ECONOMIC, SOCIO-CULTURAL AND PHYSICAL IMPACTS OF …

[Pages:28]ECONOMIC, SOCIO-CULTURAL AND PHYSICAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM

(A Case Study of Elephanta Caves, Matheran Hill Station, Janjira Fort and Palis Shri Ballaleshwar Ganesha)

5.0 INTRODUCTION 5.1 METHODOLOGY 5.2 THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM DEVELOPEMNT 5.3 THE SOCIAL-CULTURAL IMPACT OF TOURISM

DEVELOPEMNT 5.4 THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF TOURISM DEVELOPEMNT

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5.0 INTRODUCTION In the previous topic economic, social and demographic characteristics of

tourist who visited the Raigad district were analyzed on the basis of primary data. Most of the tourist had came from nearby cities and villages. They were of different castes, religions and having different economic status. They also visited various tourist destinations of the Raigad district.

The local persons provide facilities like accommodation, food, transport, amenities to the tourist. That is why tourists enjoy the destination but some of the destinations do not provide such facilities and services. Therefore these problems are the causes of economical, social and cultural impact of the region. Researcher has found that attitude and responses of tourist on residents and their impacts are influenced by several factors. Here is an attempt has been made to evaluate economic, social and cultural impacts for Elephanta Caves, Matheran, Janjira fort and Pali in Raigad district. These centers are comparaively more rushed and crowdy than the other tourist centers in the district.

Tourism is an industry with enormous economic impacts. It is also an industry that has many social and cultural or physical consequences. Tourism like many other industries is often used as a national or regional development tool. In general, tourism development within a host community often has impact on the community both in positive and negative ways. These impacts have been well documented and are usually classified as economic, social and cultural impacts.

Tourism is a cause for economic and changes in socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, income, length of stay, education level ethnicity. Tourism is a commercial activity and therefore tourism can create employment opportunities, foreign exchange earnings and also increases the standard of living of host people.

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Tourism brings more opportunities to upgrade facilities such as outdoor recreation, park and roads and also socio-economic benefits to the local community, in terms of faster economic growth, larger jobs, foreign exchange earnings, balanced development of weaker areas and higher revenue to the state and causes sustainable human development.

Tourists spend their money on a wide variety of goods and services. They purchase food and beverage, transport and communication, entertainment services, and also spend on accommodation, goods from retail outlets and tour or travel services. This money may be seen as an injection of demand into the host economy. However the value of tourist expenditure represents only a partial picture of the economic impacts.

The impact brought about by the interaction of host and guest is a well documented phenomenon. Positive type of interaction provides a favorable association between the tourist and their socio-cultural impacts. Tourists influence on the behavioural change of the host population.

Tourism has been charged not only with the debasement of socio-cultural factors but also with degradation of the environment. As well as it is contributing to changes in value system, individual behaviour, family relationship, collective lifestyles, safety levels, moral conduct and community organization. Attractions, accommodation, ancillary services and amenities are the basic element of tourism. These elements help to indicate the development of tourism in the district. For that purpose Elephanta Caves, Matheran. Janjira Fort and Pali destinations are evaluated through this point of view.

5.1 METHODOLOGY

The residents attitude survey has been the common method that is used for the assessment of economic, social and physical or cultural impacts of tourism. In this approach respondents were asked to indicate their behaviour and

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attitude towards the impact of tourism development. Attitude survey can provide useful information about the impacts of tourism on the residents and society. The impact study is an attempt to examine empirically the residents perception of impacts of tourism rather than measure of actual impacts. For the assessment of the impacts, community groups residents were selected at four centers, Elephanta Caves, Matheran, Janjira fort and Pali. A questionnaire was designed exploring respondents perceptions of the wide range of economic, social and cultural impacts.

For measuring the attitudes of the residents towards tourism development, indicated descriptive statistic analysis was used. This measurement scale consists of 11 variables reflecting the perceived economic impacts, 15 variables reflecting socio-cultural impacts and 8 variables reflecting physical impact of tourism on residents. Respondents were asked to provide answers on each variable which was measured by a seven point Likert Scale ranging from -3 strongly disagree to +3 strongly agree with ,,0(zero) no response or undecided.

Likert scale is a measurement instrument which is used in quantitative research. It contains a number of statements or indicators with a scale. In such scale no judges are used to rank the scale statements; it is assumed that all subject will perceive strongly agree a expressing greater favour towards the attitude statement than moderately agree and strongly disagree with the attitude represented (Likert, 1967, Lankford, 1994).

The questions or statements help to understand the economical, social and cultural or physical impacts of the tourists on residents of a respective region. These impacts should be expressed positively and negatively to encourage respondents not to respond automatically but to think about every items.

There are seven response alternatives for every attitude statements. These are strongly disagree, moderately disagree, disagree, no response or undecided,

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agree, moderately agree and strongly agree. The resulting ranging from - 3 to + 3 ( - 3, - 2, - 1, 0, + 1, + 2, + 3) to find individual overall attitude of the residents.

5.2 THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Tourism alters the economic structure of a destination. The economic impact of tourism is the subject of analysis at two ways. One is generally positive about industry prospects while other is negative. Tourism is a major element of sources of capital and income to the local people. The economic significance of tourism activity is taking place, but also by the type and nature of economy being considered.

