sustainable tourism meaning in malayalam

Top 10 Ecotourism in Kerala : Nature’s Paradise Destinations

Kerala's commitment for best ecotourism in Kerala model has been an exemplary model for other destinations worldwide. The state's verdant landscapes, lush forests, and pristine water bodies have made it an ideal location for ecologically-conscious travelers seeking meaningful experiences in harmony with nature.

Table of Contents

Kerala Ecotourism Attractions: Unveiling the Gems

Wildlife sanctuaries in kerala: where fauna roams free.

Kerala's wildlife sanctuaries are sanctums of biodiversity, protecting a diverse range of species. From the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to the Silent Valley National Park, these protected areas offer a chance to spot majestic elephants, elusive tigers, and many vibrant bird species.

Kerala Backwaters Eco Tours: Embracing Serenity

The backwaters of Kerala offer a tranquil escape into nature's lap. Explore the labyrinthine network of canals and lagoons aboard eco-friendly houseboats, immersing yourself in the serenity of the surroundings and witnessing life along the waterways.

Responsible Tourism in Kerala: Making a Positive Impact

Kerala's commitment to responsible tourism is evident in its efforts to preserve local cultures, support communities, and conserve natural resources. Engage in meaningful interactions with local communities and leave a positive and feeling impact on the places you visit.

Eco-friendly Resorts in Kerala: Where Luxury Meets Sustainability

Indulge in sustainable luxury at eco-friendly resorts that blend seamlessly with nature. From treehouses nestled amidst the canopy to eco-lodges overlooking picturesque landscapes, these accommodations offer an immersive experience in nature.

Birdwatching in Kerala: A Symphony of Feathers

Kerala's avian diversity is a delight for birdwatchers. Witness colorful migratory birds and endemic species in their natural habitats. Head to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary or Thattekad Bird Sanctuary for an unforgettable birdwatching experience.

Nature Trails Kerala: Hiking Amidst Greenery

Lace up your hiking boots happly and embark on nature trails that lead you through lush forests, misty hills, and cascading waterfalls. Kerala's abundant trekking routes cater to both beginners and seasoned trekkers.

Kerala Forest Adventures: Thrills in the Wilderness

For adventure enthusiasts, Kerala's forests offer an array of adrenaline-pumping activities. From thrilling jungle safaris to bamboo rafting, the wilderness has no shortage of excitement.

Green Initiatives Kerala: Pioneering Sustainability

Kerala's green initiatives, such as waste management projects and afforestation drives, have earned it a reputation as an environmentally conscious destination.

Eco-conscious Travel Kerala: Minimizing Footprints

Travel responsibly by choosing eco-conscious tour operators and minimizing your environmental footprint. Opt for eco-friendly transportation and support initiatives that contribute to conservation efforts.

Community-based Tourism in Kerala: Embracing Local Culture

Engage in community-based tourism to experience the authentic lifestyle of Kerala's local communities. Participate in cultural activities, savor traditional cuisines, and contribute to the local economy.

Top 10 VIDEOs For Ecotourism in Kerala

Kerala Biodiversity Tours: Unraveling ECOTOURISM IN KERALA

Kerala's remarkable biodiversity results from its varied landscapes, ranging from dense forests to coastal regions. Embark on biodiversity tours to witness the marvels of nature's abundance.

Eco-lodges in Kerala: Eco-friendly Abodes Amidst Nature

Stay at eco-lodges that blend seamlessly with nature, offering a rustic charm with modern amenities. These sustainable accommodations allow you to connect with the environment without compromising comfort.

Organic Farms Kerala: Rediscovering Farm Life

Experience the joy of sustainable agriculture by staying at organic farms. Participate in farming activities, learn about organic practices, and savor fresh farm-to-table meals.

ECOTOURISM IN KERALA: Protecting the Oceans

Kerala's marine conservation efforts aim to preserve its coastal ecosystems and marine life. Engage in responsible beach activities and support conservation initiatives to protect the ocean's wonders.

• DISCOVER KOVALAM BEACH: WHERE TRANQUILITY AND ADVENTURE AWAIT

Eco-conscious Travelers Kerala: A Community of Nature Lovers

Kerala attracts a community of eco-conscious travelers passionate about sustainable travel and conservation. Connect with loveable like-minded individuals who share your love for nature and responsible tourism.

Environmental Awareness Kerala: Spreading the Green Message

Kerala's emphasis on environmental education and awareness has fostered a sense of responsibility towards nature among both locals and tourists.

Sustainable ECOTOURISM IN KERALA: Crafting Lasting Memories

Sustainable experiences in Kerala create unforgettable memories while ensuring the best preservation of its natural and cultural heritage.

Off-the-grid Travel Kerala: Disconnect to Reconnect

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life by venturing into Kerala's off-the-grid destinations. Unplug from technology and immerse yourself in the simplicity of rural life.

Eco-trekking in Kerala: Trails of Adventure

Kerala's diverse terrain offers numerous opportunities for eco-trekking, allowing you to explore its wilderness on foot while minimizing your environmental impact.

Cultural Immersion Kerala: Embracing Local Traditions

Enjoy Kerala's vibrant culture by participating in traditional festivals, art forms, and rituals. Connect with the locals and gain insights into their way of life.

Ecological Preservation Kerala: Nurturing Mother Nature

Kerala's conservation efforts extend to preserving its fragile ecosystems, ensuring a sustainable future for future generations.

Green Vacations Kerala: Rejuvenating Amidst Nature

Unwind and rejuvenate amidst the lap of nature during your green vacation in Kerala. Experience the therapeutic effects of being surrounded by verdant landscapes.

Can I witness wildlife in Kerala?

Yes, Kerala is home to several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks where you can spot various animal species, including elephants, tigers, and diverse birdlife.

What are the best ECOTOURISM IN KERALA Hotels?

Kerala offers a range of eco-friendly resorts, including Vythiri Resort, Spice Village Thekkady, and Marari Beach Resort, all designed to blend with the natural surroundings.

How can I contribute to Kerala's sustainable travel initiatives?

You can support sustainable travel in Kerala by choosing eco-conscious tour operators, engaging in community-based tourism, and being mindful of your environmental impact.

Are there any responsible wildlife tourism practices in Kerala?

Yes, Kerala practices responsible wildlife tourism by enforcing strict visitor guidelines, minimizing animal disturbances, and supporting conservation efforts.

What is the significance of community-based tourism in Kerala?

Community-based tourism in Kerala allows travelers to experience local communities' authentic culture and lifestyle while providing them with economic opportunities.

Are there any marine conservation projects in Kerala?

Kerala actively participates in marine conservation projects to preserve its coastal ecosystems and biodiversity.

With its abundant natural beauty and sustainable travel initiatives, Kerala stands as a shining example of ecotourism done right. As you explore Kerala's top 10 ECOTOURISM IN KERALA, you'll immerse yourself in nature's wonders while positively impacting the environment and local communities. Embrace responsible travel, support conservation efforts, and let Kerala's ecotourism experiences leave an indelible mark on your heart.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What India (and the World) Can Learn from Sustainable Tourism in Kerala.

These are difficult times for the tourism industry and we have much to learn from sustainable tourism in Kerala.Cover photo: Ponraj Krishna Pandi (CC)

These days, lying under the warm sun, soaking up spring in my hometown Dehradun (luckily I’m in lockdown here!), I’ve been thinking a lot about Kerala. Just a few weeks ago, I was lost in the bountiful south’s magical beauty. Cycling along bright yellow marigold fields. Hiking amid the mist-engulfed Western Ghats. Devouring organic, sumptuous, vegan Kerala meals off banana leaves. And devouring stories of kindness, humility, entrepreneurship and humanity from the many souls I met along the way.

Being in an unprecedented lockdown has led to many of us discussing the future of travel. We have no idea when the on-going crisis will be behind us. Or what the world – and travelling in it – will look like thereafter.

But one thing is for sure.

Responsible travel will become more important than ever. After all, nature might have wrecked havoc on us to remind us of the havoc we’ve been wrecking on her.

When Kerala Tourism reached out to me with their latest campaign on the ‘humanscape’ of Kerala, it immediately reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to write. Responsible tourism lessons for India and other developing countries, from my travels across ‘god’s own country’:

Create linkages between vocational skills training and responsible tourism

It’s no surprise that Kerala was India’s first state to launch a “ Responsible Tourism Mission ” in pursuit of a single-minded goal: “Making better places for people to visit and better places for people (locals) to live in.”

Tourism projects often tend to focus only on the former. To create more infrastructure for tourists, for instance. This mindless focus has led to roads being built through pristine forests and hill stations being overwhelmed with ugly, concrete construction. Officials often feel obliged to pander to tourist demands, no matter how they destroy the local ecology or culture. In the dry mountain desert of Ladakh for instance, that has led to the phasing out of centuries-old dry composting toilets in favor of flush toilets. Across India, that means tourism often hampers local life instead of enhancing it.

This winter, while travelling across Kerala, I understood what the latter part of that statement meant. I ended up meeting several micro entrepreneurs and women’s self-help groups who were trained by Kerala’s RT Mission to develop their vocational skills (one of the mission’s many initiatives). These range from making papadum and crafting recycled candles to sewing cloth bags to replace plastic bags. Vocational training is offered by many Indian states, but often fails due to the lack of job opportunities. Kerala’s success came from integrating these skills with tourism. By connecting entrepreneurs with hotels, resorts and homestays, market linkages were created to sustain livelihoods.

Many entrepreneurs I met have managed to grow their business and improve their standard of living. Responsible tourism accommodations now have a steady supply of locally sourced, environmentally conscious products. Together creating a better place to visit and a better place to live!

Also read: Offbeat, Incredible and Sustainable: These Travel Companies are Changing the Way We Experience India

Support dying art forms by creating value for the time and knowledge of local artisans

Many of us would love to support traditional arts, music, dance, crafts, storytelling rituals and other creative expressions that date back several centuries. But for a long time, I struggled with the how. As much as I value the effort and intricacy behind many dying crafts across the country, I simply don’t have the space in my bags (and the money in my wallet) to invest in them. And even if I did, the minimalist in me would probably cringe. Besides, many ornamental crafts are only relevant to a specific lifestyle – performing artists, ritualistic storytellers and the like.

And yet, I still want to experience and value their efforts. I want to fill myself with awe as I watch a bell jar artist at work or comprehend why a jaali artist continues to use rudimentary tools instead of giving in to modern temptations.

While travelling along the River Nila with the Kerala-based travel organisation, The Blue Yonder , I had a moment of clarity. We spent time with several artisans who are single-handedly keeping their craft alive. We learnt about their lives, asked them burning questions and documented some of their work. It was unlikely that we’d buy Kathakali ornaments or metal (bell jar) mirrors though!

But unlike most responsible travel companies I’ve travelled with, The Blue Yonder compensates artisans for the time and knowledge they share with travellers. A novel concept for artisans who rely on the sale of tangible creations, but perhaps the only way to leverage tourism to save many of India’s dying arts!

Also read: How Responsible Tourism Can Challenge Patriarchy in India

Leverage environmentally-conscious luxury travel for employment opportunities

Environmentalists and conscious travellers often argue that high-end, large-scale tourism is detrimental to the environment and the local way of life. I used to feel the same way. But I’ve come around to the fact that hotels and lodges create significantly more job opportunities than homestays or guesthouses, with the potential to impact many – for better or for worse.

