Tourism has developed as a significant tool for sustainable development in India. It focuses on the development of the over all outlook of the nation in a eco-friendly manner. It tends to eradicate the damaging effects of concurrent invasive forms of unsustainable tourism. The local inhabitants often feel that rampant intervening and insensitive attitudes of tourists slowly damage their culture and traditions. Along with it, visible pollution and careless treatment of their resources makes them even more disappointed. In many territories, the locals being shy due to their polite attitude do not critique or even question the habits of foreigners. Thus, the need for Responsible Tourism in India is growing in leaps and bounds.

Responsible Tourism's Initiative

Incorporating the term ‘responsible' with tourism adds quality, gravity and seriousness to the whole affair. Responsible Tourism includes travel packages, ideas of sustainable development, empowerment techniques and well researched understanding of the culture and tradition of villages/cities where it is going to be implemented. It is a conscious effort to help the tourists intermingle freely with the locals in a genuine manner without causing any adverse effects. On a larger scale, Responsible Tourism in India deals with enhancing our sensitivity towards nature. The deal also includes Responsible Travel Packages that further integrate the process with eco-tourism. Such packages are beneficial especially for western travel aficionados who want to learn more about the rural cultures that are often unknown to them. The entire process of integrating with the lifestyle of the villagers through this tourism initiative is natural and free flowing.

Sustainable Tourism in India

TheWorld Tourism Organization laid out the fundamentals of sustainable development in 2004. This form of sustainable development includes economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects linked with tourism. The goal is to preserve and enhance the local cultures along with the conservation of resources. The focus is also on developing the local business opportunities and active participation of the inhabitants which would eventually empower them. Unfortunately, one of the detrimental factors limiting the growth of sustainable development in India is the India psyche which has grown culturally insensitive over the period of time. It is high time that this psyche, that values western culture yet scorns on its own, is changed. Only then the empowerment can strike from top to bottom approach, leading finally to the locals.

In a nutshell, evolution of responsible tourism in India is a very through provoking and non-invasive venture.