SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES IN KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT, ASSAM: A STUDY OF ECOTOURISM, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/yqmfkf40Keywords:
Sustainable Tourism, Ecotourism, Community-Based Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Karbi Anglong, Assam, Sustainable Development GoalsAbstract
Sustainable tourism is a strategy that strikes a balance between sociocultural and environmental preservation and economic growth. There are many eco-cultural tourism opportunities to be found in the prosperous, biodiverse areas like the Karbi Anglong District in Assam. Studies on sustainable tourism in the district are still scarce. The viewpoints of both visitors and locals regarding ecotourism, the cultural influence of ecotourism, community ownership, rural and adventure tourism, and green eco-tourism are used in this paper to evaluate sustainable tourism methods. 200 respondents—100 tourists and 100 locals—in the Karbi Anglong District's major tourist destinations provided primary data for quantitative, cross-sectional, comparative survey research design. A questionnaire was used to collect data. A five-point Likert scale served as the basis for the questionnaire. Data collected were coded and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Perceptions of the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages, means, an independent t-test, and construct-wise analysis). There are positive views towards environmental and cultural conservation as well as practices for community engagement. Respondents indicated the highest levels of support for ecotourism and sustainability. The management of trash and overcrowding, eco-friendly lodging, rural and agrotourism, and public awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Assam Tourism Policy were found to be perceived in the opposite order of significance. These findings corroborate that although the potential for sustainable and responsible tourism development in Karbi Anglong is significant, the long-term sustainability of such development hinges on the government’s ability to develop effective environmental policies alongside community engagement. The present study provides policy suggestions for community-based tourism, environmental preservation, sustainable development, and responsible tourism practices. These results guide policy development in Northeast India, especially for vulnerable and fragile ecosystems.
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