Circular Economy in Tourism: A Pathway to Sustainable Development in India

The tourism industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors globally, contributing significantly to economic development. However, it also creates substantial environmental issues and challenges, including resource depletion, waste generation and carbon emissions etc. The circular economy (CE) model offers a transformative approach to address these challenges by promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable consumption. So it is observed that there is a need to accept the concept of circular economy in tourism planning, policy making and development of tourist destinations in India. This paper explores the potential of integrating circular economy principles into the tourism sector, examining its benefits, challenges, and implementation strategies in a developing country like India. Through a comprehensive literature review and case studies, the paper highlights successful CE initiatives in tourism and provides recommendations for tourism stakeholders to transition towards a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry.