Implementing Sustainable Tourism Management at Taj Mahal

This report focuses on developing sustainable tourism practices at the Taj Mahal, a world heritage site in India. It examines the need for sustainable tourism due to environmental concerns like air and water pollution, and the disintegration of the monument. The report outlines a ten-step model for sustainable tourism, including identifying objectives, stakeholders, and existing knowledge. It addresses key issues such as direct pollution from nearby factories and water contamination from industrial waste. The report analyzes these issues using tools like SWOT analysis and proposes solutions such as pollution control measures, stakeholder involvement, and the implementation of clear objectives. The report also highlights short-term and long-term threats, such as financial constraints and climate change, and suggests strategies to combat them, emphasizing the importance of environmental reporting and auditing. The ultimate goal is to preserve the cultural heritage and ensure the longevity of the Taj Mahal while promoting responsible tourism practices.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Management
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Sustainable tourism must be developed at each and every place so that there is no lack of
resources and that people are able to use the benefits of the tourist spot even in the future. In
other words sustainable tourism is a modern concept of tourism in which the tourist must be able
to visit the tourist spots and make sure that they are contributing positively towards the social,
economical, political and the cultural aspects of tourism rather that exploiting the different
resources.
As per the opinion of Poudel, Nyaupane and Budruk (2016), sustainable tourism is one
that is manly talking about the development and the upliftment of the local people and the local
resources Taj Mahal is located in the capital city of India that is in New Delhi. This is one of the
most important tourist attractions not only because of its location but because of its dazzling
white marble crafted structure. It is because of the magnificent grandeur and the breathtaking
features that it has also got the status of one of the wonders of the world. Sustainable tourism
must be developed so that there is no further disintegration or erosion taking place.
A ten step model for sustainable tourism must be followed so that it can be carried on in a proper
way.
Step 1
What do we want to do?
This is one of them most essential steps as it enables the stakeholders to understand the motif or
the aim for which they will have to work (Environment.gov.au. 2020). This is a time consuming
step as the stakeholders must invest a good amount of time, energy and resources in order to
understand the motif or what they actually want to achieve. The main aim in the given
assignment is to develop sustainable tourism of Taj Mahal. This is because over the years there

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have been a large scale disintegration. Air pollution being one of the major reasons and that have
resulted into a concerning issue (Deery et al. 2018).
Step 2
Who is, could be or needs to be involved?
Identifying the right stakeholders is one of the most important steps that are to be taken
into consideration. This is because in order to protect and preserve the natural grandeur of any
historic place it is essential to make sure that local people are being involved. They will be
helping in understanding the sources of the pollution and also the different ways in which the
same can be solved. This is turn will be a boost to the local economy. Local people will be
having a very good knowledge about the ways in which the trees can be planted in place of the
man made lawns (Environment.gov.au. 2020).
There are different stakeholders that must be incorporated in order to make sure that there
is sustainable tourism taking place. For an instance, the involvement of the local natives or the
local people must be developed so that the tourism is taking place in a proper way. This is
because the local people have a good knowledge and must be included. Local Government is
also one of the important stakeholders who will be consulted to take the effective decisions.
Therefore a proper effective communication is needed in this step. This can be attained by
developing a horizontal communication system. This will be useful because without a proper two
ways and open communication system it will be tough for the stakeholders to understand the
aims and objectives and work for the same.

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Step 3
What is known?
The information that is already known about the place must be gathered and spread
among the people so that they are able to understand about the same. This is because of the fact
that there are many different sources like that of tourism magazines, newspapers and also many
other journals. These are useful in understanding about the current state of the spot and the
measures that have already been taken. For an instance it is evident from the sources that Mahesh
Sharma, minister of state for culture and environment, forest and climate change along with
members of the Taj Trapezium Zone, ASI and officials from the United Nations Environment
Programme have already taken the oath or the pledge to make the place litter free (Harris 2020).
There have been measures like zero usage of plastics. This is also a very useful piece of
information that will help in understanding about the different ways in which the stakeholders
can be motivated. They will also be encouraged in finding the new methods or the approaches
that they can actually develop to check pollution (Rasoolimanesh et al. 2017).
Step 4
That makes this region, place or product special?
This is one of the essential aspects as it teaches the stakeholders about the importance of
the place and the specialty that it actually contains. This step is very essential as it helps in
understanding about the cultural values and the heritage that it is actually trying to contain and
also preserve. Taj Mahal is one of the most important cultural sites that must be preserved in

