International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.4, Issue-11(1), November, 2017 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

MBA.,PGD-IRPM.,Ph.D. Professor in Management Studies Chadalawada Business SchoolChadalawada Nagar, Road, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh 517506.

principles supports to policy, management and development objectives Travel for religious purposes has been India each Pilgrimage is also a popular there from the most ancient times. All feature of Indian historic culture with a religions have their Holy places and long history. Indian religious tourism places of worship. Such places are called potentialities have been one of the by different names like Devalaya (House important sources for country of God) Temple, Church, Masjid and development particularly due to the Gurudwara which mean a building for presence of many religious tourist places religious prayers and house for in India. Economic, environment and communal worship. Multicultural India is social development of local resources. In setting up to pitch faith tourism by India it reflects religious tourism and developing more religious tourist circuits pilgrimage tourism(As shown in fig.1) to attract foreign Tourist. Faith Tourism offer opportunities for diversify revenues can be defined as travel with this core India keep strong foundation of ancient motive involving experiencing religious culture ,50 religious and 845 languages forms, or the goods they induce, like art, ,over 3 millions Gods ,Goddess and culture, customs and architecture. historical monuments. Faith Tourism in India is the foundation of society and order of Religious culture, International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.4, Issue-11(1), November, 2017 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

to inflow of domestic tourists in India during 2010, Andhra Pradesh has the distinction of first position having The tourism in Andhra Pradesh is mostly attracted 155.8 million tourists followed considered as pilgrimage and heritage by Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In the tourist destination. The centuries old last few years Andhra Pradesh has glorious temples and colorful religious achieved a remarkable goal by touching festivals attract millions of domestic as the highest figures i.e. around more than well as foreign tourists. The statistics six times during 1993-2009(Chart.1). reflect that the top 7 states with regard Chart.1 No.Of domestic tourist visits to all states /UTs in india (1997-2013) International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.4, Issue-11(1), November, 2017 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

Andhra Pradesh is a well acknowledged here is acknowledged for its incredible pilgrimage destination which is a home to gopuras. The Ramappa Temple together different religious pilgrim centers. The with the thousand pillars temple situated famous Tripupati temple located in the in Warangal is another famous temple hills is one of the major that is praised for its carvings. This state religious centers of Andhra Pradesh. This also has assorted Buddhist Temples temple is a dwelling to Lord which are located in Kolanpaka, Venkateshwar and is considered as a Phanigiri, Nelakondapalli, Ghantasala, richest temple of Hindus in the whole Nagarjuna Konda, Bhattiprolu and world. Besides this, Amaravati’s Shiva Amaravati. Islam is considered as one of Temple is also considered to be a the popular religion in Andhra Pradesh. renowned religious place for Hindu Hyderabad is mushroomed with devotees. Sri Kalahasti Temple located in numerous mosques which are must visit. Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh is another Acknowledged as the adobe of Nizams at ancient Hindu temple that is a popular one time, this city has been now shaped pilgrimage site. The Shiva temple located by the Muslim culture.

Tirupati is one of the most ancient and govinda raju swamy Temple spectacular places of pilgrimage in India. Mangapuram . It is situated in Chittoor District in With a history that dates back to over southern Andhra Pradesh. The town twelve centuries, the temple is the jewel owes its existence to the sacred temple of in the crown of ancient places of worship Lord Sri situated on the in southern India. Tirumala Tirumala Hill adjoining it along with Sri Devasthanams (TTD) maintains twelve ammavari temple,Tiruchanoor,Sri temples and their sub-shrines in the Tirumala-Tirupati area. TTD provides a International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.4, Issue-11(1), November, 2017 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected] wide range of facilities to make the sanctum is shining with gold plate pilgrimage a unique spiritual experience. and is called as "the Ananda Nilayam". Tirumala Sri Venkateswara temple is the The main importance of the temple is the popular as the most ancient pilgrimages idol of Lord Venkateswara or which has spot in India. Tirupati is the richest and the figures of both Vishnu and Shiva, most visited religious tourist center in preserving and destroying aspects of the the world followed by the Vatican City. Hindu trinity Gods. This is revered Sri Venkateswara temple, located on the temple city, in the Chittoor district of 7th peak of the Tirupati Hills is well Andhra Pradesh. One can view the known as the Lord's presidency over majestic Tirumala Hill at an altitude of Venkatachala. Tirupati is well connected 3200 ft beyond sea level in its backdrop. by road and rail to all the major cities of The destination is splendid and the Andhra Pradesh, adequately connected architecture of the temple is so by air. The sanctum sanctorum houses magnificient. The Brahmotsavam fair the splendid idol of Lord Sri here is regarded to be the biggest Venkateswara. Thousands devotees of festivals. Indians and even foreigners Lord Vishnu travel this temple to seek travel Tirupati Balaji during this time. the blessings. This big and commodious Tirupati-Tirumala, with its celebrated temple is covered by picturesque Venkateshwara shrine, receives over 3 Tirumalai range. Pilgrims from all over crore pilgrims annually and is the single the planet come to the Temple largest contributor to Andhra Pradesh's throughout the year. The temple is total tourist .Andra pradesh stands at surrounded with the fabolous '' fourth position in attracting foreign & or tower. The 'Vimana' or Cupola beyond domestic tourists as well(Fig.1) .

