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Rural Tourism and Sustainability: an Explorative Study in Garo Hills of Meghalaya

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Rural Tourism and Sustainability: an Explorative Study in Garo Hills of Meghalaya 114 Avahan: A Journal on Hospitality and Tourism Volume 4 Issue 1 Rural Tourism and Sustainability: An Explorative Study in Garo Hills of Meghalaya Sharad Kumar Kulshreshtha*, Ashok Kumar** Abstract study the rural tourism and sustainability, dimensions of rural tourism in Meghalaya, such as rural sustainability, rural sustainable tourism, Rural tourism is a pure form of rural settings multiple rural phenomenon, rural entrepreneurship, role of local governance, capacity building like wide and lush green agricultural land, orchids, people seem to programme by tourism departments, community participation be busy in routine activities, colourful muddy houses, wall paintings, towards rural tourism promotion, with special reference to IBDLP herds of cattle, chaupal is centre and meeting point of rural societies initiative to develop Chandigre Rural Tourism Project of Garo Hills where they share and exchange useful information about all most District of Meghalaya. every day. It is a develop to attract urban settlers to showcasing the real hardship of rural life, leisure, creative, ethnic, cultural, fair Keywords: Rural Tourism and Sustainability, & festivals, local craftsmanship with changing seasons of the rural Entrepreneurship, IBDLP area. During their visit to rural site, the local rural communities act as entrepreneurs to facilitate all basis needs& comforts to tourists in order to generate extra income. These rural sites have been emerged as an important rural tourist destination which is full culture Introduction and tradition, arts and crafts, dances and music, events and delicious Rural tourism has been recognized as an important cuisines etc. The model of rural tourism has design to support local opportunity for employment and income generation, economy to make alternate livelihood for communities and various stake holders and create image through branding rural destination. living standards of the host population. It may offer India has agrarian economy where more than 70 per cent people handful of opportunities in the form of tourist outflow, attached with agricultural and allied activities for their livelihood. In which circulates in local economy and has the advantage India there is a big prospect for the growth of rural tourism, which of low and negligible leakages (Bhadauria, A. & Rastogi, will be able to increase the country’s inclusive economic growth. H. 2012). It creates jobs, economic growth, standard of Rural tourism creates huge opportunities for youths and women living for those who are living in a tourism-targeted area as rural entrepreneurs and generate employment opportunities. (Briedenhann & Wickens, 2003). Rural Tourism has been In India every one million invested in tourism sector creates 47.5 increasing in developed countries and getting popularity jobs directly and 85jobs indirectly. The government, belatedly, as travellers seek out folklore, natural landscapes, has realized what the rural India can offer to the world. According historical landmarks, and customs of regions they visit to Tenth Five Year Plan ,‘tourism as one of the major sources (MacDonald & Jolliffe, 2003). Rural tourism means the for generating employment and promoting sustainable livelihoods’. rural area arranged in such a way that people visit for The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with taking entertainment and passes holidays and leisure. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has launched the indigenous rural tourism projects linked to the existing rural tourism Rural tourism passes informal and practical education scheme of the government. Rural tourism is helpful to develop rural to the children. The children knowledge are now a days socio-economic and environmental sustainability though capacity limited and within the pages of books. This type of tourism building among rural communities, pro-active NGOs, public-private- imparts knowledge on different culture, historical places, community based partnership etc. In this way rural tourism is able different types of flora and fauna etc. Rural tourism gives to boost up Indian inclusive economic growth. This paper aims to a sense of noble cause. It is a form of sustainable tourism. It is always beneficial to rural area in term of rural output, * Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism & Hotel Management, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. E-mail: [email protected] ** Research Scholar, Department of Tourism & Hotel Management, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Rural Tourism and Sustainability: An Explorative Study in Garo Hills of Meghalaya 115 employment opportunities, health care, rural environment jobs and manufacturing a mere 12.6% jobs (Sharma, and community involvement and a path for appreciative A.2015). Rural tourism is essentially an activity which traditional beliefs and values to modern era. takes place in the countryside, it is multi-faceted and may entail farm, agriculture tourism, cultural tourism, nature Rural tourism as a concept was envisaged in the National tourism, adventure tourism and eco-tourism. Tourism Policy in 2002. Rural tourism was defined as a form of tourism that show cases village life, art, culture About Meghalaya and heritage at rural locations, thereby helping the local communities economically and socially as well as enabling ‘Meghalaya’ originated from Sanskrit language, refers interaction between the tourists and the host for a more to ‘Abode of the Clouds’ was confirmed as a 21st state enriching tourism experience. Rural tourism provides of the Indian Union on January 21st, 1972. Meghalaya ample opportunities for entrepreneurship on one hand has three hill regions known as the Khasi Hills, Jaintia and on the other, locally developed small scale tourism Hills and Garo Hills. Each respective region has own tribe product can be less costly than other developmental and languages which also known by its same hill region strategies such as manufacturing. The importance of name i.e. Khasi Jantia and Garo. According to Census tourism as a creator of job opportunities can be tacit from 2011,Govrenment of India, the total population of state is the fact that in India every one million invested in tourism 2,966,889. The population density of is 132 per sq km and creates around 47.5 jobs directly and around 85-90 jobs total area is 22,429 Sq Km. indirectly. In comparison, agriculture creates only 44.6% Table 1: Swot Analysis of the State of Meghalaya Strength Weakness Oppurtunities Threats The state is rich in natural The land laws of the state has always Government of India has accorded Competition from other tourist resources been the major hindrance to any devel- special attention for North East. destinations within and outside opment in the state the country Lower population density The infrastructure for development more Potential for private sector’s in- Threats from terrorism and the provide adequate opportu- specifically for drinking water , health vestment in tourism projects negative perception on the whole nities to sustain the popula- services, sanitation and hygiene way region tion economically side amenities are grossly inadequate Higher literacy rate Absence of railway network within the Besides the intra-regional tours Possibilities of uncontrolled de- region there are opportunities for pro- velopment of tourism moting cross border tours to neighbouring countries like Bhu- tan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal etc Rich cultural heritage- Jhooming has become the single major DONER and NEC are active and Increasing un-employment is multi ethnic communities, cause of ecological degradation in the are taking active interest in tour- eroding the value system & lead- colourful festivals . hills ism and have kept top priority to ing to political unrest and has in- this sector creased inter group conflicts Matriarchal society The men folk of the society lacks basic Asian Highway from Malaysia Inadequate funding of resources initiative for the development which via Thailand and Bangladesh to for tourism promotion probably is a fallout of the matriarchal India will be passing through society North East while going to Delhi and beyond. Surplus power Low awareness in the market about the Tourism re-organized as a key in- Piecemeal development on selfish tourism products of the region dustry by all neighbouring states style in individual states National park, Bio- sphere, The displeasure among the youth has led Asian Development Bank is pre- Dismantling of the APM (ad- caves, rivers and waterfalls to violence and antipathy towards the paring a Sub- Regional Plan for ministered price mechanism) of provide unique potential non-tribals in the state which has resulted development of tourism covering petroleum products in Garo hills for natural tourism retarded the economic growth in the state Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and are likely to become scares and Nepal, North East Region figures expensive in the near future prominently in this Plan because of the Asian Highway 116 Avahan: A Journal on Hospitality and Tourism Volume 4 Issue 1 Strength Weakness Oppurtunities Threats Good infrastructure to sup- Being the hilly state, transportation & Tourism in Meghalaya can bring Lack of opportunity for gainful port tourist traffic communication in general, is difficult about prosperity to the state employment and production has and expensive. through. large scale employment led to excessive use and abuse of natural resources causing environ- mental degradation in the hills
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