Text tries to look at the entire context of tourism in terms of human living and rapid urbanisation; tries to explain the impact of tourism in the hill Areas, culture and fragile environment . It also suggests few options to overcome existing challenges in hill areas to make tourism supportive of environment, ecology, growth, bio-diversity and sustainability.

1. Leveraging Tourism for Promoting Sustainable
Development of Hill States.
*Jit Kumar Gupta
**jit.kumar1944@gmail.com
Introduction;
Travelling remains an important and integral part of human origin, growth and
development. Travel has also emerged as an essential part of human learning and
earning. People and communities are known to have been travelling since time
immemorial, but the reasons, modes, speed, and purpose of travel has been
different, distinct and changing over the period. Considering the availability of
faster mode of travel; willingness to travel; ever rising levels of income; availability
of surplus financial resources; willingness to spend and explore spaces of
historical, religious, archeological and cultural importance, appropriately
supported by nations/communities valuing and showcasing their culture, state of
art historical buildings, natural spaces; and inviting/ incentivizing people to visit
such places , has led to large number of people travelling, both within and outside
their places/states/countries of origin. Looking at the entire context, travelling has
been considered and valued as one of the most dynamic human activities, ever
evolving, ever devolving, never static , never finite and never fixed.
Tourism, in addition to making people search for new places, has also emerged
as one of the major propeller and driver of economic growth and development of
any place, community and nation. Globally, tourism has been recognized as a
sunrise and one of the most productive and fastest growing sectors of economy.
Recognised as a labour intensive and high dividend yielding sector, with focus
on women and youth, tourism is known for its capacity and potential of
generating large employment, promoting trade and commerce and ensuring
infrastructure development, Considering the role and importance of travel in
generating employment and promoting economy , making people travel has
emerged as an important/ major agenda and valuable option, for nations to
promote economy, generate employment and augment resources , promote
planned development and remove poverty. Globalization, liberalization and
opening of the economies have also helped in and made valuable contribution,
in the growth of travel and number of travellers moving at the local and

2. international level. Decolonization , easy and supportive immigration policies,
falling travel costs; easy access to global information, facility of online sourcing
travel, boarding lodging and other basic information, has made seamless travel
possible for large number of people, both within and across nations.
With UNESCO, the cultural arm of UNO, getting actively involved in identifying,
notifying and preserving the built, natural and cultural heritage (including tangible
and non-tangible heritage), having universal value/importance, across
communities and nations, global travel and tourism has emerged a preferred
activity of human living and leisure. Based on the data available, globally heritage
sector employed 1 in 10 people around the world and in 2019 alone this sector
catered to 1.5 billion international travellers. According to the United Nations World
Tourism Organization, “one of the pillars of the tourism industry has been people’s
inherent desire to see and learn about the cultural identity of different parts of the
world,” which has now led to the rapid growth and development of so called
heritage tourism or cultural tourism . Looking at the entire context, tourism holds
enormous potential and can generate enormous resources for both communities and
nations, not only for conservation of cultural and natural heritage but also for making
positive contribution to the sustainable development goals, enunciated by United
Nations.
Tourists’ inflow in India- 2023-2047;
India, as a nation and Indians as residents of this great nation , are known for its
hospitality which is bestowed on all the visitors, irrespective of the cast and creed
of the visitors. In order to put the concept of Atithi Devo Bhav before the global
community and to make India globally preferred tourist destination, Government
of India, in the year 2022, has put into place, ‘Draft National Tourism Policy’ .
Said policy has been evolved, primarily and essentially, to provide a framework
for holistic development of sustainable, responsible and eco-friendly, visitor
friendly and community supportive sustainable tourism development covering
the entire country, spread over a physical area of 32 lakh Sq kms,
administratively divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. The draft policy
formspart of thevision of New India, on hightrajectory of growth and prosperity. Policy
aims at Improving framework /conditions for tourism development in the country,
supporting tourism industries; strengthening tourism support functions and
developing tourism sub-sectors. Governmnet of India, under the Draft National
Tourism Policy 2022, has made detailed studies and in- depth analysis besides
making projections of the number of tourists likely to visit India, which include
both international and domestic tourists; foreign exchange earnings; employment
generated and contributions made in terms of Gross Domestic Product. These
projections have been made for four different years including years 2023; 2030;

