Title: Eco-conscious behaviour of visitors vis-à-vis responsible and sustainable tourism practices in festivals in destination's sustainability perspectives in Northeast India

Authors: Paramjeet Kumar; Sharad Kumar Kulshreshtha

Addresses: Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India ' Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

Abstract: Frequent festivals can expose destinations to unsustainable pitfalls, leading to substantial long-term regional consequences. This study was carried out as extensive quantitative research with 357 organising team members of various regional festivals with structured questionnaires. Regression analyses has been performed to look into the relationships between sustainability elements. The results showed that festival tourists were not particularly conscious of the environment, according to the organisers. Although awareness of some sustainable practices is present, in some aspects, significant improvements are needed. Preservation effectiveness via practice by organisers and local communities showed little effect. The festivals' current contribution to Northeast ecosystem conservation is woefully low and needs to be improved. Consumer awareness of environmental issues of tourism was identified as an important factor affecting the overall sustainability impact. The study offers recommendations for both future research and practical applications.

Keywords: behaviour; eco-conscious; sustainability; tourism; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHEM.2026.154671

International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management, 2026 Vol.3 No.1, pp.69 - 87

Received: 22 Jun 2025
Accepted: 14 Nov 2025
Published online: 09 Jul 2026 *

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