Responsible tourism in shaheed dweep: a local community-perspective on socio-economic development and climate change impacts

Tourism serves as a significant economic driver for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, particularly for emerging destinations like Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island). However, its rapid and often unregulated expansion has raised critical concerns regarding environmental sustainability, cultural integrity, and the long-term well-being of local communities. This study evaluates the current stage of tourism development in ShaheedDweep using Doxey’s Irritation Index, while also examining residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourism growth. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates household surveys, field observations, and stakeholder interviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of the local context. The findings indicate that ShaheedDweep is presently in the “Apathy” stage, where tourism is largely perceived as an economic opportunity, yet accompanied by a gradual decline in community engagement and enthusiasm. While income generation and employment opportunities have increased, concerns are emerging over cultural dilution, commercialization of traditions, and shifts in local lifestyles.The study further identifies key challenges such as land conversion for tourism infrastructure, declining agricultural activities, vehicular congestion, deforestation, and pressure on natural resources, all of which pose risks to responsible tourism and climate change. In response, the paper proposes strategic interventions including the promotion of agro-tourism, implementation of stricter land-use and traffic regulations, strengthening of community participation in tourism planning, and adoption of sustainable practices such as waste management and resource conservation. These measures aim to ensure a balanced approach that safeguards the island’s ecological and cultural heritage while sustaining economic benefits, thereby positioning ShaheedDweep as a model for responsible and community-centric tourism development.