• SHIVANI SHARMA

ABSTRACT: Tourism today is the most vivacious tertiary activity and a huge industry in India. Traditionally known largely for its historical and cultural dimensions, tourism today is highlighted for its immense business opportunities. Under tourism, India offers a different aspect of her personality- exotic, extravagant, elegant, eclectic- to each traveller to the country. It is to be noted that the quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. However, tourism’s relationship with the environment is complex. It involves many activities that can have adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and marinas. Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this use within acceptable limits of change. Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas and it can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. Due to this, tourist sites are gradually losing their identity and attractiveness. To address the situation, there is a need to implement the concept of sustainable development in tourism sector. 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. It is evident that in order for sustainable tourism planning, development and operations to be successful, the notion of the responsibility towards the tourist destination must be created among the people. The concept of responsible tourism emphasizes the ethical and social responsibility of both tourists and the local community. Responsible tourism is about creating better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit. This paper raises the key issues and challenges faced in developing a sustainable tourism destination. This paper also highlights the importance and vital role of the responsible tourism in achieving sustainable development of the tourist destinations. The present study is based on the secondary data published by various agencies and organizations, Newspapers, Magazines, Books, Economic journals and Internet etc. KEYWORDS: Sustainable tourism development; responsible tourism; environment; tourism destination.

"“RESPONSIBLE TOURISM: A WAY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURIST DESTINATIONS”", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 7, page no.186-190, July-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1807627.pdf

"“RESPONSIBLE TOURISM: A WAY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURIST DESTINATIONS”", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 7, page no. pp186-190, July-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1807627.pdf