Sustainable tourism practices and development: the case of the Sundarbans

Tourism as the largest economic sector in the world can have enormous developmental impact on the livelihood of people creating more economic opportunities. Applying Climpson’s (2008) ‘VICE Model’ (Visitor, Industry, Community and Environment) to the case study of the ‘Sundarbans’ - worlds’ largest mangrove forest, this paper explores the impact of tourism, keeping environmental sustainability as a main point of reference. Qualitative research method is adopted in the paper making use of explanatory case study approach. The paper involves field research that includes interviews, personal observation and focus group discussions. Interviews are conduced with the local population, tourists and the key informants. Focus group discussions are conducted with three local communities: the Mouwalis (honey collectors), the Bawalis (woodcutters) and the Jele (fishermen). Analyses of findings suggest that tourism can offer some financial benefits, but mass tourism in the protected areas of the forest may be problematic for the longer-term livelihood and environmental sustainability (e.g. pollution). It is confirmed that an absence of controlled tourism and destination management can cause an imbalance - posing significant level of threat to the sustainability of the local habitat and natural resources.