This winter in Kerala, one family-run business settled my internal conflicts. CGH Earth currently operates several accommodations across Kerala (and Tamil Nadu), employing 1500 people directly and many more indirectly. Their signature property – Spice Village in Thekkady – is a single-use plastic free zone, runs 70% on solar energy, has kept the tribal art of elephant grass thatching alive (so no air conditioning is offered / needed, even on hot days), has its own water bottling plant to collect rainwater and recycles paper waste for registration sheets at its own handmade paper making unit, among many other environmental initiatives .

To me, Spice Village is setting the benchmark for luxury travel. One that offers unique experiences, creates large-scale employment, preserves the indigenous culture and is largely positive for the environment.

Also read: How to Indulge Your Wanderlust at Home During the Travel Lockdown

Tap indigenous wisdom for wildlife conservation

Travelling through the tribal belts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh left me quite disenchanted with the concept of development. In our “modern” scheme of things, the indigenous people of India are considered “backward”. Despite their connection with the earth, their invaluable knowledge of nature and their largely sustainable way of life. Instead of tapping upon their vast reserves of wisdom, they’ve been sidelined into the fringes of society. Relocated from their forest homes, and encouraged to change their diet, clothing, traditions, customs and rituals to fit in with the rest of the country.

In Central Kerala, in Thekkady’s Periyar Tiger Reserve though, I was inspired to learn about a visionary forest department initiative. The Mannan tribe lived in this forest for centuries, sharing their space with tigers, leopards and other wild creatures. They cultivated small patches of remote forest land, fished occasionally and largely lived off forest produce. When relocated to the buffer zone, with little to no livelihoods, many resorted to poaching. A community tourism initiative set out to create alternate sources of income. They were born in these forests, so basic tourism training readied them to be guides, bamboo rafting crew and anti-poaching squad.

Leveraging indigenous knowledge has aided wildlife protection, created sustainable livelihoods and offered travellers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the forest through guided walks and treks. An idea that can and should be replicated in the rest of India’s tribal areas.

Also read: How I Connect Meaningfully With Locals as I Travel the World

Encourage tourism as a means to support sustainable development in rural villages, not an end in itself

The current pandemic has put a lot in perspective. In the responsible travel space, one important learning is that tourism – with all its ups and downs – can no longer be relied upon as a rural community’s only source of income.

This made me reminisce about my first trip to North Kerala and the conversations I had with the founders of Kabani and URAVU , Kerala-based social enterprise and NGO respectively. In the picturesque village of Thrikkaipetta aka Bamboo Village (named after its bamboo artisans), they’ve developed a community tourism program with a difference.

The goal is first, to supplement farming and craft incomes, through minimal investment in tourism development. That means the experience is raw and genuine – living with local families in their homes, sharing meals and conversations, hiking, getting involved in farming if you’re so inclined.

The second goal is to ensure that the entire community, even those not directly involved in tourism, reaps the benefits. While 25% of the tourism revenue is used for administrative costs, the remaining 75% is channeled in two ways. Towards direct tourism providers – homestays, guides etc, and towards a sustainable development fund for the entire village.

The assessment of what rural dwellers need is often done in air-conditioned offices with gross misassumptions. So the third goal is then, to let the community decide how to use the village development fund. This could include vocational skills development, waste management, renewable energy initiatives and organic farming – and ultimately contributes to the empowerment and sustainable development of the entire village.

Also read: A Himalayan Village Where Locals Run Marathons and Their Own Instagram Channel

Lower carbon emissions through local plant-based cuisine

I guess I can wax lyrical about inspiring initiatives that promote sustainable tourism in Kerala. But like the rest of India and the world, much of Kerala too can learn from Kerala itself.

A conversation still jarringly missing in the sustainable tourism space is the conversation about food. Tourism currently accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. I haven’t yet come across a study that estimates the carbon footprint of food in tourism. But this is what we know: Animal agriculture – raising livestock for meat and dairy – accounts for 14.5% of global emissions, a whopping 7 times more than flying ! This doesn’t include emissions from fisheries , which is now estimated to be higher than previously believed. So my guess is that animal-based food contributes significantly to the carbon emissions of the tourism industry.

Besides, to travel responsibly means factoring in the ethical aspect of using animals for food, clothes, zoos , riding and festivals . I hope that in the near future, the mission will evolve include a third goal: to create better places for all living beings that share this planet with us.

Which brings me to a small ray of hope in Kerala – a vegan homestay in the hills of Thekkady! Indhrivanam (a combination of two Malayalam words to imply “a feeling of forest”) is the home of Sarah and Morten. Built painstakingly with local materials, featuring dry composting toilets and rainwater harvesting. But what really sets it apart from other sustainable tourism projects in Kerala is the focus on locally-sourced plant-based cuisine. The food offered here – curries, millets, cashew cheese, lemon cake, kombucha and other mouth-watering delights – is entirely plant-based with substantially lower carbon emissions. And no animals are harmed in the process.

Also read: How to Travel as a Vegan and Find Delicious Food Anywhere in the World

Have you experienced sustainable tourism in Kerala or elsewhere? What are your takeaways?

*Note: I wrote this post as part of Kerala Tourism’s new campaign ‘Human by nature’. Opinions on this blog, as you know, are always mine.

Chhattisgarh: Motorcycle Adventures, Tribal Life and a Lingering Sadness

A Traveller’s Guide to Gujarat’s Best Kept Secrets

Moonlit Cycling, Poetry and Other Meaningful Things to do in Fort Kochi

How Guacimo Eco-lodge in Nicaragua is Changing the Way We Travel

Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.

Similar Posts

An Open Letter to Indian Parents: Let Your “Kids” Travel.

Moving to Delhi? 9 Survival Tips for Women.

A visual journey in sangla valley, kinnaur..

Discovering Life in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

6 Long Weekend Getaways From Delhi to Rejuvenate You.

A Slow Travel Guide to Auroville.

21 comments.

That vegan meal looks so yummy!

Wish I could eat my screen 😉

This doesn’t surprise me about Kerala. When I travelled around India (before you were born) Kerala was the state that impressed me the most right down to how neat and tidy people’s yards were with coconut palms and fruit trees scattered over their small properties.

I’m sure you’ll still feel the same way if you travel in India now! Again, so envious that you got to experience India then. Wish I could travel back in time.

I love your post, a country whose income in tourism currently is very much feeling the impact due to Coronavirus. Talking with local culture and traditions must be maintained because that is the reason tourists visit India, the local government must think about the future impact.

Kerala’s responsible tourism mission sure gives me hope for the rest of India. It’s already in process in atleast one state, so fingers crossed.

I have learnt and understood more about sustainable tourism through your blogs than through any other source.

So glad to hear that Shweta. I think it’s important to understand the industry as travellers too!

Kerala is one of the pioneers of bed and breakfast type of home stays. In fact, Kerala is a role model for many states because it woke up to tourism opportunities much later but quickly changed the game to its advantage. Indian tourists however barring a few proportion needs to adjust to home stays. They expect home stay to provide same services like full service hotels. There is so much Kerala offers. Stay safe, Shivya.

There are some good examples in Uttarakhand, but the world sure has much to learn from community based tourism in Kerala. And of course, as travellers, we need to realign our expectations (and objective of travelling) too.

Absolutely, Shivya. We need a transition from being a tourist to an explorer. I guess it will take time.

Thank you for such an educational assessment of sustainable tourism, particular to Kerala but so relevant globally. Sustainable tourism is a term used a lot in the travel industry but consumers/travelers don’t necessarily understand its true meaning or what it looks like in practice. Your examples and experiences are very helpful.

Really Kerala is God’s own country ..

Hi Shivya, Glad you are extensively involved in such initiatives which are promoting the Responsible tourisum along with sustainibility and the concept of community based tourisum is definetly reflect as a more advategous for better livelihoods of villagers. In your opinion, what kind efforts would be needed to make it more reliable and how we can impliment in other parts of India? If we talk about North-east then community based tourisum has been started and local tourisum board is also putting their best efforts to scale-up it but in-fonr of that is we talk about arid region like Kutch, Communuty based tourisum has not started and even very few pepoleare visiting them.

Love this awesome written post. Photographs are amazing and i would love to visit Kerala.

beautiful article to read

• Pingback: Things To Do in Kasaragod to Refresh Your Connection With Nature
• Pingback: God's Own "Island" by the Kasaragod Backwaters!
• Pingback: Places to Visit in North Kerala: The Region's Best Kept Secrets.

Thank you for these beautiful lines. The images are so beautiful that I just want to travel Kerela.

Any idea how much will I spend or how much budget do I need If i visit Kerala? excluding the airfare.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Responsible Tourism Mission

RT Destinations

Online platforms.

• RT Projects
• E-Books/E-Brochures
• Success Stories
• Kerala Tourism

"Making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit"

Welcome to the official website of the Responsible Tourism Mission

Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission is the nodal agency formed by the Government of Kerala to spread and implement the ideologies and initiatives of Responsible Tourism all over the State. It was launched on 20th October 2017 by Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala.

Kerala RT Mission is also the State Nodal Agency tasked by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for the implementation of its Rural Tourism Development Project.

The Mission is envisaged with a 'triple-bottom-line' mission, which comprises economic, social and environmental responsibilities. Making tourism a tool for the development of village and local communities, eradicating poverty and giving emphasis to women empowerment are the main aims of the Responsible Tourism Mission. The mission aspires to provide an additional income and a better livelihood to farmers, traditional artisans, and marginalised people along with creating a social and environmental equilibrium.

A beautiful combination of greenery and azure skies welcome backpackers to.... more

Thekkady located in Idukki district is an overwhelmingly beautiful place scented ... more

One of best beach experiences in Kerala is offegreen by the exotic shores of Kovalam... more

Ambalavayal, Wayanad

RT started in Ambalavayal in the year 2012. But even before that, tourists from ... more

Surrounded by the Vembanad Lake, Vaikom embraces travellers with its beautiful... more

Beypore, Kozhikode

Beypore has to its name glorious tales of trade relations and a vibrant cultural ethos... more

SUCCESS STORIES

Celebrating the Success Chronicles of Responsible Tourism

RT Mission Packages

This platform enables you to book various tour packages offered by Responsible Tourism...

RT Art and Cultural Forum

Responsible Tourism Mission introduced this innovative concept to bring the martial, ritual and performing arts practitioners...

Human Resource Directory

HR Directory is introduced with the aim of connecting the skilled and unskilled labours to the tourism sector...

Kerala Responsible Tourism Network

Responsible Tourism brings to you a wide variety of indigenous handicrafts, souvenirs, traditional attires, home décor...

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Competitiveness
• Innovation and Investments
• ETHICS, CULTURE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
• TECHNICAL COOPERATION
• UN Tourism ACADEMY

share this content

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

Sustainable development

"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"

Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

Thus, sustainable tourism should:

• Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
• Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
• Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.

Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.

COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY (CTS)  

Biodiversity

UN Tourism strives to promote tourism development that supports, in equal measure, the conservation of biodiversity, the social welfare and the economic security of the host countries and communities.

