Responsible Tourism and Maintenance of Tourist Attractions

The importance of the tourism industry is manifold. It provides an avenue for leisure and business, besides opening up a diverse range of possibilities for both travelers and local residents. From witnessing a place’s grandeur and its history to working for one’s passions to pursuing one’s interests to earning a livelihood through various activities, tourism presents itself as an important industry in several ways. Tourist attractions are landmarks of historical, cultural and environmental significance. These landmarks are a reminder of a place’s heritage or its natural beauty. While we all cherish and love to experience this, often we forget to treat these places with respect and contribute towards their maintenance.

It need not be emphasized that activities such as scratching or writing names on monument walls and on trees, indiscriminate and reckless disposal of plastic and other waste, public urination and spitting not only reduce the beauty of a place but also adds a certain shabbiness to the place; and this is prominently visible across the many popular tourist sites of our country.

It is important that we recognize these places as our own and not limit ourselves to being a ‘visitor’ alone. Responsible tourism has become an urgent need, especially since much damage has already been done. Our behavior should not destroy the beauty and sanctity of any place but rather add to it. When we acknowledge responsibility and join the efforts that are being made to repair and preserve, we make a positive impact towards minimizing damage and expanding the lifespan of our planet and the continuation of its ecological, cultural, historical & anthropological beauty.

MyGov Arunachal Pradesh invites you to share your ideas about responsible tourism and what are some of the things that can be undertaken for encouraging responsible behavior at a personal and public level.