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order to make sure that it can maintain its name and also its reputation in the most of the world
heritage sites. On the other hand efforts must be made to make sure that people are able to
understand the cultural value and the importance of preserving the place. Taj Mahal is one of the
most culturally rich monuments to have received the fame of a world heritage. Apart from this,
Taj Mahal is also symbolic of the rich cultural heritage of India during the times of the Mughal
emperor
Step 5
What are the issues?
This is the crucial part of the sustainable tourism plan. It is in these steps that efforts are
being made to find out the actual issues or the actual problems that are actually associated with
the place. Unless one is able to find out the key or the most impotent issues they will not be able
to bring the different solution measures for solving them and also for saving the resources for the
near future (Perera 2017). There are different ways in which one can go about finding the key
issues. This can be done by revisiting the earlier steps. Apart from this there can be survey
circulations or the different interview sessions with the different tourism operators, the local
governing bodies and also with the tourists who are coming to visit the place. Direct pollution is
one of the major issues that can be identified. This is due to fact that there are many factories that
are present in the close vicinity of Taj Mahal and have not been removed even after there have
been repeated warnings or repeated measures by the Government.

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Step 6
Analyzing the issues
This step involves the further in depth analysis of the issues that have been already
identified. This is essential because the proper measures can be undertaken only if there is a
proper and in-depth understanding of the different problems that are actually affecting the place
and the ways in which they will be solved.
There are different tools like SWOT, situational analysis, market segmentation and many other
such ways that can actually be used in order to find out the different ways that will be helping the
conservation plans.
In this case, it has been analyzed that direct pollution is being caused due to the harmful
emissions from the factories. Since 1994, no new factory can be established in a protected area of
10,400 square kilometers around the Taj Mahal. This is because due to the economical reasons
agencies and the factory owners have not made any such changes .They have done nothing to
shift or replace themselves. This is because of the fact that many of the factory owners never
wanted to bear any extra expenses.
In order to deal with these situations a thorough and better in depth awareness is needed
among the people. On the other hand, Lu et al. (2018) have also argued in the similar context
that some improvement has also been undertaken. They have been sufficient reduction in the
amount of automobile smoke that is emitted from the daily transportation of the cards and the
other vehicles. There has been a ban maintained on the running or the driving of any motor
vehicles within the radius of about 4kms.

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Water pollution is also one of the major reasons. This is because of the fact that the different
industries and the factories release their manufacturing wastes into river Yamuna. This in turn
affects the monument and also makes the environment polluted. This is because it gives rise to
mosquitoes and also other types of pollution.
STEP 7
Principles or objectives to guide action
There must be some clear objectives developed so that it is easier for the stakeholders to
understand and follow the same. Objectives must be clear, crisp and also the easily
understandable
STEP 8
What are your ideas and options?
This step talks about the different ideas that are to be developed in order to advertise or
communicate the different ideas. The ideas are to be circulated by using the digital platforms like
social networking sites including twitter, face book and others.
Step 9
How to do it?
This step talks about the different ways n which the issues will be solved. This step talks about
the proposed solution measures that will be used in order to solve the pollution.

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What needs to
be done
Who are
responsible
What is the
sequence and
timing
Resources
needed
Monitoring of
the strategy
Involving the
local people
as tour guides
The local
people must
help the
tourist to
understand
the cultural
values
This is the
first step that
must be
developed
Recruiting
techniques
must be
developed so
that that there
can be mass
hiring and
retaining of
the employees
Regular
feedback
must be taken
to make sure
that the work
is being
managed
properly
STEP 10
Statement of directions
This is one of the important steps because this gives a proper summarization of the
different results of the steps undertaken. This is like a blueprint of the different solutions or the
probable results that will be available after the implementation of the different solution measures.

