Tourism is mostly considered a money-making activity, which produces and creates wealth, generates employment and earns foreign exchange for the host nations and thus help them in economic advancement. But tourism has a far more significant and relevant role to play in today’s world. While discussing the role of tourism in this particular aspect - the socio-cultural value of tourism - of tourism more often than not takes a back seat. Tourism and tourism related activities play a major role in bridging the cultural gaps and creating an understanding between nations and thereby promoting cultural pluralism. Tourism benefits from the marketing of cultural and natural heritage. These resources have to be preserved and awareness should be created among the hosts as well as the visitors. But care has to be taken as unplanned growth could affect them adversely. These assets need to be promoted in an inclusive manner in order to make it sustainable. This year’s World Tourism Day, which will be hosted by China, has the theme “Tourism and Biodiversity” which “provides a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity to tourism and the role of sustainable tourism in the conservation of life on Earth”. Biodiversity is another key tourism asset and fundamental to the sustained growth of the sector. Tourism has an important role and responsibility in managing and conserving biological natural resources and as a key source of income and employment, it often provides strong incentives to protect biodiversity. Tourism is arguably the biggest businesses in the world but it is also very fragile. Each time normal life gets affected anywhere in the world, tourism suffers first and most. Overuse and poor handling also affects tourism adversely. Tourism needs the support of the local community to remain sustainable product.
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