Published Paper Details:

Authentic experiences have been a driving force in shaping global tourism, taking travelers to remote and culturally rich destinations. Similarly, in the Indian context, we see that rural eco-tourism circuits are attracting more tourists. However, this ongoing trend presents us with a problem: tourists seeking untouched, pristine cultural landscapes often generate plastic waste that contributes to its degradation. The paper investigates the connection between a tourist's search for authenticity and plastic waste, especially in more ecologically fragile 'offbeat destinations,' which lack an infrastructure for the management and disposal of waste generated from increased footfall. This paper draws upon the theoretical frameworks of authenticity in the context of tourism and is grounded in secondary data from policy reports and case studies. The study identifies rising plastic waste as a key externality of offbeat tourism and argues that if authenticity is to remain a viable pillar of tourism, plastic waste management must be a priority in local governance, policy planning, and individual travel behaviour.