Climate Action

Tourism is both highly vulnerable to climate change while at the same time contributing to it. Threats for the sector are diverse, including direct and indirect impacts such as more extreme weather events, increasing insurance costs and safety concerns, water shortages,  biodiversity loss and damage to assets and attractions at destinations, among others.

Global Tourism Plastics Initiative

The problem of plastic pollution in tourism is too big for any single organisation to fix on its own. To match the scale of the problem, changes need to take place across the whole tourism value chain.

Hotel Energy Solutions (HES)

Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) is a UN Tourism -initiated project in collaboration with a team of United Nations and EU leading agencies in Tourism and Energy . 

Observatories (INSTO)

The UN Tourism International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) is a network of tourism observatories monitoring the economic, environmental and social impact of tourism at the destination level. 

When responsibly planned and managed, tourism has demonstrated its capacity to support job creation, promote inclusive social integration, protect natural and cultural heritage, conserve biodiversity, generate sustainable livelihoods and improve human wellbeing.  As the sector is experiencing tremendous growth, collective efforts to ensure its long-term sustainability are essential.

Resource Efficiency in Tourism

The report aims to inspire stakeholders and encourage them to advance the implementation of the SDGs through sustainable tourism.

Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)

Small Island Developing States face numerous challenges. For a significant number, their remoteness affects their ability to be part of the global supply chain, increases import costs - especially for energy - and limits their competitiveness in the tourist industry. Many are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change - from devastating storms to the threat of sea level rise.

Travel facilitation

Travel facilitation of tourist travel is closely interlinked with tourism development and can be a tool to foster increased demand and generate economic development, job creation and international understanding.

UNGA Sustainable Tourism Resolutions

The UN Tourism is regularly preparing reports for the General Assembly of the United Nations providing updates on sustainable tourism policies both from UN Tourism member States and States Members of the United Nations, as well as relevant agencies and programmes of the United Nations system.

Sustainable tourism

Related sdgs, promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable ....

Description

Publications.

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and an important source of foreign exchange and employment, while being closely linked to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of many countries, especially developing countries. Maritime or ocean-related tourism, as well as coastal tourism, are for example vital sectors of the economy in small island developing States (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs) (see also: The Potential of the Blue Economy report as well as the Community of Ocean Action on sustainable blue economy).

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “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".

Based on General assembly resolution 70/193, 2017 was declared as the  International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development SDG target 8.9, aims to “by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism is also highlighted in SDG target 12.b. which aims to “develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.

Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “by 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries” as comprised in SDG target 14.7.

In the Rio+20 outcome document The Future We want, sustainable tourism is defined by paragraph 130 as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural environment as a whole. ” In paragraph 130, Member States also “call for enhanced support for sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building in developing countries in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”.

In paragraph 131, Member States “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small- and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”. In this regard, Member States also “underline the importance of establishing, where necessary, appropriate guidelines and regulations in accordance with national priorities and legislation for promoting and supporting sustainable tourism”.

In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg called for the promotion of sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, in Chapter IV, paragraph 43 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

At the Johannesburg Summit, the launch of the “Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative was announced. The initiative was inaugurated by the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with UNCTAD, in order to develop sustainable tourism as a force for poverty alleviation.

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) last reviewed the issue of sustainable tourism in 2001, when it was acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Johannesburg Summit.

The importance of sustainable tourism was also mentioned in Agenda 21.

For more information and documents on this topic,  please visit this link

UNWTO Annual Report 2015

2015 was a landmark year for the global community. In September, the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal agenda for planet and people. Among the 17 SDGs and 169 associated targets, tourism is explicitly featured in Goa...

UNWTO Annual Report 2016

In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This is a unique opportunity to devote a year to activities that promote the transformational power of tourism to help us reach a better future. This important cele...

Emerging Issues for Small Island Developing States

The 2012 UNEP Foresight Process on Emerging Global Environmental Issues primarily identified emerging environmental issues and possible solutions on a global scale and perspective. In 2013, UNEP carried out a similar exercise to identify priority emerging environmental issues that are of concern to ...

Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom, We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for su...

15 Years of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection: A Compilation of Good Practices

Although it is widely recognized that tourism is not the cause of child exploitation, it can aggravate the problem when parts of its infrastructure, such as transport networks and accommodation facilities, are exploited by child abusers for nefarious ends. Additionally, many other factors that contr...

Towards Measuring the Economic Value of Wildlife Watching Tourism in Africa

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing poaching crisis driven by a dramatic increase in the illicit trade in wildlife products, this briefing paper intends to support the ongoing efforts of African governments and the broader international community in the fight against poaching. Specifically, this...

Status and Trends of Caribbean Coral Reefs: 1970-2012

Previous Caribbean assessments lumped data together into a single database regardless of geographic location, reef environment, depth, oceanographic conditions, etc. Data from shallow lagoons and back reef environments were combined with data from deep fore-reef environments and atolls. Geographic c...

Natural Resources Forum: Special Issue Tourism

The journal considers papers on all topics relevant to sustainable development. In addition, it dedicates series, issues and special sections to specific themes that are relevant to the current discussions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)....

Thailand: Supporting Sustainable Development in Thailand: A Geographic Clusters Approach

Market forces and government policies, including the Tenth National Development Plan (2007-2012), are moving Thailand toward a more geographically specialized economy. There is a growing consensus that Thailand’s comparative and competitive advantages lie in amenity services that have high reliance...

Road Map on Building a Green Economy for Sustainable Development in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada

This publication is the product of an international study led by the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Foreig...

Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal (NRF)

  Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal, seeks to address gaps in current knowledge and stimulate relevant policy discussions, leading to the implementation of the sustainable development agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable...

UN Ocean Conference 2025

Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility “The ocean is fundamental to life on our planet and to our future. The ocean is an important source of the planet’s biodiversity and plays a vital role in the climate system and water cycle. The ocean provides a range of ecosystem services, supplies us with

UN Ocean Conference 2022

The UN Ocean Conference 2022, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, came at a critical time as the world was strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive solutions to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

58th Session of the Commission for Social Development – CSocD58

22nd general assembly of the united nations world tourism organization, world tourism day 2017 official celebration.

This year’s World Tourism Day, held on 27 September, will be focused on Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development. Celebrated in line with the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the Day will be dedicated to exploring the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Deve

World Tourism Day 2016 Official Celebration

Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or late

4th Global Summit on City Tourism

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Regional Council for Tourism of Marrakesh with support of the Government of Morroco are organizing the 4th Global Summit on City Tourism in Marrakesh, Morroco (9-10 December 2015). International experts in city tourism, representatives of city DMOs, of

2nd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Ulsan Metropolitan City with support of the Government of the Republic of Korea are organizing the 2nd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference, in Ulsan, Republic of Korea (14 - 16 October 2015). Under the title “Paving the Way for a Bright Future for Mounta

21st General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization

Unwto regional conference enhancing brand africa - fostering tourism development.

Tourism is one of the Africa’s most promising sectors in terms of development, and represents a major opportunity to foster inclusive development, increase the region’s participation in the global economy and generate revenues for investment in other activities, including environmental preservation.

• January 2017 International Year of Tourism In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to the SDGs.
• January 2015 Targets 8.9, 12 b,14.7 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commits Member States, through Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.9 to “devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism, as a driver for jobs creation and the promotion of local culture and products, is also highlighted in Sustainable Development Goal target 12.b. Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “increase [by 2030] the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries”, through Sustainable Development Goals Target 14.7.
• January 2012 Future We Want (Para 130-131) Sustainable tourism is defined as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities” as well as to “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small and medium sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”.
• January 2009 Roadmap for Recovery UNWTO announced in March 2009 the elaboration of a Roadmap for Recovery to be finalized by UNWTO’s General Assembly, based on seven action points. The Roadmap includes a set of 15 recommendations based on three interlocking action areas: resilience, stimulus, green economy aimed at supporting the tourism sector and the global economy.
• January 2008 Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria represent the minimum requirements any tourism business should observe in order to ensure preservation and respect of the natural and cultural resources and make sure at the same time that tourism potential as tool for poverty alleviation is enforced. The Criteria are 41 and distributed into four different categories: 1) sustainability management, 2) social and economic 3) cultural 4) environmental.
• January 2003 WTO becomes a UN specialized body By Resolution 453 (XV), the Assembly agreed on the transformation of the WTO into a United Nations specialized body. Such transformation was later ratified by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of Resolution A/RES/58/232.
• January 2003 1st Int. Conf. on Climate Change and Tourism The conference was organized in order to gather tourism authorities, organizations, businesses and scientists to discuss on the impact that climate change can have on the tourist sector. The event took place from 9 till 11 April 2003 in Djerba, Tunisia.
• January 2002 World Ecotourism Summit Held in May 2002, in Quebec City, Canada, the Summit represented the most important event in the framework of the International Year of Ecosystem. The Summit identified as main themes: ecotourism policy and planning, regulation of ecotourism, product development, marketing and promotion of ecotourism and monitoring costs and benefits of ecotourism.
• January 1985 Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Code At the World Tourism Organization Sixth Assembly held in Sofia in 1985, the Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Code were adopted, setting out the rights and duties of tourists and host populations and formulating policies and action for implementation by states and the tourist industry.
• January 1982 Acapulco Document Adopted in 1982, the Acapulco Document acknowledges the new dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples, as well as a significant force for peace and international understanding. The Acapulco Document also urges Member States to elaborate their policies, plans and programmes on tourism, in accordance with their national priorities and within the framework of the programme of work of the World Tourism Organization.

Kerala Tourism to launch ‘Street’ project for sustainable rural tourism

In a move to tap the tourism potential of the rural hinterlands in the state, the Kerala government is planning a new project.

The project termed the ‘STREET’, will be inaugurated by the Tourism Minister Mr. P.A. Mohamed Riyas on Thursday at Thrithala.

Sustainable Tourism

The state-level launch of the initiative will be done at 6 pm at the DTPC Park in Velliyankallu, in Thrithala. The state Assembly Speaker Mr. M.B. Rajesh, who is also the MLA of Thrithala will preside over the inaugural ceremony.

The ‘Street’, which stands for Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, Tourism hubs, is being implemented in ten locations in the state. The initiative is also part of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’ for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

According to the government, the other places that will implement STREET projects are the districts of Kozhikode, Kannur, Kottayam, Idukki and Wayanad.

“The STREET project will bring in tourism initiatives that suit the culture and topography of the region. These include green streets, cultural streets, ethnic cuisine/food streets, village life experience/experiential tourism streets, agri-tourism streets, water streets and arts streets,” stated a release.

The project, under the Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM), will ensure that its implementation retains the normalcy of the villages and maintains their ecology well.

