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Native residents are indispensable participants in developing and conserving the natural environment. Specifying the factors that lead to responsible behavior among the local people can help increase sustainability. This paper aims to investigate the pro-environmental behavior among the local residents of the Kashmir region defined by the components of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Value Belief Norm (VBN) Theory. To analyze the data, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) has been used as research methods. The results reveal that the three components of TPB (general environmental attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control) have a positive and significant impact on the pro-environmental behavior of residents. Moreover, the findings also demonstrate that the factors of VBN (altruistic, egoistic and biospheric values) significantly influence the general environmental attitude which in turn impacts the pro-environmental behavior of local residents. The paper seeks to contribute to the existing literature by adding local community insights based on the explanations given by socio-psychological theories within the context of natural environment. The study will help policymakers to understand better the residents' intentions and pro-environmental behavior so that they can develop strategies to manage and combat the environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nexus of tourism and sustainability has emerged as a catchphrase in academic literature in recent years. The present study employed an integrated path model to investigate the increasing significance of sustainable tourism, which is attributed, in part, to the penchant of domestic tourists to consume locally sourced food. The investigation additionally ascertains the potential influence of local food products on the various dimensions of sustainability, including economic, cultural, social, and environmental aspects. Data is collected using a purposeful sample technique, with 462 responses from domestic tourists to the Kashmir Valley being screened and analyzed using SPSS and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings derived from PLS-SEM analysis demonstrate that the act of domestic tourists consuming locally produced food has a considerable and statistically significant influence on sustainability-focused tourism. Furthermore, the consumption of locally grown foods has a positive influence on various dimensions of sustainability, including the economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects. The present study contributes to the existing scholarly literature on the subjects of regional gastronomy and sustainable tourism. In the current work, the authors aim to present the potential of local food to promote sustainable tourism in the tourist host regions. The outcomes of this research can be utilized by policymakers in the tourism sector to enhance their ability to effectively market indigenous cuisine, thereby sustaining the industry's enduring viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to decipher the impacts of community-based tourism on the quality of life of traditional communities using the grounds of social exchange theory and economic exchange theory. The empirical data, collected at random by using a questionnaire survey method from the residents of two rural communities in Sikkim, India, were used for the present study. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed to analyze the data. The output of the regression analysis indicates that the three factors, economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of community-based tourism, have a positive and significant effect on the resident's quality of life. It is also demonstrated that improved quality of life has a substantial and constructive impact on the residents' support for tourism. In nations such as India, characterized by significant potential for community-based tourism to enhance the well-being of rural communities and alleviate poverty, it is crucial for policymakers to possess a comprehensive comprehension of the effects of community-based tourism on residents' quality of life and their attitudes toward tourism. This understanding is essential to facilitate the successful implementation of community-based tourism initiatives in other regions within the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of tourism symbolizes a type of business activity that satisfies the requirements of both the tourists and the receiving communities. The paper aims to unearth the impact of community empowerment on the sustainable tourism development. Further, local support is incorporated as a mediating variable between the relationship of community empowerment and sustainable tourism development. For data collection, an onsite survey method is employed and the dataset of 368 respondents was analyzed to test the theoretical work. The fit of the framework is evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM). SEM confirms that all four hypotheses have a statistically significant relationship. The study findings indicate that community empowerment has a positive impact on local support and sustainable tourism development. Further, the study shows local support completely mediates the relationship between the two variables. There is a dearth of empirical research regarding the empowerment of the community, the paper findings will contribute a substantial part to the existing literature on sustainable tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource intensiveness diminishes ecological services and future eco-benefits, increasing poverty and inequality. The pursuit threshold is planning and managing resources, which can jeopardize or help fragile locations, depending on the management strategy. This study attempted to evaluate the trade-off between tourism and the environment using a conceptual modeling approach involving stakeholders. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a technique with the Leopold Matrix, was used for evaluating the magnitude and importance between tourism activities and environmental components. We identified 14 major tourist activities that can affect six different environmental components with other potential consequences and how the environmental components are important to tourism activities. In consultation with the stakeholders, the Delphi Survey with Content Validation Ratio (CVR) was used to determine the list of tourism activities, environmental factors, and potential consequences. The severity, magnitude, and importance were estimated based on the perceived information from experts. In conclusion, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an invaluable tool for evaluating, monitoring and mitigating the adverse effects of tourism. Its use holds significant potential in the pursuit of sustainable tourism management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on evaluating the main tourist destinations in the erstwhile Baramulla district of the Kashmir Himalayas to promote tourism. Various variables such as topography, land use/forest cover, vegetation diversity, climate, food availability, accessibility, accommodation, tourism attraction characteristics, and other infrastructure amenities were used to create different indices. A field study/sample survey was conducted to gather data from tourists at each destination. The composite score method was employed to determine the level of development at each destination. The total score values (8.5 to 24) were categorized into three groups: High (8.5–13.6), Medium (13.6–18.8), and Low (18.8–24.0). The results reveal that Gulmarg and Baba Rishi Shrine have a high level of development with some degree of variation. Manasbal and Wular Lake exhibit medium levels of development, while Baba Shakur Ud Din shrine demonstrates a low level of development. The study emphasizes the need for bottom-up and top-down planning, aggressive tourism marketing, development of tourist service infrastructure, and technical assistance and training for tourism organizations to ensure proper planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]