Navigating Tourism Development Constraints in Living Heritage Environments: Institutional, Spatial, and Sustainability Challenges at the Airavatesvara Temple, India

A comprehensive framework for conservation-centred tourism development is proposed to address the interconnected challenges facing UNESCO World Heritage Sites, exemplified by the Airavatesvara Temple in India. The study identifies seven key constraints—institutional fragmentation, infrastructural and accessibility issues, conservation pressures, interpretive limitations, socio-cultural dynamics, environmental stress, and destination branding—that collectively hinder sustainable tourism growth at living heritage environments. By analyzing qualitative and secondary data from UNESCO reports, ASI records, policy documents, and scholarly literature, the research reveals that these constraints are deeply embedded within broader governance and spatial systems rather than isolated operational failures. The proposed framework emphasizes integrated governance, smart interpretation systems, community participation, heritage-sensitive infrastructure, and sustainable visitor management, offering a practical solution to balance tourism growth with the preservation of living religious heritage.

Kumar, K. S., & Thangaraju, S. (2026). Navigating Tourism Development Constraints in Living Heritage Environments: Institutional, Spatial, and Sustainability Challenges at the Airavatesvara Temple, India. Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, 3(2), 438–447. https://doi.org/10.69739/jahss.v3i2.2045