Beyond Wanderlust: Adopting Ecological Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism in Meghalaya

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_17How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Sustainable tourism; Environmental impact; Indigenous knowledge; VICE model; Meghalaya

Abstract

This study examines the ecological impact of tourism in Meghalaya, a region known for its fragile ecosystem and rich indigenous cultural heritage. As tourism has become a global phenomenon, there is an urgent need to move beyond superficial visitor attractions and adopt a more holistic understanding of tourism’s environmental consequences. Tourism-related activities often place considerable pressure on natural resources, leading to infrastructure strain, habitat degradation, and increased waste generation challenges, which are particularly acute in remote and ecologically fragile areas, such as Meghalaya. To tackle these concerns, the study employs the VICE model, which examines the roles of Visitors, Industry, Community, and Environment, providing a holistic lens for analysing and directing sustainable tourism initiatives. By employing a qualitative methodology that includes literature review, field visits, and stakeholder consultations, the research identifies strategies that promote responsible travel behaviour, reduce environmental impact, and safeguard both biodiversity and cultural integrity. Integrating the VICE model with the indigenous ecological wisdom of local communities, the study emphasises tourism’s potential to use it for conservation and sustainable development. The survey outcomes will provide practical recommendations for policymakers, tourism stakeholders, and travellers, promoting an inclusive, ethical, and ecologically balanced tourism model in Meghalaya.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Indrajit Dutta
AU  - Chandan Jyoti Bezborah
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/31
TI  - Beyond Wanderlust: Adopting Ecological Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism in Meghalaya
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart Systems and Social Management (ICSSSM-2 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 240
EP  - 261
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_17
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_17
ID  - Dutta2025
ER  -