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Short term and long term threats
Short term
threats
Ways to
combat short
term threats
Long term
threats
Ways to
combat long
term threats
Financial
crisis
There can be
lack of funds
or capital for
arranging for
the awareness
campaigns
and sessions
Climatic
change
This is often
not easy
because people
feel that this is
uncertain and
Lack of
advanced
thinking
Entering into
collaborations
with the other
companies so
that they are
able to
Lack of
needed tools
and
technologies
More money
has to be spent
on the R&D
sectors so that
proper steps
can be
undertaken
lack of
motivation
among
employees
Employees
must be given
some
monetary
benefits so
Lack of proper
feedback
system
Environmental
reporting and
environmental
auditing must
be conducted

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that they are
taking part in
the anti
pollution
campaigns
and are trying
to develop
sustainable
tourism
so that there
are regular
reporting of the
issues and the
results post
implementation
of policies and
the rules
The ten steps to be developed create a sustainable tourism in future
Step 1
What do we want to do?
 No plastic zone must be developed and kept under a strict feedback system
 Afforestation have to be undertaken on a wide scale so that the level of pollution is
checked and there are better facilities available for the overall development in the current
status of the World heritage sire that is of Taj Mahal
Step 2
Who is or would be involved
Government agencies must be communicated on a regular basis so that they are able to
understand about the gravity of the situation.

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Students must be encouraged at all school levels to undertake afforestation or planting of more
trees as part of their studies. This will enable them to understand the importance of planting more
trees and the ways in which they will be able to stop the increasing levels of pollution
Step 3
What is known?
It is known that there is large scale pollution is resulting into the poor state of Taj Mahal.
The digital platforms and the SMART methods are to be used to make people know about the
place not only in the local but also on the Global or International basis.
Step 4
What makes the region special?
The specialty of the region and the cultural values of Taj Mahal have to be circulated
among people in a stronger way. This can be done by arranging for the special presentation
system, seminars and campaigns at different levels of the society.
Step 5
What are the issues?
Issues that might arise in future will be the lack of proper understanding and proper
awareness among people. Apart from this as population is increasing at a rapid rate the amount
of vehicles will also increase. It is for this reason that common people will have to be aware. In
order to stop the indiscriminate emissions of smoke, there must be some eco friendly modes of
transportation being developed.

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Step 6
Analyzing issues
 Social externals must be hired for helping in analyzing the issues
 Government aids have to be collected so that there are better and advanced methods
being used for analyzing the different issues.
Step 7
Principles, objectives and guiding actions
The new objectives will be to make Taj Mahal a better place and also to make sure that
there is no ore pollution being caused. Efforts are to be made so that so that proper legal advisors
are also being recruited in order to help the stakeholders’ know about the pros and cons of
implementing any new methods or aspects.
Step 8
Ideas and options
Funds must be arranged so that there can be proper tie ups or collaborations developed
with the engineers and the other experts so that they help in understanding about the ways to stop
the impacts of acid rain or other pollution.
Step 9
How to do it
 Appointing local people within the tourism department is essential

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 Proper horizontal communication must be developed with all the stakeholders so that
there is no confusion in understanding about the issues
 Employees in different organizations must be motivated to take part in CSR programs
like cleaning of the city
 Conducting interview sessions with the other industrial units so that they are able to make
them understand about the need to shift and relocate their setups
Step 10
Statement of directions
A thorough feedback and review system must be developed so that there is a regular
monitoring system being conducted. Sustainability programmes and campaigns are to be
developed so that people are made aware about the harmful impacts and the small roles that they
can play in order to solve the issues.
Therefore, it can be concluded that there are different analytical methods that can actually
be used in order to find out the proper solution of pollution problem in and around Taj Mahal. It
can be solved by developing a proper campaign and awareness system. This will help in
developing the different ways in which they will be able to manage the resources so that they can
be properly and wisely used by the future generations and also the different ways in which there
can be an overall social, economical and political conservation of the place.

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