The idea is to introduce travellers to rustic Kerala while also fetching income for the residents.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Your name *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Overview

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Advertisement

Tourist's level of awareness and attitude about destination ecotourism development: a case study of Munnar, Kerala, India

• Published: 18 August 2023

Cite this article

• Chindu Chandran   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6349-4365 1 &
• Prodyut Bhattacharya 1  

193 Accesses

Explore all metrics

In the sphere of mass tourism, ecotourism offers a method for promoting conservation and sustainability. Ecotourism differs from mass tourism as it includes recreational activities focusing on environmental conservation, education, and cultural experiences. Previous studies have explored tourists' awareness and attitudes towards ecotourism in various destinations but considering the unique cultural and geographical context of the destination, highlights the need for a destination-specific scale to inform sustainable decision-making. Tourist behavior and attitudes are critical to the tourism destination's long-term viability. This research aimed to study the attitude and awareness levels of tourists in Munnar towards environmentally sustainable tourism. Primary data were collected from the tourists adopting convenient sampling method. The survey results demonstrate that people have a positive attitude and are aware of the importance of environmentally friendly tourism. The findings also show that tourist awareness and attitudes toward Munnar's ecotourism and conservation are highly and strongly associated. Studying traveler understanding and attitudes toward sustainable tourism would be highly beneficial to local governments and ecotourism destination operators in responding to environmentally sustainable tourism and adapting to the need for better tourism practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Geotourism and Local Communities: Measuring Residents’ Attitudes Toward Sustainable Tourism in the Fruška Gora National Park

Ecotourism Industry in Constrained Environments: Bhutan as a Case Study

Assessing indigenous community’s perspectives and attitudes toward tourism development impacts in the northwestern Himalayas, India

Data availability.

Due to confidentiality agreements, questionnaire feedback data sets cannot be made openly available. Supporting data like questionnaire used in the study can only be made available to bona fide researchers subject to a non-disclosure agreement.

Ballantyne, R., Packer, J., & Sutherland, L. A. (2011). Visitors’ memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences. Tourism Management, 32 (4), 770–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.06.012

Article   Google Scholar  

Baloch, Q. B., Shah, S. N., Iqbal, N., Sheeraz, M., Asadullah, M., Mahar, S., & Khan, A. U. (2022). Impact of tourism development upon environmental sustainability: A suggested framework for sustainable ecotourism.  Environmental Science and Pollution Research , 1–14.

Bhalla, P., & Bhattacharya, P. (2019). Visitors’ satisfaction from ecotourism in the protected area of the Indian Himalayan Region using importance–performance analysis. Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, 29 (2), 162–179.

Brown, K., Turner, R. K., Hameed, H., & Bateman, I. A. N. (1997). Environmental carrying capacity and tourism development in the Maldives and Nepal. Environmental Conservation, 24 (4), 316–325.

Article   CAS   Google Scholar  

Burns, R. C., Arnberger, A., & Ruschkowski, E. V. (2010). Social carrying capacity challenges in parks, forests, and protected areas. International Journal of Sociology, 40 (3), 30–50. https://doi.org/10.2753/IJS0020-7659400302

Butler, R. (1991). Tourism, environment, and sustainable development. Environmental Conservation, 18 , 201–2019. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900022104

Carvache-Franco, M., Segarra-Oña, M., & Carrascosa López, C. (2019). Motivations analysis in ecotourism through an empirical application: Segmentation, characteristics and motivations of the consumer. Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites, 24 (1), 60–73.

Google Scholar  

Chandran, C., & Bhattacharya, P. (2021). Perception of visitors on ecotourism environmental impact: A study of Munnar, Kerala, India. World Journal of Environmental Biosciences, 10 (2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.51847/abGiA4pZsB

Chin, C. L., Moore, S. A., Wallington, T. J., & Dowling, R. K. (2000). Ecotourism in Bako National Park, Borneo: Visitors’ perspectives on environmental impacts and their management. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 8 (1), 20–35.

Choi, H. C., & Murray, I. (2010). Resident attitudes toward sustainable community tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18 (4), 575–594. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580903524852

Choi, H. C., & Sirakaya, E. (2006). Sustainability indicators for managing community tourism. Tourism Management, 27 (6), 1274–1289.

Cidalia Tojeiro, M. (2011). The ecotourism sustainable strategy: engagement and overcoming. Journal of Coastal Research, 61 (10061), 221–225.

Das, M., & Chatterjee, B. (2015). Ecotourism: A panacea or a predicament? Tourism Management Perspectives, 14 , 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2015.01.002

Deng, J., & Li, J. (2015). Self-identification of ecotourists. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23 (2), 255–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.934374

Dickson, I. M., Butchart, S. H. M., Dauncey, V., Hughes, J., Jefferson, R., Merriman, J. C., Munroe, R., Pearce-Higgins, J. P., Stephenson, P. J., Sutherland, W. J., Thomas, D. H. L., & Trevelyan, R. (2017). PRISM—Toolkit for evaluating the outcomes and impacts of small/medium-sized conservation projects. Version 1. www.conservationevaluation.org

Dolnicar, S., & Leisch, F. (2008). Selective marketing for environmentally sustainable tourism. Tourism Management, 29 (4), 672–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.07.010

Fan, X., Huang, J., & Cheng, L. (2016). The formation mechanism of residents’ environmental friendly behavior in ecotourism areas: A case study of Dongjiang Lake, a national scenic spot. Economic Geography, 36 , 177–182.

Gössling, S., Scott, D., Hall, C. M., Ceron, J.-P., & Dubois, G. (2012). Consumer behaviour and demand response of tourists to climate change. Annals of Tourism Research, 39 (1), 36–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2011.11.002

Hall, M. (2010). Changing paradigms and global change: From sustainable to steady-state tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 35 (2), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2010.11081629

Hughes, M., & Morrison-Saunders, A. (2003). Visitor attitudes toward a modified natural attraction. Society and Natural Resources, 16 (3), 191–203.

Husted, B. W., Russo, M. V., Meza, C. E. B., & Tilleman, S. G. (2014). An exploratory study of environmental attitudes and the willingness to pay for environmental certification in Mexico. Journal of Business Research, 67 (5), 891–899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.07.008

Hvenegaard, G. T. (2002). Using tourist typologies for ecotourism research. Journal of Ecotourism, 1 (1), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724040208668109

John, E. (2020). Do tourists behave in a sustainable manner at destinations? Empirical evidence from Munnar. Materials Today: Proceedings, 33 , 4866–4875.

Jones, N., Panagiotidou, K., Spilanis, I., Evangelinos, K. I., & Dimitrakopoulos, P. G. (2011). Visitor’s perceptions on the management of an important nesting site for loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta Caretta L.): The case of Rethymno coastal area in Greece. Ocean and Coastal Management, 54 , 577–584.

Junus, S. Z., Hambali, K. A., Iman, A. H. M., Abas, M. A., & Hassin, N. H. (2020). Visitor’s perception and attitude toward the ecotourism resources at Taman Negara Kuala Koh, Kelantan. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 549 , 012088.

Kaffashi, S., Radam, A., Shamsudin, M. N., Yacob, M. R., & Nordin, N. H. (2015). Ecological conservation, ecotourism, and sustainable management: The case of Penang National Park. Forests, 6 , 2345–2370.

Kempiak, J., Hollywood, L., Bolan, P., & McMahon-Beattie, U. (2017). The heritage tourist: An understanding of the visitor experience at heritage attractions. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 23 (4), 375–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2016.1277776

Kim, A. K., & Weiler, B. (2013). Visitors’ attitudes towards responsible fossil collecting behaviour: An environmental attitude-based segmentation approach. Tourism Management, 36 , 602–612.

Kumar, S., & Chong, I. (2018). Correlation analysis to identify the effective data in machine learning: prediction of depressive disorder and emotion states. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15 (12), 2907. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122907

Lee, T. H., & Jan, F. H. (2019). Can community-based tourism contribute to sustainable development? Evidence from residents’ perceptions of the sustainability. Tourism Management, 70 , 368–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.09.003

Lian Chan, J. K., & Baum, T. (2007). Ecotourists’ perception of ecotourism experience in lower Kinabatangan, Sabah. Malaysia. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15 (5), 574–590.

Lim, C., & McAleer, M. (2005). Ecologically sustainable tourism management. Environmental Modelling and Software, 20 (11), 1431–1438.

Liu, C. H., Tzeng, G. H., Lee, M. H., & Lee, P. Y. (2013). Improving metro–airport connection service for tourism development: Using hybrid MCDM models. Tourism Management Perspectives, 6 , 95–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2012.09.004

Medeiros, H. M. N., Guerreiro, Q. L. D. M., Vieira, T. A., Silva, S. M. S. D., Renda, A. I. D. S. A., & Oliveira-Junior, J. M. B. (2021). Alternative tourism and environmental impacts: Perception of residents of an extractive reserve in the Brazilian Amazonia. Sustainability, 13 , 2076.

Mihanyar, P., Aminudin, N., & Rahman, S. A. (2014). The influence of sustainable tourism awareness and environmental sustainability dimensions on behavioural intentions among domestic tourists in developing countries. In Conference: 7th tourism outlook conference at: Dambulla-Kandalama, Sri Lanka .

Miller, G., Rathouse, K., Scarles, C., Holmes, K., & Tribe, J. (2010). Public understanding of sustainable. Annals of Tourism Research, 37 , 627–645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2009.12.002

Neto, F. (1990). Sustainable tourism, environmental protection and natural resource management: Paradise on Earth? Growth, 1999 , 2000.

Oviedo-García, M. Á., Castellanos-Verdugo, M., Vega-Vázquez, M., & Orgaz-Agüera, F. (2017). The Mediating roles of the overall perceived value of the ecotourism site and attitudes towards ecotourism in sustainability through the key relationship ecotourism knowledge-ecotourist Satisfaction. International Journal of Tourism Research, 19 (2), 203–213.

Perkins, H., & Grace, D. A. (2009). Ecotourism: Supply of nature or tourist demand? Journal of Ecotourism, 8 (3), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724040802534992

Pickering, C. M. (2010). Ten factors that affect the severity of environmental impacts of visitors in protected areas. Ambio, 39 , 10–11.

Pigram, J. J. (1990). Sustainable tourism-policy considerations. Journal of Tourism Studies, 1 (2), 2–9.

Poudel, S., & Nyaupane, G. P. (2017). Understanding environmentally responsible behaviour of ecotourists: The reasoned action approach. Tourism Planning and Development, 14 (3), 337–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2016.1221851

Rej, S., Bandyopadhyay, A., Murshed, M., Mahmood, H., & Razzaq, A. (2022). Pathways to decarbonization in India: the role of environmentally friendly tourism development.  Environmental Science and Pollution Research , 1–22.

Ren, J., Su, K., Chang, Y., & Wen, Y. (2021). Formation of environmentally friendly tourist behaviors in ecotourism destinations in China. Forests, 12 , 424. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12040424

Rivera, J. P. R., Gutierrez, E. L. M., & Rivera, J. P. R. (2018). A framework toward sustainable ecotourism value chain in the Philippines. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism, Routledge, 00 (00), 1–20.

Rozelee, S., Rahman, S., & Omar, S. I. (2015). Tourists’ perceptions on environmental impact attributes of mabul Island and their relationship with education factor. Environment Science Tourism Environment Society of Management Science, 15 , 146–152.

Rutty, M., Gossling, S., Scott, D., Hall, C.M. (2015). The global effects and impacts of tourism from: The Routledge handbook of tourism and sustainability Routledge.

