Annual Final Report of Tourism Survey for the State of West Bengal (April 2014-March 2015)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Annual Final Report of Tourism Survey for the State of West Bengal (April 2014-March 2015) Submitted to: Submitted by: Datamation Consultants Pvt.Ltd, Ministry of Tourism Plot no. 361, Patparganj (Market Research Division) Industrial Area, New Delhi- (Govt. of India) 110092 Telephone: 011-22158819 Fax: 011-22158819 0 | P a g e Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Annual Report West Bengal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are thankful to the Ministry of Tourism Government of India for assigning to the Datamation Group, New Delhi the prestigious study for conducting “Tourism Survey for the State of West Bengal”. We would also like to acknowledge cooperation, support and input we received from the Market Research Division, Ministry of Tourism-Govt. of India & West Bengal Tourism for ensuring successful completion of the survey which was carried out in all districts of West Bengal. We would like to thank first and foremost Secretary Ms Rashmi Verma , Director General Mr Satyajeet Rajan Shri S M Mahajan- Additional Director General, Dr. R.K. Bhatnagar-Ex- Additional Director General (MR), Ms. Mini Prasanna Kumar- Director, Ms. Neha Srivastava - Deputy Director (MR), Mr. Shailesh Kumar - Deputy Director (MR) for providing us necessary guidance and periodical support for conducting the survey. We would also like to thank Mr. S.K. Mohanta, Programmer - MR and other team members for providing us support and help. The present report is an outcome of dedicated commitment to the field survey of the research investigators and cooperation received from the officials of West Bengal Tourism. We would like to thank Hon. Secretary, West Bengal Tourism, current Managing Director as well as previous Managing Directors of the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDC), General Manager-WBTDC for extending their cooperation in the execution of the survey. We are also thankful to all staff members and hotel staff of West Bengal Tourism and WB Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. for offering all possible help and support while collecting data on Tourism in all districts of West Bengal. The assigned members of the team devoted themselves with complete sincerity in completing targeted work by keeping up the momentum and time schedule of the survey which involved movement in a very difficult terrain. Last but not the least we would also like to thank our entire team of research professionals as well as our field staff and support team for their co-operation and team spirit. Chetan Sharma – CEO Datamation Consultants Pvt. Limited 1 | P a g e Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Annual Report West Bengal Executive Summary In West Bengal four different types of survey, namely, enumeration and short survey at destinations, exit survey at exit point(s) at district headquarters and accommodation unit survey were conducted during the period April 2014 to March 2015. The survey data were tabulated and estimates of various parameters were made following the approved tabulation program. In case of Domestic Tourists; the survey findings suggest that peak months for overnight and same day tourist visits were January 2015 (7768121) . In case of Foreign Tourists, the survey findings suggest that peak months for overnight and same day tourist visits were January 2015 (150130), February 2015 (135426) and December 2014 (132599). The survey findings suggest that total numbers of leisure overnight tourists (42195614) were higher than non-leisure tourists (5636286) and also same day visitors the survey findings suggest that the total numbers of leisure tourists (6926007) were higher than non-leisure visitors (7897670) during the year 2014-2015. Among the foreign tourist, total numbers of leisure tourists (1196113) were higher than non-leisure tourists during the year 2014-2015 The survey findings suggest that hotel was first choice for the domestic tourists, followed by staying at friends/relatives place and staying elsewhere. Most of the foreign tourists stayed at hotels and other accommodation units. The sample sizes for the sample survey at exit points are 13614 domestic overnight, 16057 domestic same day and 676 foreign overnight visitors and 56 foreign same day visitors. Most of the domestic visitors (83.7%) were interviewed at the bus station or railway station. Nearly 42% of the foreigners were interviewed at their place of stay. Most of the male and female domestic overnight as well as same day visitors are in the age category of 25-44 years. Only very small proportion of domestic same day visitors is of 55 or more years of age. Majority (79%) of foreign overnight male visitors is aged 25–44 years and the corresponding figure for females is 72.2. Among the same day male visitors, 96.8% are aged between 25 and 34 years while all women visitors are between 25-34 years. 