Responsible Tourism Practices and Community Involvement in Darap, Sikkim: The Role of Local Communities in Ecotourism Development

Abstract

Community engagement in responsible tourism is critical to the sustainable development of destinations, enabling residents to benefit from tourism activities. The community's perception of sustainable tourism can significantly influence residents' behaviours, attitudes, and involvement in environmentally responsible practices. This study investigates and analyses community participation and RT practices at Darap, Sikkim, an acclaimed ecotourism and cultural destination, from the local community's perspective. Results indicate that residents perceive Darap's significant potential to develop into a responsible ecotourism destination that offers tourism advantages. Local communities nevertheless contribute only a negligible amount to the growth of ecotourism and responsible practices.  About 48.2% of respondents are employed in the tourism industry, which is broadly consistent with the local community's overall economic and social demographics. The main obstacles to community involvement and participation in ecotourism development are limited funds and knowledge, the absence of ongoing training, and the lack of capacity-building programs in responsible tourism practices, all of which need to be highlighted for sustainable destination development.