3. 2040 and 2047 , covering a total time span of 25 years. During this time span of
two and half decades ; international tourists are estimated to grow from 13 million
to 100 million, recording a growth of approximately 8 times. During the same
period domestic number of tourists will grow from 2 billion to 15 billion indicating
an increase of seven and half times. In terms of foreign exchange earnings,
national earning is projected to increase from 30 to $ 400 billion; whereas
employment generated shall grow from 88 million to 400 million. Estimates made
have also shown that tourism generated GDP will jump from 143 to $ 1000 Bn.
These projections have been made, primarily for nation to create necessary
support system and infrastructures required for large number of tourists visiting
India, from within and outside.
Looking at the projections made, it can be easily concluded that tourism will be
among the major player in the domain of not only making India as a preferred
global tourism destination but will also help in generating enormous revenue
besides creating space for generating large employment in both rural and urban
areas. Further, it is estimated that hill area will command large share in the overall
tourism flow, generation of employment and earnings India will make. From the
projections made by Governmnet of India, it can also be concluded that hill areas
will also face large pressure of tourists flowing in besides having pressure of
large scale growth and development. This calls for creating a roadmap on
priority, for rationalizing the inflow of tourists and managing effectively and
efficiently tourism in hill areas/settlements, for safeguarding the fragile eco-
environment existing in hills of India, failing which hill areas will suffer irreparable
loss and damage to its fragile and valuable environment, ecology, bio-diversity
and culture.
The details of the projections made of tourist inflow under the National Policy are
given below;

4. • Source; Draft National Tourism Policy,2022
Hill Tourism;
Tourism remains a double edged weapon which has been wielded by developed
nations to promote prosperity, employment, economy and infrastructure to usher
an era of growth and development besides siphoning of resources from under-
developed world. If tourism has brought prosperity to developed world, it is also
known to usher an era of destruction of valuable flora and fauna and loss of natural
resources, causing irreparable damage to local culture, values and loss of vital
heritage in the developing/underdeveloped nations. Tourism has been used by
nations, to promote employment, remove poverty and bring money for leveraging
its growth & employment . However, adverse impact of tourism in developing
societies have not been fully studied , understood and appreciated . If tourism
adversely impacts and usher changes which undermine local culture, values and
DNA of any nation, it needs critical and objective evaluation and elimination.
Tourism needs to be promoted globally to remove negativities and promote
positivity among nations to bring people/communities of various caste/cultures
together for better understanding, learning about the culture, art and science of
various communities and to usher an era of universal peace and prosperity. Values
/cultures/resources of all nations/communities must be recognized and respected
with nature / natural resources preserved and conserved for posterity. Tourism
should not be based on attitude/approach led merely by consumerism but should
be based on/ guided / led by ethos of sustainability, for making it more meaningful,
rational and relevant. Hill areas are known and valued for housing abundance of
natural resources, quality environment, diverse ecology ,unique bio-diversity and
wealth of flora and fauna. Hill areas, because of their relative cool climate, natural
beauty, green and snow clad mountains and hills, hold great attraction for the
people living in hot climate in the plains, which makes people travel to hill areas
for escaping the harsh realities of climate prevailing in such areas. In addition, hill
areas are known to be great repository of manmade and natural heritage besides
housing places of great reverence, which also remain the prime reason for large
number of people travelling to hill areas. Hill tourism in India is known to constitutes
major proportion of local and global tourism.
During last five decades, under the impact of ever increasing tourism with large
number of tourists visiting hill states in India, hill settlements have recorded
massive increase in population ; rapid physical growth; large scale haphazard
and unplanned construction of buildings ; increased demand for infrastructures,

