Tourism in India through the Lens of Sustainability

In this thought-provoking article, Swati Sharma and Palak Khanna say that tourism in India contributes significantly to the economic sector and it has high growth potential as well. Therefore, sustainability in tourism has become imperative in today's scenario. Promotion of sustainable tourism can enable mindful utilization of existing resources and sensitization of tourists with behavioural nudges.

- Swati Sharma and Palak Khanna

The Brundtland Commission report “Our Common Future” on Environment and Development defines sustainability as meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987, 16). The report signified the three pillars to ensure sustainability—economic viability, social equity, and environmental stability. However, ensuring the balance between these pillars becomes difficult. The developed world has ensured enormous economic and social stability at the cost of environmental degradation. With the concept of sustainability, if conscious efforts are put towards collective action in ensuring the inclusion of all three aspects, it is possible to achieve sustainability in all sectors. Similarly, with the increased number of climate-induced disasters, promoting sustainability in tourism becomes imperative.

Tourism is one of the businesses with the fastest growth rates worldwide, which also ensures the livelihoods of many stakeholders and is a source of income overseas. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), “FDI inflows into the tourism and hospitality sector reached USD 16.48 billion between April and June 2022.” According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), India ranks 10th among 185 countries in total travel and tourism GDP contribution in 2019. Travel and tourism GDP contribution in 2019 was 6.8 per cent of the economy as a whole INR 1,368,100 billion (USD 194.3 billion). In 2020, India’s tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, accounting for 8 per cent of the country’s total employment. Since tourism in India contributes significantly to the economic sector with high growth potential, sustainability in tourism has become imperative in today’s scenario.