International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Systems

S. K. Gupta ¹, Rajesh Raina ²

Affiliations
1 Center for Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Studies, H.N.B.G.U.
2 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Jammu.

Abstract

In recent years, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has become very popular destination among pilgrims. Pilgrimage Tourism to Vaishno Devi Shrine constitutes an important component of total tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and has contributed effectively to the growth and development of the place. Every year around 7 million pilgrims visit the Shrine which is influencing the socio-economic environment of the region and the present paper is throwing light on the economic impact of the Shrine related tourism. This paper is based on the methodology adopted for estimation of economic impact of the Shrine related tourism on the economy of katra town by estimating the income and employment generation. In the present paper, the methodology adopted for estimation of income and employment is based on extrapolation of the sample research findings. The figures for universe population with respect to the sample have been taken from the Municipality of Katra, Shrine Board and other Government as well as private agencies like various business associations. The income generated is taken from all the five basic component of industries or sets of people, primarily at Katra, which are directly and more or less totally dependent on the tourism viz. the Hotel Industry, Transport Industry, various commercial establishments including all types of shops operating at Katra, Pithoos and Ponywallas.

Keywords

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Shrine Board, Economic Impact, Hotel Industry, Transport Industry, Pithoos And Ponywallas

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S. K. Gupta ¹, Vijay P. Bhatt ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Mountain Tourism & Hospitality Studies, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar (Uttarakhand).

Abstract

The paradigm shift from conventional mass tourism towards the nature based tourism has provoked world countries to concentrate more on developing sustainable tourism practices especially in nature bound areas. India as part of accomplishing sustainable tourism has developed many strategies and framework which is highly recognized and executed by all states. Uttarakhand being a mountainous state and recognized for its rich untapped natural resources provides right space for developing community based tourism (CBT) as a tool for attaining sustainability in practicing tourism. The present paper attempts to find out the impact of tourism on socio-economic development of community members and review the opportunities and challenges for developing CBT in village Sari in the vicinity of Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary. It is found that there is a positive local community development by having tourism as an important tool. The information was collected through structured questionnaire and direct interaction with the local community members.

Keywords

Community Based Tourism, Sustainability, Kedarnath Sanctuary, Village Sari, Deoriatal

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S. K. Gupta ¹, Pallavi Thakur ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Mountain Tourism & Hospitality Studies, School of Management, H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Uttarakhand, IN
2 Bahra University, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Taking into consideration the unique, vast and varied tourist resource potential of India, there is tremendous scope for development of International Tourism. Aware of its rich treasure, India, in fact has consistently been trying to allure more and more world trotters, ever since its independence. Incidentally its performance has so far remained too marginal, especially in view of the existing potential, though there has been steady increase in the tourist influx over the years. Talking statistically, the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India continued to grow from 1.28 million in 1981 to 1.68 million in 1991, 2.54 million in 2001, 6.31 million in 2011 and reached to 7.68 million in 2014. During the year 2014, India registered a positive growth of 10.2 %. The share of India in international tourist arrivals in 2014 was increased to 0.68%, from 0.61% in 2010, and the share of international tourism receipt was 1.58% in 2014 with Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) of US $ 20.24 billion. However, India's rank in the world was 41 in 2014. India accounted for 2.92% of the tourist arrivals in Asia Pacific Region in 2014, occupying 12th ranks in the region, but none the less the fact remains that the country is desperately trying to make out its rightful place in global tourism. The present study examines India's performance in International tourism market over the years and a look into foreign tourists' perspective on various aspects of Tourism in India.

Keywords

Performance, Tourism, Resources, Inbound, Potential.

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S. K. Gupta ¹, Neha Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 CMTHS, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

Nainital, renowned as the Lake District of Uttarakhand, is a popular hill station in North India since the time of Britishers which attracts a large number of tourists, domestic as well as international, every year. In order to meet the need of overnight visitors, Nainital houses a plethora of accommodation units of all kinds, ranging from the budget to star category properties, as per the demand of the visitors. Satisfied and repeat customers play a key role in the success of any business. The present study was initiated with the primary purpose to evaluate customer satisfaction about the various products and services offered by the accommodation units in Nainital. The study also attempts to identify any significant broad category of determining factors of customer satisfaction specific to the accommodation industry at Nainital. Primary data, on various service attributes related to hospitality industry that can influence customer satisfaction, were collected from 200 tourists visited the study area for varied reasons through structured questionnaires by applying random sampling methods in order to achieve the framed objectives of the study. The results provide some insights on how customers rate the service quality and also highlight the broad factors determining the customer towards hospitality industry in Nainital. Thus, the result can be used as a guide for hotel managers to improve the essential quality attributes and enhance service quality as well as business performance.

Keywords

Customer Satisfaction, Service Quality, Hotels, Nainital.

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Zubair Ahmad Dada ¹, Ashaq Hussain Najar ², S. K. Gupta ³

Affiliations
1 Assistant Professor, Tourism Management, University of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, IN
2 Assistant Professor, Tourism Management, Central University of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, IN
3 Professor, Centre for Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Studies, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

Tourism is a creative instrument for poverty reduction. Pro-Poor Tourism (PPT) provides economic, socio-cultural and even environmental benefits to the globally impoverished community. The main goal of this study is to demystify the constructs of Pro-Poor Tourism and investigate the local community perception regarding the role of tourism in poverty alleviation. The present study attempts to understand the development of pro-poor tourism from social, cultural and economic dimensions by delving into the perceptions of the locally disadvantageous community providing tourism services in the Kashmir region of India. Primary and secondary data have been collected from the targeted respondents through a structured questionnaire for conducting this research. The study areas that have been selected for conducting the present study are Gulmarg (Study Area A) and Pahalgam (Study Area B) from the Kashmir region. The data collected were analysed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis and regression analysis to draw reliable and representative interpretations. The findings of this study may help the strategy makers and other community groups develop effective policy interventions for developing creative tourism practices as an anti-poverty programme that has local and global implications for promoting tourism for Poverty alleviation, ensuring sustainability.

Keywords

Pro-poor Tourism, Tourism Development, Poverty Alleviation, Local Community

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