5. services and amenities for catering to the needs of the large influx of tourists and
increased tourism. However, in this era of rapid tourism-led growth and
development, valuable, sensitive and fragile gifts of nature, in hill areas, has
become highly vulnerable when subjected to unregulated forces of urbanization.
Considering the fragility, criticality, role ,relevance and importance of hill areas ,
these natural gifts need to be protected, preserved and promoted against forces
generated by unplanned , uncontrolled growth/development, massive and
unregulated tourism.
Challenges posed by Uncontrolled/Unsustainable Tourism;
• Tourism as a sector is known to be major polluter of environment and
generator of large carbon footprints. World Tourism Organization has
estimated that tourism-based CO2 emissions are forecast to increase 25%
by 2030.
• Tourism remains the major promoter of traffic and transportation and
related problems of air pollution for the reason that all tourism related
activities remain transport-led. In 2016, tourism transport-related emissions
contributed 5% of all man-made emissions, while transport-related
emissions from long-haul international travel are expected to grow 45% by
2030.
• Large proportion of solid waste related problems faced by majority of towns
can also be attributed to uncontrolled/unsustainable tourism, leading to
land degradation, soil erosion, increased loss of natural habitat and
marginalizing endangered species.
• Unsustainable tourism not only adversely /negatively impact scarce
resources but also promote dilution and destruction of the environment,
on which tourism sector/industry essentially depends.
• Tourism is known to be large consumer of scarce energy and water
resources. In state of Bali. tourism consumed in all 65% of local water
resources, while in Zanzibar, tourists used 15 times more water per night
when compared with the consumption of water by local residents.
• Unsustainable tourism also remains responsible for wasting food,
generating waste and leaving harmful pollutant footprint.
• Global warming ,climate change and rising temperature has genesis/roots
in unsustainable tourism , being practiced in majority of tourist destinations.
• Unsustainable tourism has also been reckoned as the major cause for
promoting unsustainable and environmentally harmful practices, especially
among residents/communities of under-developed countries, due to poverty
and social issues.

6. • Large scale poaching and loss of valuable flora and fauna in the Periyar
Tiger Reserve in India, was attributed to unregulated large increase in
tourists visiting tiger reserve.
• Majority of problems of unplanned/haphazard growth and development in
urban areas can easily be attributed to unsustainable tourism
• Unsustainable tourism has been reckoned to be the prime reason for large
scale deforestation, damage to bio-diversity and fragile ecology in hill
areas.
• Deficiency of basic infrastructure and services in hill towns have genesis in
having over-tourism in selected hill settlements.
What Makes Tourism -Sustainable
Since tourism is known for its capacity and capability to impact and get impacted
by numerous activities and industries, all sectors of economy and stakeholders
need to collaborate and co-operate for promoting sustainable tourism. The World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Global Sustainable Tourism Council
(GSTC), agencies involved in promoting sustainable tourism and defining global
standard for sustainable travel and tourism, have also mandated and called upon
nations and communities to make tourism sustainable.
• Sustainable tourism has genesis in making optimum use of available
environmental resources while focusing on conserving natural heritage
and biodiversity; respecting the socio-culture of local communities and
making value addition to inter-cultural understanding.
• Sustainable tourism aims at creating win-win situation for all stakeholders
on continued basis, in terms of generating resources, creating
employment, promoting economy, alleviating poverty, promoting social
services and creating infrastructures/services.
• Sustainable tourism is built on strong foundations, created by putting in
place; rational and realistic tourism supportive policies/programs; creating
empowered institutional network at national, state and local levels ;
providing appropriate incentives and making available adequate financial
and manpower resources, in order to restrict tourism to specific regions
while ensuring that the country’s most precious natural resources won’t be
exploited.
Objectives of Sustainable Tourism in Hill Areas;
Looking at the uniqueness and fragility of hill states, it remains important that
tourism in hill areas must be planned , designed, developed, organized and

