The Development To Tourism Tourism Essay Example

serving as both a research area for scientists and an adventurous spot for tourists on a safari. Additionally, it brings economic benefits to both the government and private sector due to its potential for generating revenue. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that tourist destinations are often classified based on artificial boundaries such as geography or politics, rather than considering consumer preferences or the industry's functions (Edward, J., 2010; Vlahovic, S.).

According to Holloway and Taylor (2006), all destinations share certain characteristics, such as the location, services, facilities, and accessibility. Currently, there is a high level of competition in all destinations worldwide. This is due to the mobility and availability of tourist destinations globally, as well as advancements in technology, infrastructure, and communication.

In the text, Vlahovic (2010) argues that the excuse of a task being too difficult cannot be used to avoid competitive challenges. It is noted that destinations vary in nature and not all possess equal potential. Some destinations have abundant resources and competitive advantages, while others have limited natural resources and infrastructure to support tourism development (Ritchie and Crouch, 2000, as cited in McCartney et al., 2008). McCartney et al. (2008) further discuss the debate raised by Ritchie and Crouch (2000) regarding whether destinations are innate or created. The answer to this question remains uncertain.

Ritchie and Crouch (2000) discuss the definition of destination competitiveness and its connection to sustainability, stating that it primarily involves increasing tourism spending, attracting more visitors, and providing them with satisfying and memorable experiences in a profitable manner. It also involves improving the well-being of destination residents and preserving the natural resources for future generations. Therefore, destination competitiveness in tourism

encompasses multiple dimensions of sustainability, including economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects. Competitiveness has become a crucial aspect of tourism policy, as tourism activity grows stronger. Consequently, there is a need to focus on enhancing competitiveness by establishing a framework to analyze, control, and improve quality and effectiveness in the industry while conserving resources (Vlahovic, 2010). Sustainability is defined by Bruntland's Report (1987, as cited in Cooper et al.).

A SWOT analysis and PESTLE analysis are valuable tools for evaluating the sustainability and potential of a destination. These analyses help identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, enabling the development of innovative strategies to address any identified weaknesses or threats. Strategy refers to the cohesive plan that determines an organization's direction and scope by combining its goals, policies, and actions (Quinn, 1980). Short-term plans typically span three years while long-term plans extend beyond five years. Such strategies assist in aligning an organization's resources with changing environmental demands in tourist destinations to take advantage of opportunities for stakeholders (Tribe, 1997).

Expressway and Ryan (2004), as cited by McCartney et al.(2008), emphasize the significance of having a competitive strategy that considers cognitive, affective, and conative perceptions of a destination. Their research findings indicate that successful positioning involves effectively communicating a clear message aimed at attracting tourists and gaining a competitive edge. Assessing positioning requires understanding how a brand is perceived in terms of performance on key aspects compared to competitors.

Hong (2008) states that the income and growth of a national tourism industry can enhance the financial well-being and standard of living for citizens in both developed and developing countries. To achieve this, it is vital to implement effective education and

training programs on sustainable tourism through academic orientation programs, government and private organizations, as well as diverse information channels (Harris et al 2002). The concept of sustainability strategy was initially introduced by the World Conservation Strategy (WCS) in 1980, which received funding from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).The chief scheme aims to provide construction and legal guidelines for both developed and developing countries, emphasizing the importance of preserving life resources for human survival. These resources include greenhouse gas emissions, destruction, degradation, extinction of plants and animal species, pollution, genetic diversity, and soil erosion. To achieve sustainable development, it is crucial to identify preservation issues and take necessary actions. The strategy also proposes effective ways to achieve the goal (NSSD, 1980).

There are four main pillars of sustainable strategies: economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and cultural sustainability. Proper consideration of all these pillars is essential to ensure the well-being of all stakeholders involved in sustainable tourism production and consumption processes in both rural or urban settings (Cooper et al., 2008).

Comprehensive planning across all industrial sectors is necessary for economic sustainability (Cooper et al., 2008).

The text highlights the significance of preventing unwanted pressure from mediators on planning processes, as it can adversely affect the tourist experience. According to Mowforth and Munt (2009), economic sustainability is equally important in tourist development. They define sustainability as obtaining economic benefits from activities such as planning and development, enough to cover expenses for tourists and counteract negative impacts. In contrast, Baumgartner and Quaas (2010) hold a different view on sustainability, based on weak and strong sustainability concepts.

