbon experiences.

Green Certifications: Strengthen STCI enforcement, incentivizing hotels and operators to adopt renewable energy, zero-waste systems, and water conservation.

Cultural Preservation: Integrate local festivals and crafts into tourism circuits, ensuring authenticity and economic benefits for artisans (e.g., Ramayana Circuit).

Skilling Programs: Enhance hospitality training in languages, tech tools, and cultural sensitivity to improve service quality and global competitiveness.

Coastal and Island Models: Develop sustainable coastal tourism with coral reef protection and plastic-free zones, drawing from global models like Turkey’s heritage preservation framework.

Policy Coherence: Strengthen implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism through inter-ministerial coordination and regular monitoring of SDG targets.

Conclusion

Sustainable tourism focuses on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. India's tourism sector benefits from economic growth, environmental conservation, and cultural diplomacy. However, challenges like pollution, overcrowding, and infrastructure deficiencies hinder its success. To achieve sustainable tourism's full potential, India must adopt a multi-pronged approach including capacity management, low-impact transport, community empowerment, digital innovation, and cultural preservation.

Source: NEWSONAIR