2 | P a g e Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Annual Report West Bengal In the case of both domestic and foreign visitor’s percentage of male overnight and same day visitors were higher than female visitors. Among domestic visitors, 73.3% overnight visitors and 52.2% same day visitors were married. Also 78.9% overnight and 81.3% same day foreign visitors were married. About three fourth of the foreign overnight visitors were accompanied by one or two or three persons and 97.4% of same day visitors were in this category. Majority of the overnight domestic visitors came with 4-5 persons and the highest proportion (33.8%) for same day visitors is with 3 or less persons. Most of the same day visitors (both domestic and foreign) came with males. The highest proportions of the three groups (domestic overnight, domestic same day and foreign overnight) have companions with age between 21 and 30 years while for foreign same day visitors have more companions with age between 31 and 40 years. Nearly 70% of the domestic spent one night while 54.5% of the foreigners spent two nights in that location. Majority (64.3%) of the domestic overnight visitors had an annual household income of Rs,200001/- and above and 66.5% of the domestic same day visitors were coming under the household annual income range of Rs.1,00,001– Rs.5,00,000. Nearly 73% of the foreign overnight visitors were coming under the household annual income range of $.60, 001–$.80,000 and among the same day visitors, 94.7% come under this category. Maximum number of domestic overnight, domestic same day visitors and foreign overnight and same day visitors had an educational level of graduation and above. The second highest is higher secondary education for domestic visitors and technical and professional for the foreign visitors. Majority of the domestic and foreign visitors visited West Bengal in their Holidays, Leisure & Recreation. The next important purpose of visit is Pilgrimage and religious activity for domestic visitors and foreign same day visitors. About 43% of the domestic overnight visitors selected train as mode of transportation, whereas most (52.3%) of the domestic same day visitors selected their own vehicle as mode of transportation. In the case of foreign visitors, most of them selected taxi as the mode of transportation. 3 | P a g e Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Annual Report West Bengal Most of the domestic overnight visitors (65.1%) and domestic same day visitors (57.6%) were traveling once in a year, whereas 75.7% foreign overnight visitors and 88.6% same day visitors were traveling less often. Majority of the domestic overnight visitors (95.7%) and same day visitors (97.8%) were not availing tour package. On the other hand, 92.4% of the foreign overnight visitors and 88.5% of same day visitors were availing tour package. Majority of the domestic overnight visitors (94.5%), same day visitors (95.3%), 51.2% of the foreign overnight visitors and 44.6% of same day visitors were arranging the travel mode by themselves. Also 43.1% of the foreign overnight visitors and 51.8% of same day visitors were arranging the travel mod with the help of travel agents. Non star hotels (44.3%) were the major place of stay for the domestic overnight visitors, followed by star hotels (25.9%). On the other hand, star hotels (69.2%) were the major place of stay for the Foreign Overnight Visitors. Restaurants were the major eating place for majority of the visitors. Friends & relatives were the second preferred eating place for domestic same day visitors, while domestic overnight visitors and foreign visitors preferred fast food outlet. Majority of the domestic overnight visitors were satisfied with most of the services. Very few were completely dissatisfied with the upkeep of tourist places and tariff of accommodation units. Majority of the domestic same day visitors were either highly satisfied or satisfied with almost all parameters. Most of the foreign overnight and same day visitors were satisfied with all parameters. Most of the domestic and foreign overnight visitors and same day visitors selected the option “As per expectation”. Only a very small proportion had the opinion worse or much worse than their expectation. The average expenditure on package component of packaged tour of domestic and foreign tourists is not very high. More domestic tourists visited Delhi, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, while more foreigners visited Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Alost all of the tourists had more than one good opinion about this state. 4 | P a g e Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Annual Report West Bengal The sample sizes of the four groups are 60132 domestic overnight, 73308 domestic same day and 3334 foreign overnight visitors and 26 foreign same day visitors. Most of the domestic (98.2%) and foreign visitors (97.7%) the entry point are the bus station or railway station.