Evaluation of sustainable tourism practices in the state of Bihar, India

Chandigarh University, Punjab, India

Abstract

The impact of tourism on the local community and environment has raised the concern of the sustainability of tourist destinations. Therefore, in the year 1998, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) [1] enriched the concept of sustainable tourism by defining it as “tourism development that can meet the demand of both tourists and host communities while preserving, and improving the opportunity for future development”. This paper tends to explore the current condition of sustainable tourism in Bihar. Primary data are collected from the ten major tourist destinations of the state, i.e., Patna, Gaya, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Raxaul, Munger, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur. The finding of this paper supports that sustainable practices at tourist places of Bihar are not significantly full fill the tourist expectations. Also, most people think that the state government is not taking the necessary steps and initiatives for the sustainable development of tourism in Bihar. This research paper’s findings help tourism stakeholders understand the current conditions of sustainable tourism in the state and help them reframe their policies and strategies for the overall development of the tourism sector.