Satyanarayana, B., Bhanderi, P., Debry, M., Maniatis, D., Foré, F., Badgie, D., Jammeh, K., Vanwing, T., Farcy, C., Koedam, N., & Dahdouu-Guebas, F. (2012). A socio-ecological assessment aiming at improved forest resource management and sustainable ecotourism development in the mangroves of Tanbi Wetland National Park, The Gambia, West Africa. Ambio, 41 (5), 513–526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0248-7

Scheyvens, R. (1999). Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities. Tourism Management, 20 (2), 245–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(98)00069-7

Seow, T. W., Abas, M. A., Mohamed, S., Goh, K. C., & Zainal, R. (2017). Good governance in national solid waste management policy implementation: A case study Malaysia. AIP Conference Proceeding, 1891 , 020128.

Sharpley, R. (2021). On the need for sustainable tourism consumption. Tourist Studies, 21 (1), 96–107.

Sharpley, R., & Duffy, R. (2006). Ecotourism: A consumption perspective. Journal of Ecotourism, 5 (1–2), 7–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724040608668444

Stefănica, M., & Butnaru, G. I. (2015). Research on tourists’ perception of the relationship between tourism and environment. Procedia Economics and Finance, 20 , 595–600.

Struhsaker, T. T., Struhsaker, P. J., & Siex, K. S. (2005). Conserving Africa’s rain forests: Problems in protected areas and possible solutions. Biological Conservation, 123 (1), 45–54.

Suckall, N., Fraser, E. D. G., Cooper, T., & Quinn, C. (2009). Visitor perceptions of rural landscapes: A case study in the Peak District National Park, England. Journal of Environmental Management, 90 , 1195–1203.

Sun, R. H., & Gao, J. (2012). A literature review on Chinese ecotourism study proceeding. Advanced Materials Research, 573–574 , 366–369. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.573-574.366

Swarbrooke, J. (2002). The development and management of visitor attractions (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES). (2015). Ecotourism. The International Ecotourism Society. www.ecotourism.org

Togridou, A., Hovardas, T., & Pantis, J. D. (2006). Determinants of visitors’ willingness to pay for the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Greece. Ecological Economics, 60 , 308–319.

Unathi Sonwabile, K., Tembi, M., & T. (2018). Sustainable development goals and socio-economic development through tourism in central Africa: Myth or reality? GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 23 (3), 780.

Venugopalan, T., & Kumar, D. (2017). Sustainable development through sustainable tourism in India-A case study of Kerala tourism. Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, 7 (12), 10–27.

Villanthenkodath, M. A., Mahalik, M. K., & Arafath, K. M. I. Y. (2022). The role of tourism development in India's environmental degradation: evidence from ARDL and wavelet coherence approaches. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal (ahead-of-print) .

Wackernagel, M., & Ress, M. (1996). Our ecological footprint: Reducing human impact on the earth . New Society Publishers.

Wang, X., Yu, Y., Zhu, Z., & Zheng, J. (2022). Visiting intentions toward theme parks: Do short video content and tourists’ perceived playfulness on TikTok matter? Sustainability, 14 (19), 12206.

Weaver, D. B. (2005). Comprehensive and minimalist dimensions of ecotourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 32 (2), 439–455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.08.003

Wu, Z., Lai, I. K. W., & Tang, H. (2021). Evaluating the sustainability issues in tourism development: An adverse-impact and serious-level analysis. SAGE Open, 11 (4), 21582440211050384.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We want to express great appreciation to Dr. Pratyansha Singh (Ph.D. Environment Management, GGSIP University, Delhi) and Mr. Apoorv Kalra (B. Tech. Aerospace, SRM University, Chennai) for valuable and constructive suggestions in the statistical analysis of the study. We would also like to show our gratitude to the Kerala Forest Department for their support throughout this research.

We want to thank Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University for providing Short Term Research Fund (GGSIPU/DRC/Ph.D./Adm./2016/1904) supporting this research work.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

University School of Environment Management, GGSIP University, Delhi, India

Chindu Chandran & Prodyut Bhattacharya

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chindu Chandran .

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest.

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

Taking the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) code as a guide, Ethics approval was not sought as all participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study and participation was voluntary. In addition, the respondent’s anonymity and confidentiality were kept.

Additional information

Publisher's note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Chandran, C., Bhattacharya, P. Tourist's level of awareness and attitude about destination ecotourism development: a case study of Munnar, Kerala, India. Environ Dev Sustain (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03745-5

Download citation

Received : 29 July 2022

Accepted : 01 August 2023

Published : 18 August 2023

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03745-5

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Tourists awareness
• Environmentally sustainable tourism
• Sustainable tourism
• Tourists attitude
• Visitor perception
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

National Geographic content straight to your inbox—sign up for our popular newsletters here

Coral reforestation helps restore desolated reefs around Landaa Giraavaru Island on Baa Atoll in the Republic of Maldives.

For travelers, sustainability is the word—but there are many definitions of it

Most people want to support sustainable tourism, even though the concept remains fuzzy.

The word “overtourism” is a relatively new term—but its novelty has not diminished the portent of its meaning: “An excessive number of tourist visits to a popular destination or attraction, resulting in damage to the local environment and historical sites and in poorer quality of life for residents,” according to the Oxford Dictionary .  

As travel recovers from pandemic lows, travelers are once again experiencing the consequences of overtourism at enticing, but crowded, destinations. The UN World Tourism Organization, along with public and private sector partners, marks September 27 as World Tourism Day and uses this platform to discuss tourism’s social, political, economic, and environmental impacts.

This day highlights the importance of sustainable tourism —a framework for engaging travelers and the travel industry at large in supporting goals that include protecting the environment, addressing climate change, minimizing plastic consumption , and expanding economic development in communities affected by tourism.

Getting the facts

A National Geographic survey of 3,500 adults in the U.S. reveals strong support for sustainability. That’s the good news—but the challenge will be helping travelers take meaningful actions. According to the survey—which was conducted in 2019—while 42 percent of U.S. travelers would be willing to prioritize sustainable travel in the future, only 15 percent of these travelers are sufficiently familiar with what sustainable travel actually means.  

( Learn about how to turn overtourism into sustainable global tourism .)

In the National Geographic survey, consumers most familiar with sustainable travel are young: 50 percent are 18 to 34 years old. Among travelers who understand the sustainable travel concept, 56 percent acknowledge travel has an impact on local communities and that it’s important to protect natural sites and cultural places.

The survey has informed National Geographic’s experiential travel and media businesses and sparked conversations for creating solutions around sustainability. Our travel content focuses on environmentally friendly practices, protecting cultural and natural heritage, providing social and economic benefits for local communities, and inspiring travelers to become conservation ambassadors. In short, we see every National Geographic traveler as a curious explorer who seeks to build an ethic of conserving all that makes a destination unique.

Building better practices

National Geographic Expeditions operates hundreds of trips each year, spanning all seven continents and more than 80 destinations. Rooted in the National Geographic Society ’s legacy of exploration, the company supports the Society's mission to inspire people to care about the planet by providing meaningful opportunities to explore it. Proceeds from all travel programs support the Society’s efforts to increase global understanding through exploration, education and scientific research.

National Geographic Expeditions offers a range of group travel experiences, including land expeditions, cruises, and active adventures, many of which take place around eco-lodges that are rigorously vetted for their sustainability practices.  

These independent lodges incorporate innovative sustainability practices into their everyday operations, including supporting natural and cultural heritage, sourcing products regionally, and giving back to the local community.

For example, South Africa’s Grootbos Lodge launched a foundation to support the Masakhane Community Farm and Training Centre. Through this program, the lodge has given plots of land to local people who have completed the training, increasing their income and access to local, healthy foods; so far the program has benefitted more than 138 community members.

As a media brand, National Geographic encourages travelers to seek out and support properties that embrace a mission to help protect people and the environment. Not only do these accommodations make direct and meaningful impacts in their own communities, but staying at one helps educate travelers in effective ways to preserve and protect the places they visit.

Supporting sustainability

The travel industry is crucially dependent on the health of local communities, environments, and cultures. As many experts note, we need to invest in the resiliency of places affected by overtourism and climate change to achieve sustainable tourism.

( Should some of the world’s endangered places be off-limits to tourists ?)

National Geographic’s coverage stresses the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and encourages travelers to step off the beaten path and linger longer, respect cultural differences and invest in communities, reconnect with nature and support organizations that are protecting the planet. Here are 12 ways to travel sustainably , reported by our staff editors.

Storytelling can help by highlighting problems brought on by tourism and surfacing practices and technologies to mitigate negative impacts. A key goal of our storytelling mission at National Geographic Travel is to dig deeper into the topic of sustainable tourism and provide resources, practical tips, and destination advice for travelers who seek to explore the world in all its beauty—while leaving behind a lighter footprint.

FREE BONUS ISSUE

Related topics.

• SUSTAINABILITY
• SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
• ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
• PEOPLE AND CULTURE
• CLIMATE CHANGE

You May Also Like

6 tips to make your next beach trip more sustainable

Can tourism positively impact climate change in the Indian Ocean?

6 eco-conscious alpine resorts around the world

Welcome to Hydra, the Greek island that said no thanks to cars

Kit list: the essential gear to pack like a pro, from smart luggage to bag trackers

• Environment
• Perpetual Planet

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• History Magazine
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

What Is Sustainable Tourism and Why Is It Important?

Sustainable management and socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental impacts are the four pillars of sustainable tourism

• Chapman University

• Harvard University Extension School
• Sustainable Fashion
• Art & Media

What Makes Tourism Sustainable?

The role of tourists, types of sustainable tourism.

Sustainable tourism considers its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts by addressing the needs of its ecological surroundings and the local communities. This is achieved by protecting natural environments and wildlife when developing and managing tourism activities, providing only authentic experiences for tourists that don’t appropriate or misrepresent local heritage and culture, or creating direct socioeconomic benefits for local communities through training and employment.

As people begin to pay more attention to sustainability and the direct and indirect effects of their actions, travel destinations and organizations are following suit. For example, the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment is aiming to see every New Zealand tourism business committed to sustainability by 2025, while the island country of Palau has required visitors to sign an eco pledge upon entry since 2017.

Tourism industries are considered successfully sustainable when they can meet the needs of travelers while having a low impact on natural resources and generating long-term employment for locals. By creating positive experiences for local people, travelers, and the industry itself, properly managed sustainable tourism can meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.

What Is Sustainability?

At its core, sustainability focuses on balance — maintaining our environmental, social, and economic benefits without using up the resources that future generations will need to thrive. In the past, sustainability ideals tended to lean towards business, though more modern definitions of sustainability highlight finding ways to avoid depleting natural resources in order to keep an ecological balance and maintain the quality of environmental and human societies.

Since tourism impacts and is impacted by a wide range of different activities and industries, all sectors and stakeholders (tourists, governments, host communities, tourism businesses) need to collaborate on sustainable tourism in order for it to be successful.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) , which is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable tourism, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) , the global standard for sustainable travel and tourism, have similar opinions on what makes tourism sustainable. By their account, sustainable tourism should make the best use of environmental resources while helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity, respect the socio-culture of local host communities, and contribute to intercultural understanding. Economically, it should also ensure viable long-term operations that will provide benefits to all stakeholders, whether that includes stable employment to locals, social services, or contributions to poverty alleviation.