7. managed with care and caution so that hill areas have maximum benefits of the
tourism in terms of, generating employment, promoting economy, skilling
manpower and making tourism sector qualitative and competitive. In addition,
while making optimum use of the inherent strength / benefits of tourism,
precautions must also be taken to ensure that fragility and glory of hill areas is not
muted, diluted, marginalized and compromised, under the developmental pressure
generated by tourism. Tourism in hill areas must be managed in such a manner
that it not only makes value addition to the nature and natural resources but also
ensures eliminating all possibilities of adversely impacting the prevailing
environment, ecology and bio-diversity.
Considering the fragility, vulnerability and unique nature of hill areas, besides
keeping in view the agenda defined by the Draft National Tourism Policy 2022,
objectives of promoting tourism in hill areas can be broadly defined in terms of ;
• Identifying and mapping the areas of tourist attraction in the state, including
the category of tourists such places will be catering to, along with their
capacity to hold number of tourists, without impacting the local resources,
climate and culture.
• Making rational assessment of tourism potential of hill states individually
and collectively, based on the existing and future trends/pattern of the inflow
of number of tourists on annual basis, spread over the year, for next 20
years along with purpose, duration/place of stay of tourists, at various
destinations in the state.
• Creating a Master Plan/ Roadmap of sustainable tourism, within the
framework and approach defined in the Draft NationalTourismPolicy2022,
covering the entire state, based on the capacity and category of tourists, to
be handled at a given place. Master plan / Roadmap must be prepared
based on the principle of avoiding concentration in few selected places
while promoting dispersed tourism /spread of tourists over the entire state,
based on the holding/carrying capacity determined above.
• Making a realistic and rational assessment of the infrastructures and
services required, in terms of boarding, lodging, travel, healthcare,
entertainment etc., for the tourists at a given place and integrating the
required services/infrastructures as integral part of the Master
Plan/Development plan, prepared for the settlement /local area.
• Promoting responsible and inclusive development of hill states, based on
sustainable tourism.
• Empowering people and communities at local level in Hill states by involving
communities, generating employment by skilling local manpower in the art
and science of promoting tourism along with preserving environment,
ecology, resources and culture.

8. • Making tourism sector more responsive, competitive and qualitative for
attracting large private sector investment.
• Promoting sustainable development of hill settlements by looking at
innovations in tourism, based on the local culture, climate , physiography,
topography, water features, flora and fauna etc. existing at local level.
• Realizing full potential of Hill Tourism in India and making Hill tourism self-
reliant and self-sustaining by bringing all stakeholders on common platform
for promoting close co-operation and co-ordination among different players
for achieving holistic development of sustainable tourism in the hill state
• Buildinga strong, robust and dynamic base of tourism in Hill areas by making
optimum use of Hill area culture and heritage.
• Making hill tourism both a robust, happy and healthy experience of travel,
showcasing the diversity ofproducts and experiences found in hill India.
• Making hill tourism, a state priority, for promoting inclusive growth and
development of remote areas in hill states, by creating options of employment
and entrepreneurial opportunities to youth, women, marginalized sections ofthe
society and informal sector by making provision of adequate facilities and
amenities.
Guiding Principles for Hill Tourism;
Guiding principle of promoting tourism in hill areas, as suggested by Draft National
Tourism Policy 2022 involves , includes and revolves around planning, designing
and managing the identified touristdestinations in a sustainable manner for making
hill areas as preferred destination for sustainable and responsible tourism; providing
world class experience to visitors/tourists to hill areas. Guiding principles detailed
under national policy, for promoting tourism in hill areas includes and involve;
i. Promoting Sustainable, Responsible and Inclusive Tourism by;
• Making hill areas , one of the best available destinations for sustainable and
responsible tourism.
• Minimising negative impact of tourism on social,environmental and economic
aspects
• Bringing all stakeholders on common platform for taking responsibility for
achievingsustainable tourism
• Ensuringinclusive growth and prioritize creating opportunities for marginalized
sections of society including people living in remote areas
II. Promoting Digitalization, Innovation and Technology in Tourism
sector by;
• Making tourism technology-led, by using digitalization,innovationand state of art
soft and hard technologies for promoting and development of tourism sector;

9. • Transforming tourism supportive business models and processes using
technology.
• Developing market activities; expanding market reach, increasing growth,
improving operational efficiencies of all processes and products involved/
used in tourism.
• Increasing competitiveness, developing/customizing product offerings, improving
destination connectivity
• Generating/sourcing data for tracking performance and improving destination
management.
iii Following a whole Government approach for;
• Addressing holistically multi- faceted challengesfacedbythetourismindustry
• Bringing all parastatal agencies on common platform, operating at national,
state and local levels.
• Controlling or managing tourism attractions such as national parks; skills
development;
• Funding developmentofroadsandotherinfrastructure essential for tourism.
iv Making Tourism Private Sector- led growth by;
• Creating a tourism-friendly regulatory environment
• Revising regulations and easing/dismantling the administrativeandregulatory
Roadblocks
• Increasing theentrepreneurialscope and reducingthecostofregulations.
• Increasing productivity by boosting the skillsandcompetencies ofall players
v. Promoting Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by;
• Enhancing interaction and promote mutual understanding betweenpeopleof
differentStates/UT
• Promoting asustained and structuredcultural connect in tourism and related
areas of culture, traditions&music,cuisine,sportsand sharing of best practices
etc.
• Bringing outthebestofourtourismofferingsacrosstheStates
• Focusing on the lessor known and less developed tourism destinations of the
Country.
vi, Following a Destination Centric and Tourist Centric Approach by,
• Recognizes that tourism is not confined merely to tourism service providers
or one particular experience, but overall experience of the destination.
• Adopting adestinationcentricapproach for planning/developmentoftourism.
• Enhancing tourist experience throughout his journey from arrival to return-