Tourists spend their money on a wide variety of goods and services and related tourism products. The economic impacts of tourism more is known about the economic benefits of tourism than the associated costs. Tourism can create employment opportunities, earn foreign exchange, produce return on investment for emerging economics, bring technology and improve standard of living. Tourism can also help to generate jobs and increase revenue to local people and shopping facilities. Tourism can cause major effect on economics of destination area for price of land to rise rapidly.

Tourism development has often received support from the government and local residents. Therefore for the sustainable development of tourism one should take balanced view towards the economic impacts of tourism which assess both the benefits and cost of tourism development.

Here, the economic impact of tourism development on destination is understood at the local level and mostly to understand the present status of tourism development in the Raigad district and selected case studies. Tourism is encouraged at the local level due to ability to generate employment in hotels, resorts, restaurants, cottages, parks, transport operators, travel agents,

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entertainment and local business. Also change their lifestyle and it provides support to the other sectors of the economy.

The economic impact of tourism has been commonly be viewed as a positive force which increases total income for the host country, direct and indirect employment and tax revenues; it also stimulates secondary economic growth. Economist consider the tourism as an ,,basic income from tourism, it helps to pay for goods and services, imported from other regions and contribution to government revenues through taxes, that can be used to develop community and infrastructural facilities and service to asset in general economic development. 5.2.1 Economic Impact Indicators of Tourism Development

1. Increase in the income of residents 2. Opportunity for shopping 3. Opportunity for jobs 4. Demand for female labour 5. Increased cost of land and housing 6. Increase in general prices of goods and services 7. Rental houses as a source of income 8. Scarcity of essential goods during season 9. Degradation of cultural and commercial goods 10. Increased the number of hotels / resorts 11. Commercial view point of local people 5.2.2. Perception of Residents Response to Economic Impact of Tourism

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For the assessment of economic impact of tourism on the residents, responses were collected at selected destinations in the Raigad district. Impact of tourism is calculated through mean given in the table

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM

ON RESIDENTS OF ELEPHANTA CAVES, MATHERAN,

JANJIRA FORT AND PALI

Elephanta

Matheran

Janjira

Pali

Sr.

Caves

No

Indicators

Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD

1 Increase in the

2.12 0.77 2.24 0.62 2.08 0.72 2.06 0.76

income of residents

2 Opportunity for shopping

2.2 0.69 2.14 0.69 2.16 0.73 2.06 0.73

3 Opportunity for jobs

2.08 0.72 2.12 0.77 1.22 1.36 1.04 1.33

4 Demand for female -1.8 0.72 -1.96 0.66 -1.78 0.92 -1.9 0.85 labour

5 Increased cost of land and housing

2.14 0.72 1.78 0.70 2.02 0.76 1.98 0.73

6 Increase in general 2.04 0.77 1.12 0.99 2.08 0.74 2.12 0.71 prices of goods and services

7 Rental houses as source of income

-1.92 0.74 1.58 0.78 1.98 0.71 2.06 0.73

8 Scarcity of essential -1.98 0.73 -1.92 0.72 -1.84 0.70 -1.92 0.74

goods during

season

9 Degradation of

-1.88 0.68 -1.92 0.67 -1.68 0.93 -1.68 0.93

cultural goods to

commercial goods

10 Increased in the

1.92 0.74 1.46 1.25 1.88 0.77 2.1 0.75

numbers of hotels /

resorts

11 Commercial view point of local people

1.76 0.91 1.3 1.08 1.04 1.26 0.96 1.18 0.61 2.04 0.71 1.86 0.83 1.86 0.81 1.88

Source: Compiled by Author

SD= Standard Deviation

Table 5.1 Economic Impact of Tourism on Residents of Elephanta Caves, Matheran, Janjira Fort and Pali

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Table 5.1 highlight attitude of the residents at Elephanta caves, Matheran, Janjira fort and Pali, perception towards the tourism development with positive economic effects such as increase in the income of residents, increasing opportunities for shopping, increase in jobs, increasing the cost of land and housing, increase in general price of goods and services, increase in the number of hotels/ resorts and commercial view point of local people.

Residents of Elephanta caves felt that the tourist cause the higher effect on the increase in the income of residents (+2.12), increasing opportunity for shopping (+2.2), increasing opportunity for jobs (+2.08), increasing the cost of land and housing (+2.14), increase in general price of goods and services (+2.04), increase in the number of hotels/ resorts (+1.92) and commercial view point of local people (+1.76). On the other side residents of Elephanta caves have observed and noted negligible economic impact on the demand for female labour ( -1.8), rental houses as source of income (-1.92), scarcity of essential goods during season (-1.98) and degradation of cultural goods as commercial goods (-1.88). An Elephanta cave is an island and located very close to Mumbai, so that tourists have made maximum economic impacts of tourism on residents of Sheth Bandar and Mora Bandar.

Residents of Matheran feel that the tourist causes positive economic effects on the increase in the income of residents (+2.24), increasing opportunity for shopping (+2.14), increasing opportunity for jobs (+2.12), increase cost of land and housing (+1.78), increase in general price of goods and services (+1.12), rental houses as source of income (+1.58), increasing number of hotels and resorts (+1.46) and commercial view point of local people (+1.3). On the other hand the residents of Matheran have refused the economic effects of tourism development to the local people for some indicators such as demand for female labour (-1.96) scarcity of essential goods during season (-1.92) and degradation of cultural goods as commercial goods (-1.92).

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