Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF VASHI CITY, NAVI MUMBAI Mrs. Shaila P. Hajare Department of Geography Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College, Vashi, Navi Mumbai. ABSTRACT: Tourism industry is the fastest and growing industry in the world. This industry is one of the machines to generate employment opportunities for the local people and also we gain foreign exchange earnings. These earnings are supported to the local economy. Due to strong economical conditions, as a result it will change the face of local tourism place and it will maintain the standard of living. Tourism is a platform to promote the local handicrafts and show our culture to the tourists. The development of tourism is mainly based on nature of tourism and infrastructural facilities provided to the tourists. Maharashtra state has great scope for the development of tourism. But some tourist’s places are developed and some of them are potential. Minimum basic facilities are essential for the development of tourism spots. In Maharashtra state, Navi Mumbai is one of the richest municipal corporations. Vashi is one of the smart, commercial and planned city in Mumbai. CIDCO is one the organization for development of new towns by planning and developing entire urban infrastructure. In Vashi city there were many tourist spots like Mini Seashore, Sagar Vihar, Joggers Park, Malls, and Gardens. CIDCO and NMMC take initiatives and make proper tourism policy. It will help to develop tourism places. Key Words: Tourism industry, exchange earning, development, potential 1.0 INTRODUCTION: Tourism geography is the main branch of human geography, it is multifaceted industry. In the world and now tourism is the largest service industry which provides employment and foreign currency earning. Tourism is one of the sectors which plays an important role in development and also generates foreign revenues. This sector is peaceful and reflects the nature and beauty of the country. It helps people of far flung areas to promote their culture and norms, it also provide opportunity to country to make a better image around the world. Economic development of any tourist place depends on nature of tourism and infrastructural facilities provided to the tourists. Tourism is a major industry and remains a valuable sector in many countries of the world. Tourism also contributes significantly to the country's economy. Tourism is one of the best engines to generate employment opportunity for local people, valuable market for the local arts and crafts and local products. Foreign exchange earnings are helps to support the local economy. Tourists and local people of the destination can play an important role for the development of tourism and ultimately popularity of the destination. Tourism industry in Maharashtra has a tremendous potential for growth. Attraction of tourists is mainly depending on the tourism products. The basic infrastructure and the variety of tourist themes offered by various destinations in Maharashtra. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra state. A huge numbers of foreigners are come from other countries. Also it is natural port. All types of infrastructural facilities are easily available in Mumbai. Navi Mumbai is a planned township Page 1 of 12 Volume 10 Issue 1 - 2020 1527 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 which is located to the west coast of Maharashtra and it is very close to capital of Maharashtra State. The city is being divided into two parts North Navi Mumbai and South Navi Mumbai. The city was formed after including an area of 95 villages of Raigad and Thane district. The total area included from the villages to form the city was 343.70 sq km. The Government of Maharashtra approved the proposal of the city in August 1979. Navi Mumbai has been developed as an environment-friendly city comprising beautiful landscapes with gardens and parks. Efforts have been made to preserve the mountain terrains, lakes and green spaces which cover almost half of the total area. Navi Mumbai is a well-planned and well-balanced modern city. It has been planned and developed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), a state public sector undertaking registered under the Companies Act, 1970. Vashi is also planned and one of the commercial and attractive city in Navi Mumbai. APMC is located in the heart of Vashi City. Inorbit mall, Vashi railway station, APMC market, Mini shore, gardens, many pilgrimage and spiritual places, Raghulila Mall, Sagar Vihar etc are the most attractive places in Vashi City. As a tourism point of view these places are not developed because of lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of wide publicity. 1.1 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: Tourism has become a major and an integral part of economic, social development, its nourishes a country’s economy, stimulates development process, restores cultural heritage, and helps in maintaining international peace and understanding, which provides employment opportunity for the local people and foreign exchange earnings. 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY : The main objectives of the study are as below: 1) To examine the factors which are responsible for the growth of tourism in Vashi City 2) To strengthen the publicity of the tourism places in Vashi City. 3) To assess the level of satisfaction with respect to tourism in Vashi City. 1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY : Present paper is based on primary data and secondary data which were collected through actual field work and from published and unpublished print media respectively. A questionnaire was prepared and filled by tourists. There were 100 tourists personally contacted during the holidays, Christmas vacation and weekend. Here an attempt is made to assess the level of satisfaction of the tourist by their views regarding the various facilities. For that purpose, nine indicators were selected which is affected the levels of satisfaction of tourists. A Tourists’ views are noted as excellent, good, satisfactory and unsatisfactory. It helps us to identifying whether tourists are satisfied or not. was calculated by giving preferences to their views with numerical values like 8 to 10 for excellent, 6 to 8 for good, 4 to 6 or satisfactory and 0 to 4 for unsatisfactory. The factor wise level of satisfaction is calculated and tabulated. The factor wise average values are calculated categorically summing up the values given by the tourists and dividing the total number of the despondences who Page 2 of 12 Volume 10 Issue 1 - 2020 1528 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 noted that category. These averages multiplying by respective frequencies would be given total satisfaction and divided by the total frequencies for the respective factor would give the satisfaction index for that particular indicator. The following formula is used for calculation of satisfaction index. ∑ Sti = Where, St = Satisfaction Index for the ‘i’th factor. Mi = Numerical values for particular level of satisfaction for the ‘i’th factor. Ni = Number of respondents deriving the particular level of satisfaction for the ‘i’th factor. N = Total number of respondents for that factor for all level of satisfaction. Then the ranks are given to these satisfaction indices. 1.4 STUDY REGION Navi Mumbai is a planned township on the west shore of Arabian Sea. The city was mooted in 1971 to be another urban township of Mumbai by the Government of Maharashtra. Vashi is a small commercial city located on the right bank of Thane Creek and rightly between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The geographical location of Vashi City is 19° 4' N latitude and 72° 59' E longitude with 7 meters height above MSL. It is mainly a large industrial zone with small but very heavily populated residential areas. It is a center of commerce, with many small representative offices of various commercial and goods distribution companies. Navi Mumbai has a population of 1,119,477 according to the 2011. The population density of Navi Mumbai is 5819 persons per square kilometer. Nerul is the most populated area of Navi Mumbai, with an population of 600,000, followed by Vashi, which has an population of 400,000. The total area included from the villages to form the city was 343.70 sq km. Vashi is commercial and residential city and APMC is one of the attractions of people for trade and commerce. There are many tourism places having in the way of tourism development. But strategic planning and infrastructure should be required for development. CIDCO is responsible for development of planned nodes in Navi Mumbai hence analysis of population in planned nodes is highly important as it shows whether CIDCO is successful in archiving its objective to attract migrants in Navi Mumbai by offering good infrastructure because CIDCO’s role in development of Navi Mumbai is restricted to planned nodes only. Page 3 of 12 Volume 10 Issue 1 - 2020 1529 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 LOCATION OF VASHI CITY Page 4 of 12 Volume 10 Issue 1 - 2020 1530 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 SECTORS IN VASHI CITY: For Administration purpose, Vashi City has divided in many sectors like Sector 1 to 29. All sectors are well planned. 1.5 TOURISTS PLACES IN VASHI CITY 1. MINI SEASHORE Mini Seashore is one of the most attractions of people from Vashi. The two-kilometer stretch of Mini Seashore is an excellent all-season getaway that's right outside your neighborhood. The essence of this place is that it is a well-known hangout for not one, but all age groups. This is one place that is visited by people throughout the day and is also considered to be quite a safe place to hangout.