10. as the basic element of planning for tourism development
• Adopting a tourist-centric approach for making available all relevant and
enabling information and services to the tourists online.
• Creating mechanism for sourcing feedback; rating of services;
registering grievances and seeking resolution.
Green Tourism
Tourism as a sector, in hill areas, is known to face significantchallenges related to
sustainability, which gets compounded due to emerging crisis created by climate
change, rising temperature, global warming, increasing carbon footprints, increasing
energy consumption, large emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG), water
consumption, waste management, loss of biologicaldiversity, mismanagement of built and
cultural heritage. Accordingly, tourism needs to be planned, designed, managed and
promoted in such manner that it excludes the existing challenges faced due to climate
change and global warming besides restoring all areas which are adversely impacted in
terms of damaged bio-diversity and depletion of natural resources. For making tourism
sector safe and sustainable, hill states need to develop their own agenda for making hill
tourism supportive of local environment, ecology and bio-diversity.
Draft National Tourism Policy, 2022 has suggested the adoption of Green Tourism ,
as an option and strategy to promote sustainable tourism, particularly in hill
areas/towns for maintaining and sustaining their social, economic, cultural, and
environmental contexts, while addressing the needs of visitors, industry, environment
and communities.
Green Tourism aimsat embedding sustainabilityinto tourismsector,by making the
entire sector moreenergyefficient;moreclimate responsive; least consumer of water;
generator of minimum waste; conserving biodiversity, promoting cultural heritage and
safeguarding traditional values; supporting intercultural understanding and tolerance;
generating local income and integratinglocal communities, with a view to improve quality
of life and reducing poverty, making tourism more productive, sustainable, raising
awareness and supporting the sustainable use of natural resources. Green Tourism is
a mandate given to align tourism with the agenda defined by the Sustainable
Development Goals 2030.
Creating a Green Tourism Mission.
Tourism, policy, 2022 has suggested that in order to make Green Tourism a
distinct reality, Governmnet should take it in a Mission mode, by setting National
Green Tourism Mission. It further suggests that said Mission,should be taken up
at National,State and destinations/settlement levels with following objectives;
(i) Mainstreaming sustainability in tourism sector
(ii) Encouraging climate action in the tourism sector

11. (iii) Promoting responsible tourism
(iv) Promoting inclusive tourism
(v) Aligning tourismdevelopment withSustainable DevelopmentGoals,
2030
Strategic Areas for the Mission
The National Mission on Green Tourism has given mandate to all stakeholders
to focus on the following areas, for achieving the defined objectives ;
• Promoting Sustainable, Responsible and Inclusive Tourism; by developing a
national framework for sustainable tourism on the pattern defined by UNWTO
involving environmental sustainability; developing aplanforclimateaction to
achieve reduction in GHG emissions, enhancing the usage of renewable
energy, moving towards net zero carbon; achieving the sustainable
development goals2030 and developing a code of ethics for all stakeholders
• Forging Partnerships with Private Sector for Promoting Green Tourism;
by bringing all stakeholders on the common platform for leveraging the
resources of private sector for promoting sustainable and responsible
tourism; protecting environment and influencing tourists to make sustainable
choices; Increasing environmental awareness; creating traveler’s awareness;
creating enabling conditions for private sector to become energy efficient ,
climate responsive, resource efficient ; minimizing waste, conserving bio-
diversity andculturalvalues
• Ensuring Sustainable planning, development and management at local
level; by developing a clear strategy/ roadmap based on sustainability as
the guiding principle, considering the fact that destination planning and
development remain critical for promoting green tourism, and every destination
being unique requires different and distinct strategy considering the
unique assets and challenges existing at local level, besides preparing
Tourism Master Plan forthegiven destination, basedon carrying capacityto avoid
over-tourism; promotingplasticfreedestinations and greenmobility
• Measurement,ReportingandVerificationofGreenInitiatives; based on
certification awarded by Sustainable Tourism Criteria of India (STCI);
framing suitable guidelines and effective implementation of STCI across
tourism industry; and adopting global best practices for measuring, reporting
andverification of sustainable elements oftourism.
• Promoting Collaboration and Capacity Building; by encouraging all
stakeholdersto co-operate and collaborate; setting up Centers of Excellence
at national, regional and state level to create competencies, expertise and capacity
to train enterprises and other stakeholders in sustainable and responsible