The GSTC has developed a series of criteria to create a common language about sustainable travel and tourism. These criteria are used to distinguish sustainable destinations and organizations, but can also help create sustainable policies for businesses and government agencies. Arranged in four pillars, the global baseline standards include sustainable management, socioeconomic impact, cultural impacts, and environmental impacts.

Travel Tip:

The GSTC is an excellent resource for travelers who want to find sustainably managed destinations and accommodations and learn how to become a more sustainable traveler in general.

Environment 

Protecting natural environments is the bedrock of sustainable tourism. Data released by the World Tourism Organization estimates that tourism-based CO2 emissions are forecast to increase 25% by 2030. In 2016, tourism transport-related emissions contributed to 5% of all man-made emissions, while transport-related emissions from long-haul international travel were expected to grow 45% by 2030.

The environmental ramifications of tourism don’t end with carbon emissions, either. Unsustainably managed tourism can create waste problems, lead to land loss or soil erosion, increase natural habitat loss, and put pressure on endangered species . More often than not, the resources in these places are already scarce, and sadly, the negative effects can contribute to the destruction of the very environment on which the industry depends.

Industries and destinations that want to be sustainable must do their part to conserve resources, reduce pollution, and conserve biodiversity and important ecosystems. In order to achieve this, proper resource management and management of waste and emissions is important. In Bali, for example, tourism consumes 65% of local water resources, while in Zanzibar, tourists use 15 times as much water per night as local residents.

Another factor to environmentally focused sustainable tourism comes in the form of purchasing: Does the tour operator, hotel, or restaurant favor locally sourced suppliers and products? How do they manage their food waste and dispose of goods? Something as simple as offering paper straws instead of plastic ones can make a huge dent in an organization’s harmful pollutant footprint.

Recently, there has been an uptick in companies that promote carbon offsetting . The idea behind carbon offsetting is to compensate for generated greenhouse gas emissions by canceling out emissions somewhere else. Much like the idea that reducing or reusing should be considered first before recycling , carbon offsetting shouldn’t be the primary goal. Sustainable tourism industries always work towards reducing emissions first and offset what they can’t.

Properly managed sustainable tourism also has the power to provide alternatives to need-based professions and behaviors like poaching . Often, and especially in underdeveloped countries, residents turn to environmentally harmful practices due to poverty and other social issues. At Periyar Tiger Reserve in India, for example, an unregulated increase in tourists made it more difficult to control poaching in the area. In response, an eco development program aimed at providing employment for locals turned 85 former poachers into reserve gamekeepers. Under supervision of the reserve’s management staff, the group of gamekeepers have developed a series of tourism packages and are now protecting land instead of exploiting it. They’ve found that jobs in responsible wildlife tourism are more rewarding and lucrative than illegal work.

Flying nonstop and spending more time in a single destination can help save CO2, since planes use more fuel the more times they take off.

Local Culture and Residents

One of the most important and overlooked aspects of sustainable tourism is contributing to protecting, preserving, and enhancing local sites and traditions. These include areas of historical, archaeological, or cultural significance, but also "intangible heritage," such as ceremonial dance or traditional art techniques.

In cases where a site is being used as a tourist attraction, it is important that the tourism doesn’t impede access to local residents. For example, some tourist organizations create local programs that offer residents the chance to visit tourism sites with cultural value in their own countries. A program called “Children in the Wilderness” run by Wilderness Safaris educates children in rural Africa about the importance of wildlife conservation and valuable leadership development tools. Vacations booked through travel site Responsible Travel contribute to the company’s “Trip for a Trip” program, which organizes day trips for disadvantaged youth who live near popular tourist destinations but have never had the opportunity to visit.

Sustainable tourism bodies work alongside communities to incorporate various local cultural expressions as part of a traveler’s experiences and ensure that they are appropriately represented. They collaborate with locals and seek their input on culturally appropriate interpretation of sites, and train guides to give visitors a valuable (and correct) impression of the site. The key is to inspire travelers to want to protect the area because they understand its significance.

Bhutan, a small landlocked country in South Asia, has enforced a system of all-inclusive tax for international visitors since 1997 ($200 per day in the off season and $250 per day in the high season). This way, the government is able to restrict the tourism market to local entrepreneurs exclusively and restrict tourism to specific regions, ensuring that the country’s most precious natural resources won’t be exploited.

Incorporating volunteer work into your vacation is an amazing way to learn more about the local culture and help contribute to your host community at the same time. You can also book a trip that is focused primarily on volunteer work through a locally run charity or non profit (just be sure that the job isn’t taking employment opportunities away from residents).

It's not difficult to make a business case for sustainable tourism, especially if one looks at a destination as a product. Think of protecting a destination, cultural landmark, or ecosystem as an investment. By keeping the environment healthy and the locals happy, sustainable tourism will maximize the efficiency of business resources. This is especially true in places where locals are more likely to voice their concerns if they feel like the industry is treating visitors better than residents.

Not only does reducing reliance on natural resources help save money in the long run, studies have shown that modern travelers are likely to participate in environmentally 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.

Always be mindful of where your souvenirs are coming from and whether or not the money is going directly towards the local economy. For example, opt for handcrafted souvenirs made by local artisans.

Growth in the travel and tourism sectors alone has outpaced the overall global economy growth for nine years in a row. Prior to the pandemic, travel and tourism accounted for an $9.6 trillion contribution to the global GDP and 333 million jobs (or one in four new jobs around the world).

Sustainable travel dollars help support employees, who in turn pay taxes that contribute to their local economy. If those employees are not paid a fair wage or aren’t treated fairly, the traveler is unknowingly supporting damaging or unsustainable practices that do nothing to contribute to the future of the community. Similarly, if a hotel doesn’t take into account its ecological footprint, it may be building infrastructure on animal nesting grounds or contributing to excessive pollution. The same goes for attractions, since sustainably managed spots (like nature preserves) often put profits towards conservation and research.

Costa Rica 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.

While traveling, think of how you would want your home country or home town to be treated by visitors.

Are You a Sustainable Traveler?

Sustainable travelers understand that their actions create an ecological and social footprint on the places they visit. Be mindful of the destinations , accommodations, and activities you choose, and choose destinations that are closer to home or extend your length of stay to save resources. Consider switching to more environmentally friendly modes of transportation such as bicycles, trains, or walking while on vacation. Look into supporting locally run tour operations or local family-owned businesses rather than large international chains. Don’t engage in activities that harm wildlife, such as elephant riding or tiger petting , and opt instead for a wildlife sanctuary (or better yet, attend a beach clean up or plan an hour or two of some volunteer work that interests you). Leave natural areas as you found them by taking out what you carry in, not littering, and respecting the local residents and their traditions.

Most of us travel to experience the world. New cultures, new traditions, new sights and smells and tastes are what makes traveling so rewarding. It is our responsibility as travelers to ensure that these destinations are protected not only for the sake of the communities who rely upon them, but for a future generation of travelers.

Sustainable tourism has many different layers, most of which oppose the more traditional forms of mass tourism that are more likely to lead to environmental damage, loss of culture, pollution, negative economic impacts, and overtourism.

Ecotourism highlights responsible travel to natural areas that focus on environmental conservation. A sustainable tourism body supports and contributes to biodiversity conservation by managing its own property responsibly and respecting or enhancing nearby natural protected areas (or areas of high biological value). Most of the time, this looks like a financial compensation to conservation management, but it can also include making sure that tours, attractions, and infrastructure don’t disturb natural ecosystems.

On the same page, wildlife interactions with free roaming wildlife should be non-invasive and managed responsibly to avoid negative impacts to the animals. As a traveler, prioritize visits to accredited rescue and rehabilitation centers that focus on treating, rehoming, or releasing animals back into the wild, such as the Jaguar Rescue Center in Costa Rica.

Soft Tourism

Soft tourism may highlight local experiences, local languages, or encourage longer time spent in individual areas. This is opposed to hard tourism featuring short duration of visits, travel without respecting culture, taking lots of selfies , and generally feeling a sense of superiority as a tourist.

Many World Heritage Sites, for example, pay special attention to protection, preservation, and sustainability by promoting soft tourism. Peru’s famed Machu Picchu was previously known as one of the world’s worst victims of overtourism , or a place of interest that has experienced negative effects (such as traffic or litter) from excessive numbers of tourists. The attraction has taken steps to control damages in recent years, requiring hikers to hire local guides on the Inca Trail, specifying dates and time on visitor tickets to negate overcrowding, and banning all single use plastics from the site.

Traveling during a destination’s shoulder season , the period between the peak and low seasons, typically combines good weather and low prices without the large crowds. This allows better opportunities to immerse yourself in a new place without contributing to overtourism, but also provides the local economy with income during a normally slow season.

Rural Tourism

Rural tourism applies to tourism that takes place in non-urbanized areas such as national parks, forests, nature reserves, and mountain areas. This can mean anything from camping and glamping to hiking and WOOFing. Rural tourism is a great way to practice sustainable tourism, since it usually requires less use of natural resources.

Community Tourism

Community-based tourism involves tourism where local residents invite travelers to visit their own communities. It sometimes includes overnight stays and often takes place in rural or underdeveloped countries. This type of tourism fosters connection and enables tourists to gain an in-depth knowledge of local habitats, wildlife, and traditional cultures — all while providing direct economic benefits to the host communities. Ecuador is a world leader in community tourism, offering unique accommodation options like the Sani Lodge run by the local Kichwa indigenous community, which offers responsible cultural experiences in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest.

" Transport-related CO 2  Emissions of the Tourism Sector – Modelling Results ." World Tourism Organization and International Transport Forum , 2019, doi:10.18111/9789284416660

" 45 Arrivals Every Second ." The World Counts.

Becken, Susanne. " Water Equity- Contrasting Tourism Water Use With That of the Local Community ." Water Resources and Industry , vol. 7-8, 2014, pp. 9-22, doi:10.1016/j.wri.2014.09.002

Kutty, Govindan M., and T.K. Raghavan Nair. " Periyar Tiger Reserve: Poachers Turned Gamekeepers ." Food and Agriculture Organization.

" GSTC Destination Criteria ." Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Rinzin, Chhewang, et al. " Ecotourism as a Mechanism for Sustainable Development: the Case of Bhutan ." Environmental Sciences , vol. 4, no. 2, 2007, pp. 109-125, doi:10.1080/15693430701365420

" Booking.com Reveals Key Findings From Its 2019 Sustainable Travel Report ." Booking.com.

" Economic Impact Reports ." World Travel and Tourism Council .

• Regenerative Travel: What It Is and How It's Outperforming Sustainable Tourism
• How to Be a Sustainable Traveler: 18 Tips
• What Is Ecotourism? Definition, Examples, and Pros and Cons
• Some Advice on How to Travel More Intentionally
• 'The Last Tourist' Film Will Make You Approach Travel Differently
• Best of Green Awards 2021: Sustainable Travel
• Costa Rica’s Keys to Success as a Sustainable Tourism Pioneer
• What Is Community-Based Tourism? Definition and Popular Destinations
• What Is Overtourism and Why Is It Such a Big Problem?
• What Is Experiential Tourism?
• What Is Voluntourism? Does It Help or Harm Communities?
• Food Sovereignty: Definition, Principles, and Importance
• Best of Green Awards 2021: Eco Tech
• 10 Ways to Be an Eco-Conscious Tourist
• Travel + Leisure's Global Vision Awards Are a Win for the Planet
• Spain Starts a School for Shepherdesses

അതിവേഗ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് → മലയാളം ← മലയാളം നിഘണ്ടു

Sustainable development.