Environmental Sustainability is essential for the tourism

industry as it requires a comprehensive understanding and awareness of the impacts on the environment and how to incorporate them into the economic market. Both tourists and service providers need to acknowledge their responsibilities in order to avoid disrupting natural life rhythms. Government regulations should be implemented to enforce compliance with these measures (Cooper et al., 2008). Moreover, calculating carrying capacities is an important approach for evaluating environmental impact and advancing sustainability (Maldonado et al.).

1992 cited in Mowforth and Munt 2009 ) .

Social sustainability

Social sustainability refers to a community's ability, whether local or national, to adapt to changes caused by an influx of tourists, both in the short and long term, while maintaining social harmony. This can be achieved by either preventing the creation of social discord as a result of these changes or by resolving conflicts and adjusting social structures and relationships to minimize their negative impact (Mowforth and Munt 2009). According to Cooper et al. (2008), tourists who resist adapting to local customs and behaviors always have negative effects on the local community. Therefore, to avoid such negative impacts, tourists who are genuinely interested in local traditions and practices should engage with them respectfully, as an attempt to commercialize these traditions may eventually alter their essence.

Cultural sustainability Travel can change a person's life by allowing them to visit different parts of the world and interact with the local people. This interaction helps increase understanding about the tourist destination and its culture. However, sometimes these interactions can alter the relationships within a specific society, the way people interact, their lifestyle, customs, and traditions. These changes may not always

be welcomed by the society as culture is a dynamic aspect of human life within a society, community, and economy.

Cultural sustainability refers to individuals' ability to preserve or understand unique aspects of their civilization, differentiating them from others (Mowforth and Munt, 2009). It is crucial to harmonize with human-defined boundaries, leading each destination to have its own administrative and management style. These styles encompass regulations and ordinances at various levels - towns, cities, states, countries, and globally - in order to maintain a balance of environmental, economic, social, and cultural sustainability. Governments and private organizations are key players in developing strategies and policies for long-term engagement and motivation within the tourism industry. This involves government stakeholders, private organizations, local authorities, NGOs as participants. The vast tourism industry covers operations such as understanding sustainability/non-sustainability; meeting the needs of tourist destinations; considering consumers' requirements; collaborating with suppliers like tourism intermediaries and infrastructure developers; managing visa procedures; handling visitor statistics; assessing the economic impact generated by tourism (Prugh et al.).

In the western part of India lies Maharashtra province, which is our chosen destination.

Maharashtra, the second most densely populated and third largest province in India, has vast tourism potential due to its rich culture and diverse geographical areas. This makes it an attractive destination for travelers. It is also worth noting that Maharashtra holds the title of being the wealthiest state in India, contributing 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.2% of its GDP in 2005-06.

The name Maharashtra has been mentioned as early as a 7th century inscription and was documented by Hiuen-Tsang, a renowned Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who chronicled China-India interactions during

the early Tang period. Within Maharashtra are four world cultural heritage sites: Ajanta caves and Ellora caves located in Aurangabad, as well as Elephanta caves situated on Elephanta Island in Mumbai.

The site currently known as 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus' (CST), previously called 'Victoria Terminus' (VT) (MTDC, 2010), was recently inscribed. Bhandardara is a popular trekking spot in Maharashtra, followed by Pratapgarh near Mahabaleshwar, Torna near Bhor, and Panhala near Kolhapur. Additionally, the Sahyadri ranges offer around 7 to 8 trekking routes in places like Pune, Satara, and Lonavala. Furthermore, the Karla Mountains feature ancient rock climbing activities dating back to 160 BC, including a vast collection of Chaitya caves (Planning committee of India, 2007). Around 40 kilometers away from Pune, Panshet Aqua Sports centers provide various water sports activities like windsurfing, speed yachting, kayaking, and water scooters.

Close to Mumbai, Esselworld at Gorai is an amusement park that features roller coasters and H2O slides. In Maharashtra, sailing equipment is available only at the Khadakvasla Lake in Pune, along with the popular sport of Sailing also available in Mumbai. Recently, MTDC has opened a Scuba and Snorkelling diving school in the Arabian Sea at Konkan (MTDC, 2010). To properly plan and support a strategy for the chosen destination, a SWOT analysis of the destination's internal and external factors should be conducted (Tribe, 2003). This analysis will help understand the competitive nature and threats present in all four pillars of sustainability.

