A STUDY EVALUATING THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Sustainable tourism aims to maximize economic benefits while reducing adverse effects on the environment, local communities, and culture. It encourages responsible travel, protects natural resources, and fosters social and cultural inclusion to sustain the tourist sector's long-term prosperity. Sustainable tourism practices are crucial for empowering local people because they protect the environment, promote economic growth, and preserve cultural heritage. These strategies encourage social well-being and environmental preservation by assisting local businesses, creating job opportunities, and fostering community involvement in decision-making. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the role of sustainable tourism practices in local communities. One sample t-test was used to analyse the collected data. The findings of the study indicated a significantly high impact of Sustainable Tourism Practices on Economic Empowerment, Infrastructure Development, Job creation, Reduction in Migration, Improved quality of life, Environmental preservation, Protection of Historical sites, Community Engagement, Cultural preservation, Promotion of Local cuisine and Promotion of local arts & Crafts on local communities.