12. tourism practice and creating awareness about STCI and STCI based
certifications
• Defining Fiscal Policies and Economic Instruments; by advocating
government investments in protected areas, creating cultural assets, water,
waste management, sanitation, transportation and energy infrastructure
investments; providing appropriate taxation and subsidy policies for
purchasing equipment or technology that reduces waste, encourages energy
and water efficiency, or the protection of biodiversity and strengthening of
linkages with local businesses and community organizations, for promoting
privatesector investment toward greener outcomes.
• Generating Resources for Green Tourism; by facilitating access to capital
markets; promotingForeign direct investment (FDI); providing access to private
equity, portfolio investment, and other potential funding sources aligned with
sustainableprojectsand strategies forthe tourismindustry; involving various
ministries responsible for the environment, energy, labour, agriculture, transport,
health, finance, security; rationalising relevant regulations, policies and
governance structure; creating partnerships with businesses, donors, tourists,
international organizations, academia and civil Society to promote green
tourism. Costa Rica, through innovations, was able to turn a severe
deforestation crisis in the 1980s into a diversified tourism-based economy
by designating 25.56% of land protected as either a national park, wildlife
refuge, or reserve.
Making Tourists Responsive;
Tourism as standalone sector of economy ,has outpaced the overall global
economy growth for nine years in a row. Prior to the pandemic, travel and tourism
accounted for $9.6 trillion contribution to the global GDP besides involved in
creating 333 million jobs , or one in four new jobs around the world. Accordingly,
tourists have great role and relevance in making travel and tourism green and
sustainable; promoting economic growth , ensuring physical development,
generating employment and promoting wealth and infrastructure in any area ; for
the reason tourism is primarily and essentially, a tourist-led activity. Tourists,
accordingly, have major role in making tourism both sustainable and green.
Looking at the growth in the travel, tourism and numerous studies made, it can
be safely concluded that modern travelers are likely to participate more in
environment friendly tourism. In 2019, Booking.com found that 73% of
travelers preferred an eco-sustainable hotel over a traditional one and 72% of
travelers believed that people need to make sustainable travel choices for the sake
of future generations. In order to promote green and sustainable tourism, it will be

13. important to involve tourists by educating and making him aware / responsive
about the need and importance of maintaining the sanctity of places and
resources availing at the site being visited. Making tourism responsive and
sustainable should include and involves making tourist aware that ;
• Travelling invariably creates ecological and social footprint on the places
visited and accordingly all the negativities caused needs to be minimized.
• Making rational choices regarding destination selected, accommodation
sourced, activities planned, and duration of stay at the destination for
saving resources.
• Making rational choices for local travel by switching to eco-friendly modes
of transportation such as bicycles, trains, or walking .
• Supporting local tour operations or local family-owned businesses rather
than large international chains for making choices of destination and
sourcing packages.
• Avoiding activities that harm wildlife, such as elephant riding or tiger petting,
and opting for a wildlife sanctuary
• Leaving natural areas in original form by avoiding littering, and respecting
the local residents and their traditions.
• Protecting local destinations and culture not only for the communities,
who rely upon them, but also for the future generation of travelers to the
given destination.
Typologies of Sustainable Tourism;
Sustainable tourism is known to have many different layers. In order to regulate
and make tourism green and sustainable, it will be important to understand various
forms of the tourism prevailing in any area. Tourism has been categorized into ;
sustainable tourism, mass tourism. hard/soft tourism; religious tourism, cultural
tourism, eco-tourism, rural tourism. However, whatever may be the nature of
tourism, it must include and involve sustainability/ green as integral part of
planning, designing and managing tourism. In addition, it must exclude over-
tourism and eliminate all practices which lead to exploiting local resources,
diluting local culture and destroying local vegetation. Mass tourism needs to be
handled carefully for the reason that it is more likely to lead to environmental
damage, loss of culture, pollution, negative economic impacts, and over-tourism,
whereas, Eco-tourism highlights responsible travel to natural areas that focus on
environmental conservation. Sustainable tourism invariably supports and
contributes to biodiversity , promote conservation by managing tourism