• സുസ്ഥിര വികസനം

അഭിപ്രായങ്ങളും നിർദ്ദേശങ്ങളും രേഖപ്പെടുത്തുക

അവലോകനത്തിനായി സമർപ്പിക്കുക പൂട്ടുക

• Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific (RSOAP)
• Member States in Asia and the Pacific
• SUSTAINABLE TOURISM OBSERVATORIES (INSTO)

© UNWTO Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific (RSOAP)

• GSTC Mission & Impacts
• GSTC History
• Market Access Program
• GSTC Board of Directors
• Assurance Panel
• Working Groups
• GSTC Sponsors
• GSTC Members
• Recruitment
• Contact GSTC
• GSTC For the Press
• Criteria Development, Feedback & Revisions
• Sustainable Tourism Glossary
• SDGs and GSTC Criteria
• GSTC Industry Criteria
• GSTC Destination Criteria
• GSTC MICE Criteria
• Criteria Translations
• GSTC-Recognized Standards for Hotels
• GSTC-Recognized Standards for Tour Operators
• GSTC-Recognized Standards for Destinations
• Recognition of Standards (for Standard Owners)
• GSTC-Committed
• Certification for Hotels
• Certification for Tour Operator
• Certification for Destination
• Accreditation for Certification Bodies
• Accredited Certification Bodies
• Stakeholder Consultations
• What is Certification? Accreditation? Recognition?
• Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP)
• Upcoming Courses
• Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism
• Professional Certificate in Sustainable Business Travel
• GSTC Trainers and Partners
• FAQs: GSTC Training Program
• Organization Membership Application
• Destination Membership Application
• Membership Policy
• Membership Categories & Fees
• Membership Payment Options
• Webinars for GSTC Members
• Members Log In
• Upcoming Webinars
• GSTC2024 Sweden, Apr 23-26
• GSTC2024 Singapore, Nov 13-16
• Past Conferences
• Destination Stewardship Report

GSTC2024 Global Conference

Royal djurgården, stockholm, sweden - april 23-26, gstc criteria, the global sustainability standards in travel and tourism, what is sustainable tourism.

There are many terms that float around that may sound similar but actually refer to something distinct.

Definition of Sustainable Tourism

Negative impacts to a destination include economic leakage, damage to the natural environment and overcrowding to name a few.

Positive impacts to a destination include job creation, cultural heritage preservation and interpretation, wildlife preservation landscape restoration, and more.

Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization as “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.”

Additionally, they say that sustainable tourism “refers to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability” ( UNEP & UNWTO , 2005: 11-12. Making Tourism More Sustainable – A Guide for Policy Makers ).

Definition of Ecotourism

Fennell described it as such: “Ecotourism is a sustainable form of natural resource-based tourism that focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, and which is ethically managed to be low-impact, non-consumptive, and locally-oriented. It typically occurs in natural areas, and should contribute to the conservation or preservation of such areas” (Fennell, 1999: 43. Ecotourism: An Introduction ).

The  Mohonk Agreement (2000) , a proposal for international certification of Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism, saw ecotourism as “sustainable tourism with a natural area focus, which benefits the environment and communities visited, and fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation, and awareness.”

The ecotourism definition by the  Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) : “Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved (visitors, staff and the visited).”

Definitions of Responsible Travel

Responsible Travel refers to the behavior of individual travelers aspiring to make choices according to sustainable tourism practices. The behaviors usually align with minimizing the negative impacts and maximizing positive ones when one visits a tourism destination.

Travelers that want to learn more about how to be a responsible traveler can visit the section on the GSTC website For Travelers .

Summary of the difference between Sustainable Tourism, Ecotourism, and Responsible Travel

Ecotourism is a niche segment of tourism in natural areas.

Sustainable Tourism does not refer to a specific type of tourism, rather it is an aspiration for the impacts of all forms of tourism to be sustainable for generations to come.

Responsible Travel is a term referring to the behavior and style of individual travelers. The behaviors align with making a positive impact to the destination rather than negative ones.

Sustainable Tourism and the GSTC Criteria

They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are categorized in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.

These standards were built on decades of prior work from industry experts around the globe. During the process of development, they were widely consulted in both developed and developing countries. They reflect our goal in attaining a global consensus on sustainable tourism.

The process of developing the Criteria was designed to adhere to the standards-setting code of the ISEAL Alliance. The ISEAL Alliance is the international body providing guidance for the management of sustainability standards in all sectors. That code is informed by relevant ISO standards .

Finally, the GSTC Criteria are the starting goals that businesses, governments, and destinations should achieve. Tourism destinations each have their own culture, environment, customs, and laws. Therefore, the Criteria are designed to be adapted to local conditions and supplemented by additional criteria for the specific location and activity.

There are three sets of Criteria

• GSTC Industry Criteria = relates to the sustainable management of private sector travel industry, focusing currently on Hotels and Tour Operators.
• GSTC Destination Criteria = relates to sustainable management of Tourism Destinations.
• GSTC MICE Criteria = relates to sustainable management of Venues, Event Organizers and Events & Exhibitions.

Learn more about Sustainable Tourism

Reading one article is not enough. The GSTC website offers those interested in learning more about sustainable tourism the needed resources. Make sure you visit the relevant pages for you:

• For Hotels & Accommodations
• For Tour Operators
• For Governments & Destinations
• For Corporate and Business Travel

You can also join one of the regular GSTC courses:

• Want to gain in-depth knowledge of the GSTC Criteria and understand sustainable tourism? The GSTC Sustainable Tourism course is for you.
• Engaged with corporate and business travel? The GSTC Sustainable Business Travel course is for you.
• Are you a hotelier or work in the hospitality sector? GSTC Sustainable Hotel course

GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Schedule

✓ Gain in-depth knowledge of the GSTC Criteria, the global standard for sustainability in travel and tourism. ✓ Make informed decisions on how to implement sustainability practices for your company or destination. ✓ Get ready for developing viable and actionable sustainable tourism policies and practices for your organization

I’ve participated in the course to get a comprehensive overview of destination sustainability criteria. Much more than this, the course gave me the up-to-date analysis of current trends, and a huge number of relevant cases from the destinations, the industry networks and the service providers. I strongly recommend to attend the course.

My course facilitator and teacher (Ayako and Antje) went above and beyond to answer our questions and provide us with additional resources. The course content (the GSTC Criteria) was delivered in an understandable and organized way. Learning the GSTC Criteria and how it applies to our own projects, businesses, and destinations is integral to anyone wanting to do any kind of work in the future centered around travel. I appreciated that the course was delivered in an interactive way over Zoom, and not just something we watched on YouTube. For me, being able to interact with fellow students from around the world, was a big plus. Was well worth it, and I highly recommend the course!

This course has been very relevant and provides in-depth knowledge of GSTC criteria for sustainable practices for destinations as well as the travel industry [with] plenty of real life examples and share links to plenty of reading material throughout the course. … As we move forward during these difficult COVID times, learning our lessons on the damage to nature, it becomes all the more important for industry professionals to get trained and step up efforts to embrace sustainability in all aspects of tourism. Hence, I recommend this course to all industry professionals.

This course enables participants to connect with the GSTC team directly, over an easy to use platform and network around the world. Using real life examples and detail in each of the 4 sections of the GSTC.

The GSTC training was a great way to connect, network, and engage in mind-broadening and eye-opening discussions with others in the diverse field of sustainable tourism. I would highly recommend this as a starting point for anyone interested in the journey of regenerative and sustainable tourism.

The course was great and the on- the-go discussions added great value to keep abreast of trends from across the globe. Participants from various parts of the world brought in their experiences and made the course very interesting.

Hearing about actual destinations applying Sustainable Tourism initiatives and learning from real situations practicing Sustainable Tourism, as well as the related successes and challenges, was very informative and valuable. My favorite part was the unexpected camaraderie from and connections with the other participants. I genuinely enjoyed the online discussion, sharing of ideas, and breakout groups and, overall, meeting so many others who she a passion for Sustainable Tourism. Thank you, GSTC, for a great course!

A complete holistic approach to sustainable tourism. The comprehensive lessons given each week break down the GSTC Criteria and are paired with practical examples, international experts and ‘hands on’ online workshops. The opportunity to discuss and share insights from all the participants around the world not only contributes to my own knowledge but to also my professional network. I highly recommend this course for anyone discovering sustainable tourism.

The course is quick and handy way to immerse in the issues of Sustainability in Tourism and a great kick start in starting your own business or destination program. I could have had the course even longer and especially the live sessions were great to get to know some of the other participants and share their knowledge and experiences – best practices are the best way to get started and to get valuable information. Highly recommended!

The course was so informative and presented in an engaging & interesting way. The examples & speakers gave us a lot to think about and many tangible ways that we can make a difference in our travel business. Thank you!

This course has given me an approach to the GSTC Criteria, where the basic and complete structure to move forward on sustainable paths is visualized. The reflections generated through real examples, discussions and available material are key to better internalize what sustainability means. Ideas applicable to our business and our work area appear during the course that contribute positively to one’s reality. I will recommend this course, for its contribution to the objective, honest and constructive understanding of what sustainability is.

I can only highly recommend the course for every travel and tourism professional- it is a great motivational boost to get into action and helps me support destinations in bringing the idea of destination stewardship – an inclusive and holistic approach – alive. We do not need more and more tourists, we need sustainable tourism.

Taking the GSTC training at this point in time was extremely valuable. It gave me a sustainable tourism framework to help assess what I’ve been able to accomplish and also consider the role that sustainable experiential travel may mean as we begin to inch our way out of the world of zero tourism towards something likely new and different. One other great benefit of the training was starting to get acquainted and sharing with other participants and instructors from around the globe. These connections will be valuable for a very long time to come.

I found this online course well structured and enjoyable. The trainers are really inspiring, extremely knowledgeable about the field and very supportive. The live online sessions give a great introduction to key topics, and there are online lessons, discussion forums and reference material to deepen knowledge. I feel like I have access to so much wisdom, and it is great to be part of a global community of sustainable tourism practitioners.

Thank you GSTC for such a great course. The content was relevant, the case studies were inspiring and the course structure was spot on! I can’t wait to take my learnings and inspiration and activate it across regional destinations in Australia. Keep up the great work.

What I liked the most about this course is the well-defined structure, the opinion sharing with online classmates, and the up-to-date topics. It makes the experience much more effective and enjoyable.

Excellent course that sets the foundations for sustainable tourism practice.I was very new with sustainable tourism and now after the course I have very solid understanding and skills to apply to my job. In addition, the amazing network of professionals sharing ideas is another great tool!

This course provided me with a thorough understanding of how to implement sustainable travel practices. I will definitely integrate information from this training into my work with travel organizations and destinations to help them achieve short-term progress through a long-term strategy.

