TOURISM POTENTIAL AND SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS OF SIRUMALAI HILLS, TAMIL NADU: AN STBT-BASED APPROACH

International Journal of Computer Science (IJCS) Published by SK Research Group of Companies (SKRGC)

Abstract

Tourism has become a key driver of economic growth, contributing significantly to employment generation, income creation, and regional development. This study examines the tourism potential and sustainability of Sirumalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, India, using the Sustainable Tourism Benchmarking Tool (STBT). Located in the Western Ghats, Sirumalai is endowed with rich biodiversity, scenic landscapes, a favourable climate, and cultural attractions, positioning it as an emerging hill tourism destination. The study adopts a secondary databased approach, utilizing government reports, tourism statistics, and existing literature to analyse seven core dimensions of STBT: tourism assets, tourism activity, linkages, leakages, infrastructure, attractiveness, and environmental and social sustainability. The findings indicate that Sirumalai possesses considerable tourism potential, supported by natural attractions such as forests, viewpoints, trekking trails, and cultural sites. Tourism activities in the region contribute to local economic development by generating employment and strengthening linkages with agriculture, transport, and small-scale enterprises. However, the study also identifies significant challenges associated with increased tourist inflow, including environmental degradation, overuse of natural resources, unplanned infrastructure development, and economic leakages due to external intermediaries and non-local participation. These issues highlight the need for a balanced and sustainable approach to tourism development. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening local economic linkages, minimizing leakages, improving infrastructure, and promoting community participation. It also stresses the adoption of environmentally responsible practices such as waste management, conservation of biodiversity, and regulation of construction activities. The findings suggest that sustainable tourism development in Sirumalai can be achieved by maintaining a balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being. Overall, the study concludes that Sirumalai Hills have strong potential to emerge as a sustainable hill tourism destination, provided that appropriate planning, policy interventions, and community-based strategies are effectively implemented.

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Keywords

Sustainable Tourism, Sirumalai Hills, Tourism Potential, STBT, Environmental Sustainability, Tourism Linkages, Tourism Leakages, Hill Tourism.