The analysis of tourer finish success in Maharashtra is based on resources and environmental factors, including the major influences upon the tourer finish success (Tribe, 2003). Maharashtra's touristry sector analysis considers both national and planetary resources and environmental considerations.

SWOT

analysis of Maharashtra

Strengths available in Maharashtra

Maharashtra has a strong potential with its natural beaches, heritage, and culture. Mumbai, the commercial and entertainment capital of India, is a valuable asset for the state. A notable achievement by A has been recently observed.

R. Rehman, known for his work in the film Slumdog Millionaire, has had a notable influence on both the Indian community in the United States and United Kingdom. Furthermore, Mumbai's international airport is vital in drawing in 26% of international tourists. Moreover, Mumbai holds an advantage as a favored destination for domestic tourists within India. Additionally, agricultural tourism and wine tourism are currently thriving industries.

Because of The international degree research institute and supplying a better cognition about the agricultural merchandises which includes export quality merchandise to other states and how to prolong the husbandmans land to turn good harvests in future, and also considering wellness Medical touristry which is still in its infancy in metro metropoliss.

Failing in Tourism of Maharashtra

Every touristry require tourer for its growing so, the touristry industry in Maharashtra is extremely depend on the long draw market include USA, UK, France and Germany. Second, the host atmosphere ; when tourer arrived in Mumbai they experience that the status of western main road is hapless, ample sum of advertizement boards and so on the route beggars this all creates a really hapless host atmosphere the ground behind it is population of Mumbai about is about 13,788,305.

Thirdly, theodolites position reveals that only 5-8% of the 50% of international tourists who visit India are willing to travel to Maharashtra as their destination. The reason behind this is the concerns about safety and security, as well

as the poor marketing campaigns both in India and other countries.

Fourthly, the lack of focus on development and the lack of coordination between MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development and Corporation), ITDC (Indian Tourism Development Corporation), and IRCTC (Indian Railway and Catering Tourism Corporation), among others, have resulted in each organization pursuing their own objectives and plans independently. This lack of cooperation among various governmental organizations involved in tourism causes inconvenience for tourists. For instance, visiting the Ajanta World Heritage site requires tourists to purchase as many as 7 tickets due to a jurisdiction issue.

(Planing Commission of India, 2007). The Deccan Odyssey Luxury train, which serves 7 tourist destinations in Maharashtra, has experienced a decrease in revenue. This can be attributed to poor marketing strategies and promotions from various tourist information kiosks available in Maharashtra and other parts of India.

Opportunities to sustain tourism in Maharashtra

Due to the 9/11 terrorist attack, domestic tourism growth has increased. The Maharashtra Government has taken initiatives to attract domestic tourists as part of their tourism strategy. Additionally, the Indian government's Golden Quadrilateral Highway project is nearing completion, which will connect the North-South and East-West corridors through National highways. This is expected to improve accessibility for domestic tourism (GoI, 2002).

The turning tourist destinations of Japan, China, and Sri Lanka have Buddhist populations, and their involvement in Buddhist architecture and heritage presents a great opportunity for Maharashtra to showcase its unique 'Cave Architecture'. Additionally, the nature of the tourist market in Mumbai, with a focus on high-spending business and leisure tourists from East European countries, is influenced by China as the primary outbound market.

Threats to sustainable tourism in Maharashtra

Over the past decade, Maharashtra has

faced significant threats that have impacted its tourism industry. These include incidents such as the 1993 bomb blast that targeted hotels and tourist attractions, the 2006 train bomb blast, and the terrorist attack on Hotel Trident, The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminals in Mumbai from 26th to 29th November 2008. Furthermore, Maharashtra faces competition from Kerala, which has already begun implementing their vision 2025 to sustain their tourism growth.

Third, the greatest amount of competition can be observed in Heritage tourism, beach tourism, water sports, and special interest tourism.

Cultural sustainability and initiatives in Maharashtra

The government of Maharashtra believes that under the cultural tourism program, the unique aspects of the state's rich culture and traditions will be recognized and promoted as an integral part of Maharashtra's tourism. The aim is to identify and promote folk arts and organize folk dance and music programs at tourist destinations (Govt of Maharashtra 2006). However, there is limited financial support for participants in the entertainment industry, hindering its sustainability.

The fiscal support is not timely, and they need to wait for the amount from the government. Currently, there is a lot of attention given to Bollywood artists, indicating that celebrities have taken over Maharashtra's culture, such as adopting the dress sense of Hollywood actresses, which is now visible in metro cities. However, no specific measures have been taken by the entertainment industry to provide opportunities for local artists to perform on a large scale.

