Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.37741/t.71.2.2
Barriers to Sustainable Waste Management in Mountain Tourism: Evidence from India
T S Krishnan,
; Independent Researcher, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Kishore Kumar Gangwani
; Marketing, Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, India
Annapureddy Rama Papi Reddy
orcid.org/0000-0001-8467-0586
; Production & Operations Management, Indian Institute of Management Nagpur, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Kiran K
; Information Technology & Operations Management, Goa Institute of Management, Sanquelim, Poriem, Goa, India
Abstract
Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls for efforts to protect fragile mountain ecosystems. Waste generated due to mountain tourism leads to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and poses a significant challenge to achieving this goal. Mountains which are characterized by uninhabitable terrain and remoteness, coupled with current tourism practices compound this challenge. The paper resolves this challenge by understanding barriers to sustainably manage waste using th Classical DEMATEL method. Based on data from 36 experts in India’s mountain tourism industry, barriers to sustainable management of non-biodegradable waste are analyzed. Results suggest that enforcement of regulations, waste collection infrastructure, and lack of transportation for waste transfer are the most prominent barriers that can be mitigated by collectively leveraging four tangible barriers: tourists’ motivation or achievement mentality, local government’s initiative, economic value of waste, and tourists’ lack of environmental awareness. Based on this, a policy intervention mandating certification standards for tourists is suggested before they embark on mountain tourism.
Keywords
sustainable development goals; non-biodegradable waste; mountain tourism; barriers; classical DEMATEL; India
Hrčak ID:
301289
URI
Publication date:
8.5.2023.
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