Abstract

The Community-Based Tourism Development (CBTD) approach encompasses sustainable tourism practices through a community approach. It promotes a feeling of belongingness among residents of a community in whose vicinity the tourism resource lies. It helps in the development of tourism activities by residents with conservation of natural resources thereby protecting their natural heritages and traditional customs. The success of CBTD-based management practices influences the livelihood and survival of communities by employing best business practices. If such practices are ignored then it may cause environmental degradation, loss of natural resources, displacement from natural surroundings, loss of foreign exchange, and reduced revenues which affects the overall economic scenario of the region and the country at large as per the report of the World’s Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002. The growth and success of CBTD could be replicated in the development of sustainable and best CBTD practices in medical tourism.