The Imperative of Sustainable Travel, ETTravelWorld

Natalie Kidd, Managing Director, Asia – Intrepid TravelIndia’s tourism industry is rebounding. There is undoubtedly hope in the travel and hospitality sector as a result of the recovery in foreign visitors and the post-pandemic high levels of domestic travel.

If we are to learn anything from the growing overtourism crises in parts of Europe and now Asia, it’s that success in tourism is not measured by numbers alone. What matters more is how we travel, who benefits, and whether our journeys uplift the places and people we visit—or strain them to a breaking point.

The pressure is already being felt in places like Shimla, Leh, Goa, and portions of Kerala in India. Roads are congested, waste disposal systems are overloaded, and residents frequently feel alienated in their own communities during the busiest time of year. This is a warning, not only an annoyance.

Overtourism is about infrastructure under strain, short-term rentals driving up housing prices, fragile ecosystems pushed to the edge, and locals feeling increasingly disconnected from the places they call home. It’s about who tourism serves and who it forgets.

There’s a fundamental truth that not all tourism is created equal. After two decades working in the travel industry, I’ve come to believe that the real question isn’t whether we should travel, but how we can travel better. Better for the people who live in the places we visit. Better for the environment. Better for the travellers themselves.

Some of the most pressing challenges stem from the ways tourism has traditionally been structured. The all-inclusive resort, the big bus tour, the whirlwind tour of bucket-list destinations. These models were largely built for volume and profit, not for positive impact.

There’s also the question of who benefits. In many places, a significant proportion of tourism revenue doesn’t stay in the country. Studies have shown that in destinations like Bali, more than half of tourist spending can “leak” out of the economy due to foreign ownership. In the Caribbean, it can be as high as 80%. That’s a staggering loss for communities who bear the cost of hosting tourists every day.

Some governments and cities are already leading the way. Penang in Malaysia has taken steps to reduce short-term rentals and inconvenience to locals. Others are investing in campaigns to educate tourists on respectful behaviour, basic things like water usage, noise levels, and littering – so that locals and visitors can coexist more harmoniously.

The real question isn’t whether India should continue to promote tourism. It’s how?

We need to shift from chasing volume to prioritising value and impact. This entails pushing unconventional travel destinations, promoting more in-depth and prolonged travel experiences, and reconsidering old-fashioned concepts like mass bus tours and universal resort vacations. These rarely lead to long-term viability, even though they might increase short-term earnings.

The responsible travel could look like:

• Promoting community-led tourism, that ensure economic benefits stay local. It means supporting homestays, cooperatives, and small businesses.
• Government needs to implement regulations around short-term rentals, noise levels, littering, and visitor behavior—something cities like Penang in Malaysia are already doing.
• Travellers must be aware of local customs, avoiding sacred sites when inappropriate, and remembering that destinations are not playgrounds, but homes.
• Traveller should be aware about sustainable tourism that requires infrastructure that supports eco-friendly practices. Whether it’s avoiding single-use plastic in the hills of Himachal or respecting water scarcity in Rajasthan, sustainable tourism requires education and action—both from operators and travellers.

Tour operators, travel companies and even digital platforms have a crucial role to play, by actively design trips around slow travel, that promote lesser-known locations, that collaborate with local communities, and that put people and the planet before profits.

The objective should be progress rather than perfection. Every thoughtful decision we make, like hiring a local guide or opting for an environmentally friendly accommodation, puts us in the right direction

Millions are drawn to India by its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and kind people. However, these resources are not limitless. For the environment, for locals, and eventually for the travellers too, the tourism boom might swiftly turn into a bust if deliberate, considerate, and sustainable techniques are not used.

Let’s build a future where travel lifts people up, protects our heritage, and enriches both host and guest. The time to change how we move through the world is now—before it’s too late.

The author is the Managing Director, Asia – Intrepid Travel.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETTravelWorld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETTravelWorld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.

• Published On Aug 13, 2025 at 12:11 PM IST

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