Sustainable Tourism in India and the Global South: Principles and Practices

This textbook offers a comprehensive and holistic exploration of sustainable tourism, catering to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The book stands out by combining foundational theories with advanced practical applications, covering a wide range of contemporary and relevant issues in sustainable tourism.

The book addresses all key pillars of sustainability in tourism — environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Its scope goes beyond traditional eco-tourism to include topics such as cultural preservation, community engagement, responsible business practices, technological innovations, and policy frameworks. Special attention is given to sustainable tourism's role in India and the Global South, which is often underrepresented in existing texts. It also integrates global case studies and examples that illustrate the successful implementation of sustainability practices in diverse geographical and cultural contexts. The content is structured into five units, each designed to offer a seamless balance between theoretical principles and practical, real-world applications. Each chapter is thoughtfully organized to guide the reader through both historical discourses and contemporary debates in sustainable tourism, with sections dedicated to emerging trends like smart tourism and the use of technology in sustainability efforts. The book provides a strong grounding in core principles while also addressing the latest industry challenges, making it suitable for students, academics, and practitioners.

A. Vinodan is an experienced academic and researcher with over 18 years of expertise in eco and sustainable tourism, sustainable development, and informal sector and human resource management. As the Head of the Department of Commerce at the Central University of Tamil Nadu, he has led impactful research projects, published extensively in reputed journals, and significantly contributed to the fields of geography and sustainable tourism through consultancy and teaching. Recognized globally for contributions to ecotourism and community-based tourism development, including UNEP-recognized case studies on ecotourism.

S. Meera is presently working as an Assistant Professor andChairperson MBA (Tourism) program of Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India)South Campus, Nellore. She is a behavioral economist by research, she started her research at IIT Madras and earned Ph.D. in Economics from Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nādu, India. She has 14 years of teaching and research experience in Economics, Management and Tourism, particularly research in the areas of Intangible heritage, supply chain and logistics, and consumer behavior in tourism. Actively engaged in research and consultancy. She has Published articles in referred national and international journals.