Responsible Tourism and Commitment of Community

Abstract

Deterioration of traditions, culture and heritage in tourism destination is often cited as a looming crisis. Direct and long exposure to diverse culture and the community’s temptation to economic opportunities sometimes force them to move away from the main stream indigenous characters. When financial objectives score over all other aspects, need for strategic interventions to preserve and maintain indigenous culture and tradition arise. Empowerment of community to own their own recourses and develop an affective commitment among themselves is a need of this hour. Being Responsible Tourism emerge as a most popular sustainable tourism theme, present study proposes a model comprises Responsible Tourism, material well-being, community engagement, cultural identity, cross cultural interaction, community services, exposure and awareness of the local community along with sustaining the commitment of community towards cultural preservation (Sustainable Commitment) as a strategy for sustainable cultural preservation.