The GSTC training provides a comprehensive overview of key indicators for a holistic view of sustainable tourism. The training provided an excellent opportunity to network with other tourism professionals, and to share ideas, develop plans, and comment on sustainable tourism initiatives that are being implemented in a diverse array of locations globally. I’m grateful for the connections that I made and for the helpful feedback on ideas for improving sustainability in several operations.

Useful and inspiring! The way the course is organised with lots of practical experience from colleagues in the tourism sector is indeed the most useful and interesting part of the course, [making it easier] to approach the GSTC criteria.

The GSTC course was really great to me because it gave me an in-depth knowledge about sustainable tourism. The combination of the criteria explanation and the presentation from other experts was really great, as it gave us the know-how, lots of samples and case studies. Before joining this course, I had heard about the term sustainable tourism many times, but [was not sure] what it is all about and how we can achieve it. I am glad to have gained the bigger picture of sustainable tourism. I’m developing my village to be a community based tourism destination, and now I can adopt and apply the standard locally.

A great training program that gives the participants a thorough understanding on the sustainable management of both destinations and individual businesses. Anyone from the industry – from the business or the government side – should understand the bigger picture of the destination level management as well as the industrial level so that both public and private sectors can work together for a more sustainable tourism industry.

The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program provided an up-to-date perspective and holistic approach on the topic. I really enjoyed taking part in the group discussions and hearing about the realities of other destinations and their challenges.

I think the training was very useful and gave me many insights that I will use in my daily work to develop more sustainable tourism. The training class was also a good group for networking.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is the most widely recognized institution for offering sustainability courses for tourism professionals.

This is a one-of-a-kind course that provides the tools in getting you started. Not to mention, you’re also collaborating with people and organizations across the globe facing similar challenges. The feedback from fellow students was invaluable and honestly, what better way to tackle some big challenges related to the environment than with people from different countries and backgrounds. I’d take this course again just for those connections!

The [GSTC course] has been a remarkable learning experience and a great introduction to sustainable tourism. The combination of online resources, discussion forums, weekly live events with guest presenters provides a deeper understanding and useful tools in sustainable tourism. The trainers have incredible expertise in both tourism and sustainability and share their knowledge and passion about current sustainability practices. I would highly recommend this course to everyone involved in the tourism industry or have a interest in sustainable tourism.

An excellent programme run by well qualified professional staff and trainers. The guest speakers were world class and materials industry leading. A definite must for any tourism professional who is serious about making sustainable impacts for the betterment of our industry.

Amazing learning experience. Exceeded my expectations by far. Excellently organized and facilitated. Great dynamics in discussions with course participants – so much to learn from. Highly valuable best practices and interactive modules really made the best learning experience I had until now! It really motivated and inspired me to continue on the road of global sustainable tourism.

The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training gave me the tools and network to be able to work for a more sustainable tourism sector in the area where I’m based (South Sweden). The structure with the four principles makes it easy to follow and to discuss also outside the GSTC world. The examples from the other participants were great, and we will continue sharing good and bad examples from destinations all over the world.

To work on sustainability is a never-ending story and can be overwhelming at times. The GSTC training supports a structured approach toward continuous improvement. It provides applicable tools to evaluate our sustainability performance and guidance for setting long-term strategies. It allows you to break down this massive task into achievable working packages.

The GSTC training was a great first touch point for me into the world of sustainable tourism and destination management. I loved hearing case studies from around the world and real life examples on how the GSTC criteria can make a difference. The course has enabled me to start building on these criteria within my job.

The training has enable me to go through all the GSTC Criteria thoroughly with better knowledge of sustainable tourism standard and practices. It will be useful as basic guidelines for the Foundation to use these Criteria, as the destination wants to embark in becoming a sustainable tourism destination, aiming to become GSTC-Certified.

I would definitely recommend GSTC training to absolutely everyone in the tourism industry. The entire [GSTC] framework is extremely useful and important – a framework of values and ideas that is evolving, and that is meant for us a roadmap to make things better for people and companies that may be starting from different points in the journey towards sustainability.

The quality of this training was really first class; materials, presentations, trainer support, resources and discussions. The forum helped keep everything relevant and up to date, and I also liked the format of the live events. All guest presenters were excellent; I liked that they were sharing real life experiences and not just theoretical examples. From each and every live presentation I gained ideas, reinforcements to my own experiences and enthusiasm for what I and my colleagues are doing in our own part of the world.

The STTP programme has been a good introduction to the principles of sustainable tourism. It was a good mix of presentations and cases of sustainable tourism in real-life, insights from experts from various countries and across tourism sectors and explanation of key GSTC criteria. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences and observations through discussion forums and presentations, which made the sessions more lively. The final exam is recommended for those who wish to test their ability to put these principles to practice. I highly recommend this course to tourism industry professionals wishing to incorporate sustainable tourism management at work.

The GSTC training provided me with a deep understanding of the criteria. My fellow classmates were industry experts in various sectors from around the world, bringing the criteria to life with valuable examples/discussions of how they have implemented the very practices we were learning.

My first impression was the organization, it was perfect regarding the admin efforts and the learning tools. The course materials were really useful, as well as the live sessions from which I gained a deep understanding and experience from the other participants. I really want to have the chance to thank all the team who was involved, and of course I would recommend people working in the tourism industry to join this course

The training gave me a clear understanding of the challenges we face and the actions to take to make sustainability effective, [covering] each of the main areas in a systematic way with enough technical detail for those who needed it, without losing the less technical trainees (like myself) who needed to understand the broad overview of sustainable tourism practices

The overview of standards, coupled with best practice and real world examples has been very beneficial for my work in destination management and responsible tourism development. The ability to meet likeminded industry colleagues, who are working in this arena was also highly valuable.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Related posts.

Preferred by Nature Standard gains GSTC-Recognized Standard Status

Bioscore Standard gains GSTC-Recognized Standard Status

Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau Joins GSTC

• WEB STORIES New
• ENTERTAINMENT
• CAREER & CAMPUS
• INFOGRAPHICS
• ISL 2023-24

• Manorama Online
• Manorama News TV
• ManoramaMAX
• Radio Mango
• Subscription

Ladakh caught between tourism and preserving its ecology

New Delhi/Leh: It has been two years since Lakakh was separated from the parent state of Jammu and Kashmir and granted the Union Territory status. But it is now on crossroads over choosing between sustainable tourism and saving the fragile trans-Himalayan ecology.

Tourism has been steadily increasing in Ladakh over last few decades and with every passing year, created an unviable strain on the local natural resources. While on the one hand, people want more tourists to come; on the other, environmental experts are wary of negative impact it will have on the local environment.

A few days ago, when a video of a reckless tourist's four-wheeler stuck in the sludge at the shore of the serene Pangong Tso lake went viral on social media, there was a lot of hue and cry from all strata of people from Ladakh, in person, in media and also on the social media.

Nimisha Sajayan enjoys shikara ride in Kashmir’s Dal Lake

First-ever open-air floating theatre in Dal Lake

"Ladakh has some beautiful high-altitude lakes, which are not only home to several wildlife but also has rich traditional values and sacredness. Enjoy the peaceful awe-inspiring lakes but please don't pollute them," president of the International Association for Ladakh Studies and Founder of the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation Sonam Wangchok had tweeted.

With its nature's bounty, Ladakh attracts large number of tourists and the numbers of have been increasing by the year. Apart from backpackers and regular tourists, Ladakh has attracted bikers from all across India and the world.

On Wednesday, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened the highest motorable road in the world at 19,300 feet at UmlingLa Pass in eastern Ladakh, which is set to attract more bikers who were attracted earlier to the 18,000+ feet of the Khardungla Pass. This development, many fear, would bring on more tourists, especially the bikers. Pre-lockdown, there were more than 2.7 lakh tourists to this vastly beautiful cold desert.

Just like the viral video about the fancy SUV stuck in the lake shore, another video of a bunch of bikers kicking the sand dunes in remote Ladakh too drew lot of criticism.

"Sand dunes are an independent eco-system. There are ground nesting birds, there are lizards, there are scores of insects and other species that are found in the sand dunes of Ladakh. Once the balance is disturbed, ecological process is disturbed and it can have an impact on the eco-system services," Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust's Tsewang Namgail said.

Therefore, he said, it is imperative that both locals and tourists need to understand the fragile ecosystem and need to respect the environmental fabric.

And then there are others who equally blame the local administration's inefficiency. "It is my sincere request to all tourists visiting Ladakh. Respect the beauty, respect the ecosystem, respect the people. Yes. However, I'd also like to add that the authorities in Ladakh have to do a much better job of enforcing the rules," said Rinchen Norbu Shakspo, a journalist from Ladakh, now based in Bengaluru.

Ladakh generally witnesses domestic tourists in May and June with little less in July each year. Last year saw a stop due to the lockdown but this year, the tourists are back with a vengeance. "Plus, this year, several people from north-west India have parked themselves off Ladakh due to work-from-home system," pointed out social worker Fariha Yusuf.

Yusuf is with the Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG) that has carried out cleanliness awareness drive regularly along with the administration and also encouraged the administration to compulsorily enforce 'segregation at source' for the municipal solid waste. "Fortunately, the hotels and other local people are complying pretty well. We have also started cleaning the landfill site which is overflowing with all the years' of waste. It will take time but at least, a start has been made," Yusuf added.

The change is slow but beginning to happen. On the occasion of celebration of the second anniversary of the formation of Union Territory of Ladakh, the Ladakh Tourism department launched e-bus and also conducted a 'sustainable cleanliness drive' at Skara Spang, a meadow in the neighbourhood of Leh.

While both the initiatives earned good words for the administration, there are concerns raised for the overall changes happening since last two years. With so much of infrastructure planned, concerns are raised towards the processes that will ensure environmental due diligence. For instance, Namgail pointed out to a certain Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared for a road building project in Ladakh.

"One of the EIA reports I saw mentioned, 'There are no trees in the area, so we can go ahead with the project'. This shows a clear lack of understanding about the ecology here," Namgail said.

Environmentalist Karma Sonam pointed out how the status of UT is being problematic for better environmental administration.

"The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council is now a powerless body, and all the decisions are taken at the central level. Tourism has been increasing over the years but now it is time to put a check as excessive tourism can be a problem for environment," he told IANS on phone.

From being part of a large state to being a Union Territory and then from demanding Schedule Six status to now demanding separate state, Ladakh and Ladakhis have come a long way. Time for this old silk route destination to find its own place again!

• Environment
• Sustainable Travel

Darjeeling, the Queen of the Himalayas

Buckingham Palace tour for public: Here's how to book

What to see in Chikmagalur, the Coffee Cup of India? Details

When is Ironman Goa 2024? Here are the details

Tokyo Toilet Shuttle: A curated tour to enjoy Japan's public toilets

Jantar Mantar: A historical gem that unravels secrets in astronomy

ശബ്‌ദത്തിന്റെ വേഗത

ടെക്‌സ്റ്റ് വിവർത്തനം, ഉറവിട ടെക്‌സ്‌റ്റ്, വിവർത്തന ഫലങ്ങൾ, ഡോക്യുമെന്റ് വിവർത്തനം.

വെബ്സൈറ്റ് വിവർത്തനം ചെയ്യൽ

URL നല്‍കുക

ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ വിവർത്തനം

സംരക്ഷിച്ചു.