Barriers to Sustainable Waste Management in Mountain Tourism

Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls for efforts to protect fragile mountain ecosystems. Waste generated due tourism leads environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and poses a significant challenge achieving this goal. Mountains which are characterized by uninhabitable terrain remoteness, coupled with current practices compound challenge. The paper resolves understanding barriers sustainably manage waste using th Classical DEMATEL method. Based on data from 36 experts in India’s industry, sustainable management non-biodegradable analyzed. Results suggest that enforcement regulations , collection infrastructure lack transportation transfer most prominent can be mitigated collectively leveraging four tangible barriers: tourists’ motivation or achievement mentality local government’s initiative economic value awareness . this, policy intervention mandating certification standards tourists is suggested before they embark tourism.