14. place/destination responsibly and respecting or enhancing nearby natural
protected areas/ areas having high biological value.
i. Sustainable Tourism;
Sustainability and sustainable development when embedded in sustainable
tourism, can be defined as an approach, principle and option, which refers to
creating a balance between environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects
of tourism development to guarantee its long-term sustainability. Sustainable
tourism being a continuous process requires constant support, monitoring and
quality leadership to make it effective and efficient. Thus, sustainable tourism
should invariably include and involve;
• Making optimal use of available environmental resources that
constitute key elements in tourism development; maintaining
essential ecological processes and help conserving natural heritage
and biodiversity.
• Respecting the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities;
conserving their built/ living cultural heritage and traditional values
besides contributing to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
• Ensuring sustainable long-term economic operations; providing
socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders based on equity ;
ensuring gainful employment and income-earning opportunities on
regular basis; making available social services to host communities,
and contributing to poverty alleviation.
• Ensuring informed participation of all stakeholders and commitment
of political leadership for ensuring wider participation and
consensus building.
• Ensuring continuous monitoring and evaluation based on carrying
out necessary preventive/ corrective measures, wherever and
whenever necessary.
• Maintaining high level of satisfaction while ensuring/providing
meaningful experience to the tourists besides raising awareness
about sustainability issues and need for promoting sustainable
tourism practices.
ii Soft Tourism; Broadly tourism has been divided into two distinct categories,
namely hard and soft tourism, having their own implications, role and
importance in tourism. Soft tourism has been recognized as one of the best
options to promote green tourism for the reason it has been valued globally in
helping and highlighting local experiences, promoting local culture/
languages and encouraging longer time spent in destination visited; as against

15. hard tourism featuring short duration of visit and travel without respecting local
resources and culture. Globally it has been observed that majority of World
Heritage sites, pay special attention to protection, preservation, and
sustainability by opting and promoting soft tourism. Accordingly, while soft
tourism helps in promoting sustainability whereas hard tourism largely leads
to exploitation, causing irreparable damage to local resources, culture and
existing bio-diversity. Hard tourism also damages the intrinsic value of the place
visited and dilutes the context of role and importance of the tourist destination.
Peru’s famed Machu Picchu, which was previously known as one of the world’s
worst victims of over-tourism , due to large influx of both human /vehicular
traffic and massive littering , caused due to large number of tourists visiting
the place. In order to check the maladies caused by excessive number of
tourists, authority responsible for managing the heritage site, has taken
number of steps to control damage caused; by requiring hikers to hire local
guides while going on Inca Trail; specifying dates and time on visitor tickets
to negate overcrowding ; banning all single use plastics from the site;
rationalizing cost of the ticket dividing the academic year into different seasons
with highest visiting charges levied during the peak season and lowest ticket
cost specified for off-season based on good/bad weather prevailing at site
to avoid convergence of large crowds. Adoption of this strategy, has not only
minimized large crowds visiting the place in limited time span but has also
helped in checking over-tourism and providing local communities with regular
and assured income even during the lean/off- season
iii Rural Tourism;
Rural tourism has also been included in the fold of green tourism for the reason
that such tourism takes place in non-urbanized areas such as rural areas, villages,
farm land, orchards, national parks, forests, nature reserves, and mountain areas.
Rural tourism could also include camping and glamping to hiking and woofing;
bullock cart ride, organizing visit to heritage/traditional markets, for providing
unique shopping experience to the tourists. Rural tourism has minimum carbon
footprints and has been recognised as one of the best options to practice and
promote sustainable tourism, since it usually requires less use of natural
resources.