Tourism at the Crossroads: An SDG-Based Assessment of Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts in Coastal Sindhudurg, India

Abstract

Tourism is widely promoted as a driver of economic growth in coastal regions; but, its contribution to sustainable development depends on how social equity, environmental integrity, and economic benefits are balanced at the local level. This study assesses the multi-dimensional impacts of tourism development in Sindhudurg district, a coastal region of Maharashtra, India, using a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)–based indicator framework. The analysis is grounded in the Toolkit for Achieving Sustainable Development through Tourism developed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and applies 34 SDG-linked indicators across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Primary data were collected through field surveys conducted in 23 coastal villages across the Devgad, Malvan, and Vengurla tehsils during April 2024. A semi-structured questionnaire and a five-point Likert scale were used to capture local perceptions of tourism impacts.The findings indicate that tourism has generated measurable benefits, including improved infrastructure, digital connectivity, and income opportunities, alongside the return of rnReceived: 15-11-2025rnRevised: 22-11-2025rnAccepted 17-12-2025rnPublished: 29-12-2025rn rnCopyright:© 2025 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).rnmigrated youth to the local economy. However, these benefits are unevenly distributed and spatially skewed. Significant deficiencies persist in worker welfare, hygiene standards, disaster preparedness, environmental management, and access to institutional finance for small tourism enterprises. Environmental practices remain largely reactive, with limited adoption of climate resilience measures and decentralized waste management systems. Social impacts reveal weak institutional engagement and limited community participation in tourism governance.The study concludes that without integrated planning, inclusive financial mechanisms, and strengthened local governance, tourism development in Sindhudurg risks reinforcing existing socio-economic inequalities rather than advancing its SDG-aligned sustainability objectives