Role of Community Attitudes in Revival of Rural Tourism
Abstract
India lies in her villages. Nearly 95 per cent of the total geographical area of India constitutes rural areas, in which 72 per cent of the total population (70.98 per cent according to 2001 census) lives. Since independence most of the national policies have been focusing upon rural development. But issues like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, regional imbalances, and environmental degradation through deforestation; health and sanitary factors in rural areas remain unsolved. Many of the planners blame commercial viability for this matter. At the same time these rural areas posses natural and socio -cultural resources, which are fantastic sources for tourism and recreation. Systematic tourism development in rural areas through public participation can contribute towards the socio-economic development of these areas, and on the other hand it can increase the attraction base for the modern tourists, which ultimately bring in foreign currencies and contribute to the GDP of the country.
In lieu of the above, the present paper focuses upon the following:
•To conceptualize tourism in rural areas.
•To study the challenge that rural India is facing.
To study the socio-economic contribution of tourism to the rural areas.
To study what people think about tourism development of their living areas.
Introduction
The term ‘Rural’ can be characterized by two different features. First, rural people live in a farmstead. The number of houses varies from 5,00 to 10,000. Second, most of the people depend on the agriculture for their livelihood, thus spending most of their working hours on farms. As per these criteria nearly 95 per cent of the total geographical area of India constitutes rural area, in which around 70 % of the total population lives. Despite poverty and infrastructure inadequacy, these areas witness pleasing weather, unpolluted air, natural and scenic beauty, and unique culture, Along with lush green crop fields, which are of great attraction
India lies in her villages. Nearly 95 per cent of the total geographical area of India constitutes rural areas, in which 72 per cent of the total population (70.98 per cent according to 2001 census) lives. Since independence most of the national policies have been focusing upon rural development. But issues like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, regional imbalances, and environmental degradation through deforestation; health and sanitary factors in rural areas remain unsolved. Many of the planners blame commercial viability for this matter. At the same time these rural areas posses natural and socio -cultural resources, which are fantastic sources for tourism and recreation. Systematic tourism development in rural areas through public participation can contribute towards the socio-economic development of these areas, and on the other hand it can increase the attraction base for the modern tourists, which ultimately bring in foreign currencies and contribute to the GDP of the country.
In lieu of the above, the present paper focuses upon the following:
•To conceptualize tourism in rural areas.
•To study the challenge that rural India is facing.
To study the socio-economic contribution of tourism to the rural areas.
To study what people think about tourism development of their living areas.
Introduction
The term ‘Rural’ can be characterized by two different features. First, rural people live in a farmstead. The number of houses varies from 5,00 to 10,000. Second, most of the people depend on the agriculture for their livelihood, thus spending most of their working hours on farms. As per these criteria nearly 95 per cent of the total geographical area of India constitutes rural area, in which around 70 % of the total population lives. Despite poverty and infrastructure inadequacy, these areas witness pleasing weather, unpolluted air, natural and scenic beauty, and unique culture, Along with lush green crop fields, which are of great attraction
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