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Religious Tourism and Sustainable Development: Perspectives from Hill States in India

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Handbook of Sustainable Development and Leisure Services

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

Sustainable Development is the prime global concern encompassing economic, social and environmental aspects. The attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries is pivotal to the cause. Leisure, including tourism, has a deep connection with the SDGs’ agenda. Tourism influences not only the well-being and quality of life of people, but also has a significant socio-economic and environmental impact. It is one of the fastest growing industries. Religious and spiritual tourism is a niche segment in the tourism industry. It has been prevalent around the world since ancient times. It plays a significant role in developing countries, such as India, which has a rich, multi-cultural and religious heritage. Religious tourism must be promoted in a manner that assists in sustainable development. A case for the North-Indian hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, popularly known as ‘Dev Bhoomi’—Abode of the Gods, is presented. The states have a significant share of the religious and spiritual tourism in India. A qualitative and descriptive study using primary and secondary sources discusses the impact of this niche segment on the sustainability aspects in these states. In addition, suggestions to promote religious tourism while maintaining socio-economic and ecological balance in such difficult terrains are presented.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx.

  2. 2.

    https://swachhbharatmission.gov.in/sbmcms/index.htm.

  3. 3.

    https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en.html.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eternal Light LLP, A 205/5, No. 2, Somdatt Chambers I, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi, 110066, India

    Dhwani Gambhir

  2. Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Vishwakarma Bhavan, Saheed Jeet Singh Marg, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Ahmad Mohd Khalid & Seema Sharma

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  1. Dhwani Gambhir
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  2. Ahmad Mohd Khalid
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  3. Seema Sharma
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Correspondence to Ahmad Mohd Khalid .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Consumer Behaviour Research, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland

    Adrian Lubowiecki-Vikuk

  2. Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal

    Bruno Miguel Barbosa de Sousa

  3. Department of Geography, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Bojan M. Đerčan

  4. HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

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Gambhir, D., Khalid, A.M., Sharma, S. (2021). Religious Tourism and Sustainable Development: Perspectives from Hill States in India. In: Lubowiecki-Vikuk, A., de Sousa, B.M.B., Đerčan, B.M., Leal Filho, W. (eds) Handbook of Sustainable Development and Leisure Services. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59820-4_18

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