Analyzing Impact of Pollution on Tourism Sustainability in Delhi NCR

Abstract

Delhi is the sixth most populated city in the world and is one of the most polluted cities in India. Pollution is the contamination of earth’s environment with materials that interfere with human health, quality of life or the natural functioning of the ecosystems. The various types of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution and, finally, the contamination of soil. Other less recognized forms include thermal pollution, which is from heat energy, and radioactive contamination, which is a result of wastage produced by nuclear reactors. However, air and water pollutions are responsible for a large proportion of pollution-related health problems. Pollution is causing economic damage. New Delhi could not host the 2014 Asian Games because of the poor environment [1]. Foreigners tend to avoid New Delhi due to poor air quality index and travel advisories. Embassies of various foreign countries as well as international business in Delhi are now considering reducing staff tenures, providing high-end air purifiers and installing expensive air purifiers in their working spaces and also advising staff to reconsider bringing their children to Delhi to contend with the poor air quality. Delhi airport accounts for 29.7% of foreign tourist’s arrivals in the country followed by 18.3% arrivals at Mumbai Airport (Tables 1 and 2). A great engulfment of smog was witnessed in Delhi, in November 2017, and the pollution level spiked way beyond the acceptable level, where the safe limit was 60–100, wherein the actual particulate matter hit 999 µg/m³, which definitely was beyond the safe limits. This study provides an insight into the status of air pollution in Delhi and its effect on health and its impact on foreign tourist’s arrivals. This study recommends how to conserve the natural environment in accordance of carrying capacity of Delhi and promote sustainable tourism.