A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 1 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 1.1 INTRODUCTION KERALA “GODS OWN COUNTRY” has been recognized as the best tourism brand in the world. This is achieved by introducing variety of tourism products, developing new centers’ of attraction and upgrading all existing major centers. Beaches, wand weather, backwater ,hill stations, waterfalls, wildlife, Ayurvedha, year round festivals, are unique destination for tourists. During the few years, the Kerala state government has been giving high priority to this sector in Kerala state, tourism is a new opportunity Tourism is an important source of foreign currency for the government. The flow of tourists and income from it is increasing year by year. In 2005, 2.46lakhs foreigners and 59.46 lakh tourists from other state of India visited Kerala. He total income is rupees 7738crores. In 2006 428534 foreigners and 6271724domestic tourists visited Kerala. That means a growth of 5.47% in domestic tourists and 23.68% in foreign tourists Being a service industry, tourism creates employment opportunity for local population .Direct job establishment like hotels, restaurants, tourist shops, travel agencies, and also in transport, handloom and handicraft industries. A forecast study conducted by WTTC states that travel and tourism related to economic activity of Kerala grows at 11.4% during 2004-2013 and shall provide employment to 2.2 million (15 per cent of total employment) by2013. The growth rate of tourist arrivals in Kerala is more than six times compared to the growth rate of World tourist arrival in 2010.. The rolling high ranges of the Western Ghats are very attractive and also play an important role in determining the climate of the State. Eco-tourism centers of Kerala are very popular. India’s first planned eco-tourism center is in Kerala, at Thenmala . AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 2 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 Kerala is renowned as a health tourism destination also. The Ayurvedic health tourism is more popular here because the State has an unparalleled wealth of herbs and natural vegetation; perhaps, similar plants are seen only in the Himalayas. It is due to the unique geographical position and tropical climate of the State. The humid climatic condition is also favorable for Ayurvedic treatment and the best attraction to the tourist Apart from being a tourist destination, Kerala is also India’s most literate and advanced society, most peaceful and cleanest State. Kerala was adjudged as one of the ‘Ten paradises of the World by the National Geographic Traveler. Kerala’s geographical diversity and ecological features are promising for tourism development. No tourist can experience anywhere in the World, except Kerala such a geographical diversity within a small piece of land Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purpose, usually ofa limited duration. Tourism is of commonly associated with trans-national travel, but may also refer to travel to another location within the same country. The world tourism organization defines tourists as people “travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. 1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Kerala is a agricultural state and for many reason its agricultural contributions are declining year by year. Hence it should find new areas to sustain in the competitive economy. Tourism is an important source of foreign currency and it creates a lot of employment opportunities we are promoting Kerala as a tourist destination very aggressively all over the world But the facilities available to foreign as well as domestic tourists are not satisfactory AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 3 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 NILAMBUR the land of golden teak is an unexplored tourists spot as our state it is very close to Nilagiri biosphere and Bangalore-Calicut national highway, where 1000 of tourists are passing every day. In order to attract more Tourists, we should find the problems connected with these tourists destinations and to develop the tourism infrastructure in these places. This study is an analysis of various problems connected with different tourists destinations and the role of tourism department for the development of these tourists destination 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1.3.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVES An enquiry into the potential of tourism in Nilambur and also the problem of the important tourist destinations The study has been undertaken with the following specific objectives in mind 1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES To identify the tourist attractions in Malappuram district To analyses the present condition of tourism and prospects of tourism in Nilambur To study the role of tourism department for the development of nilambur tourism To evaluate the tourists perception about tourism in Nilambur To study the problems faced by the tourists in different locations in Nilambur To give suggestions for the development of tourism in Nilambur AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 4 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY NILAMBUR tourism is a part of eco-tourism. eco-tourism is both nature Based and ecologically sustainable more over it require less tourism Infrastructure facilities and services compared to conventional tourism. Eco-Tourism include visitation to all the unpolluted natural areas and so as to generate awareness towards conservation of these resources. 1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The study was conducted in Nilambur Taluk. This study intended to understand the growth and problems related with tourism 1.6 THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The research methodology adopted for carrying out the study is mainly designed as an empirical work based primary data and secondary data, primary data was obtained through questionnaire and direct personal interviews of tourists The secondary data which support or used for the purpose of analysis, are taken from various websites and other related publications. 1.6.1 SAMPLING METHOD. Random sampling method is used for collecting data 1.6.2 SAMPLING SIZE The sample selection for the study consist of 30 tourists in Nilambur taluk of Malappuram District AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 5 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 1.7 ANALYSIS TOOL The data collected has been tabulated and analyzed using simple percentage method. The tabulated results are represented in the form of bar graph and pie charts 1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ° Due to the limitation of time, all the variables could not be considered ° Respondent may not give correct answer ° Important tourist places are only taken into account for this study ° Since the study is based on the sampling method, sampling errors are Bound to occur AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 6 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 7 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 HISTORY OF TOURISM Tourism can be recognized as long as people have travelled; the narrative of Marco Polo in the 13th century; the "grand tour" of the British aristocracy to Europe in the 18th century; and the journeys of David Livingstone through African the 19th century are all examples of early tourism. Thomas Cook is popularly regarded as the founder of inclusive tours with his use of a chartered train in 1841to transport tourists from Southborough to Leicester. Before the 1950s, tourism in Europe was mainly a domestic activity with some international travel between countries, mainly within continental Europe. In the period of recovery following World War II, a combination of circumstances provided an impetus to international travel. Among the important contributing factors were the growing number of people in employment, the increase in real disposable incomes and available leisure time, and changing social attitudes towards leisure and work. These factors combined to stimulate the latent demand for foreign travel and holidays. The emergence of specialist tour operators who organized inclusive holidays by purchasing transport, accommodation, and related services and selling these at a single price, brought foreign holidays within the price-range of a new and growing group of consumers. The "package" or "inclusive" tour democratized travel in Europe; foreign holidays were no longer the preserve of the affluent and socially lite classes. Tourist is a person who comes from another country or another place to see and enjoy the attractions and famous places in the region. AMBEDKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WANDOOR 8 A STUDY ABOUT PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF KERALA TOURISM 2018 2018 TOURISM IN INDIA Tourism in India is economically important and is growing rapidly. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated 6.4 trillion or 6.6% of the nation's GDP in 2012. It supported 39.5 million jobs, 7.7% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of7.9% till 2023 making India the third fastest growing tourism destination over the next decade. India has a large medical tourism sector which is expected to grow at an estimated rate of 30% annually to reach about Rs.95 billion by 2015. About 22.57 million tourists arrived in India in 2014, compared to 19.95million in 2013. This ranks India as the 38th country in the world in terms of foreign tourist arrivals. Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories numbered 1,036.35 million in 2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011. In 2014,Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were the most popular states for tourists.