Fig.1

Source :Union Tourism Ministry data International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.4, Issue-11(1), November, 2017 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

Karnataka,13% Telengana and the rest from other parts of the country. For Andra Pradesh, Faith tourism is a major revenue earner. 80 percent of 69% of tourists responded that they are Andhra Pradesh’s tourist revenue is from visiting the Tirumala hills 2nd time or Tirupati only and such GST on temple more, but still finding new procedure/ revenues will have cascading impact on system/ development in every visit, which faith tourism & tourists . shows the how TTD administration is about responds to keep pace with the needs of to identify the same with a sample of 78 ever- increasing number of pilgrim tourists who visited Tirumala & tirupati tourists to the most sought after spiritual City during july2017 -September 2017 . destination. This study is basically 28% of tourists visited the Balaji Temple a survey based research, which was done & other temples in tirupati city through in three stages viz., Desk Research tour operators (both government- (Online, customer desk), preparation of APTDC, and private operators)with Interview schedule and the Field work. package cost and additional 4% GST For collection of primary data, a sample Extra onwards per couple. size of 150 was picked by convenience About 11% came to the hills on foot , and random sampling techniques but 21% reached by RTC buses and 51% came unfortunately only 78 gave usable by private vehicles.17% reached by responses. Dharma radhams . Data relating to tourists was collected Majority(61%)of respondents expressed through structured interview schedules their appreciation towards Dharma and personal discussions. Secondary data radham Transportation in & around is gathered from publications of TTD, tirupati ,Tirumala. (52% ) of the tourists Text books, journals, newspapers and expreseed their appreciation towards web sources. The respondents’ views and automobile clinic service by TTD . level of satisfaction could have been influenced by their most recent Only 28% respondents visited tirumala experience, from which generalizations with advance reservation of must be drawn with great caution. accommodation, 38% said they adjusted with piligrims amenities centers for fresh up, bath etc. 52% responded ,had to stand in line for the current booking of About 1% of respondents are 18 & under, accomedation as they are first come first 8% are between 19-25 years, 21% served basis. between 26-35 years, 25% between 36 -45 39% of tourists responded GST slapped years,20% between 46-55years and the 12% hike on renting guest houses (@ rest are above 55 years. Sannidhanm guest house previous they Male and female respondents are 44 and paid 6000 now they booked same for 56% respectively. 78% are domestic 7200/-rs ) , 48% responded 8% hike on tourists, 22% are foreign .39% hailing arjitha seva & 46% on special darshan from other states. 19% Tamilnadu, 17 % tickets , 68% responded 2% hike on calendars ,41% on dairies & TTD stalls International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.4, Issue-11(1), November, 2017 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected] selling books, CDS, photographs, other vendors towards pilgrims, and prices they articles . charge for the products/ services . The sanitation and public conveniences are About 28% respondents responded very much satisfactory to about 78% of excellent about tourist spots in tirumala respondents, while the overall and temples in and around Tirupati(At satisfaction towards price, variety, Tirumala ,At Tiruchanoor,At Tirupati ) hygiene and quality of food is 66%. .49% domestic tourists responded they rest in Dormitory Halls & TTD choultries with free rooms for families to India is a complete faith Tourism stay in reasonable comfort.58% are not destination. Faith Tourists who have satisfied with housekeeping and hygiene travel India have expressed it as a unique aspects of choultries . experience. Faith tourism has a big Majority of respondents (61%) perceive future in IndiaThe impact of GST was that the information centres are easily felt in the temple cities of Tirumala and approachable and they get required Tirupati. Lord Venkateswara, the richest information. A vast majority (85%) feel deity in world, attracts crores of tourists physically secured during their stay in every year and the GST slabs adversely the temple town .87% satisfied with affecting pilgrims coming to Tirumala & services of seva dal & JIO tags especially Tirupati. With the present GST tax at the time of varshika brahmotsavam , structure, lower middle class and middle while many (55%) expressed concern for class sector in India are somewhat security of belongings and valuables. getting benefitted as the tax imposition was reduced compared to the present tax 48% tourists found the behavior of TTD structure in economic class and non-AC employees/ volunteers towards pilgrims travel tickets and there would be no tax to be indifferent at various points of imposed on the hotels & Guest houses contact say at Kalyanakatta , cloak room, with room tariff less than 1000 INR. room allotment, vacation, shoe-keeping, Whereas the situation for upper middle cell phone deposit,Anna prsadam and the class and well organized sector are like. 68% responded had waited in que paying more through GST than the for more than 2 hrs to collect their cell already existing tax structure as the GST phone , laugage at central laugage council higher tax rates for business class delivery counter . travels and for hotels ,guest houses and 59% of respondents expressed high restaurants with higher tariffs. dissatisfation about the behavior of local

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