Environmental impacts and sustainable tourism strategies in Maharashtra

Due to a significant increase in domestic and international tourism, metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Pune are facing pollution problems. In the case of Pune, pollution levels are

consistently high. Local authorities have implemented strict regulations for transportation and traffic control to mitigate the negative impact on the environment, but it has not reached a satisfactory level in achieving low pollution in these metro cities. Every tourism activity affects both the natural and built environment.

The issue of tourism and its impact on the environment is complicated, but authorities have implemented plans to promote eco-tourism in order to find a balance. These plans involve measures such as not allowing new construction in protected areas like sanctuaries, lakes, and forests. Instead, existing buildings like government rest houses in hill stations and sanctuaries can be modified. However, the cost and expenses of renovating these old buildings is actually higher than constructing new ones. Additionally, the government and NGOs provide financial support and knowledge about eco-tourism to the local communities living in these areas in order to develop and sustain them.

The authorities has selected a portion of Konkan in Mumbai for environmental sustainability. In this area, the authorities provide housing (huts and cottages) with amenities and other facilities to individuals, with the condition that the natural life cycle is not disturbed. This serves as a good example and strategy to understand rural life in connection with nature for future generations and also helps to increase income levels and living standards for both the local residents and urban tourists (GoM, 2006).
Economic sustainable strategies
Economic sustainability refers to achieving a balance between rural and urban economic development. Both the government and private policymakers should focus on reducing poverty in both rural and urban areas at specific destinations (Shen et al., 2008).

According to previous references, the government and various private organizations

are currently working on research in the fields of Agriculture, nature (wildlife), medical (Health and safety), information technology-communication, and human resource development in Maharashtra. The goal is to provide better employment opportunities and increase the income level and standard of life for everyone. However, the current situation reveals an imbalance in growth in various sectors, particularly labor on contract and seasonal basis. In these cases, employers often outsource employment during peak periods instead of hiring locally. As a result, a difference arises between local employees and outsourcing employees.

India is still in the process of development. Meanwhile, Japan has been supporting the reconstruction of Ajanta caves in Maharashtra and Nalanda University, an ancient Buddhist center of higher learning in Bihar from 427 to 1197 CE. The economy of Maharashtra heavily relies on long-term and foreign tourists, who have a higher spending capacity compared to domestic tourists. As previously discussed, stakeholders such as Taj, Oberoy, Hilton, Best Western Hotels, Hyatt, Thomas Cook, Cox and King, SOTC, Raj Travel, and other well-known tourism service providers play a crucial role in sustainable economic growth through employment and taxation.

Social sustainable strategies

Stren and Polese (2000) define social sustainability as development (and/or growth) that is compatible with the harmonious development of civil society. This promotes an environment that allows culturally and socially diverse groups to coexist while also encouraging social integration and improving the quality of life for all segments of the population (Davidson, M., 2009).

According to Nair, P., and Sen, S., (2005), sexual activity tourism is a new phenomenon. They state that not all tourists engage in sex tourism, but some definitely do. The incident involving sex in Goa had a

significant impact on the region's tourism industry. It involved the exploitation of young girls for sexual purposes and pornography, providing them with shelter.

According to Cooper et al. (2008), the growth of activities involving procurers, whorehouses, cab drivers, and hotel workers is often supported by a web of facilitators. The internet has worsened the problem by creating an international communication network that can market these services on a global scale. In addition, there are isolated cases of child labor in small-scale industries, with the absence of family. Most of these children are encountered by international tourists who visit for their holidays and believe that the children are safe and free from any Sexual Transportation Diseases (Nair, P., and Sen, S.).

Harmonizing to a study conducted in Maharashtra, the people residing in diverse societies experience fluctuating societal conditions, which can be observed through the competition within society. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of life and promote social upliftment, it is necessary to exchange cultural values and adapt to changes in the environment and social life. Additionally, during times of natural disasters or other unfortunate events caused by humans, the people of Maharashtra demonstrate the need for unity in order to overcome these challenges.

Although there may be differences in the beginnings of people's civilization, Kulkarni G. (2010) posits that people might believe that the issue of the environment is sufficient. However, the severity of the problem demands that, if each person in Maharashtra fulfills their duty to conserve and preserve the environment without relying solely on government intervention, it will make it easier for future generations to sustain the environment at a low cost.

Conclusion -

As an advisor, it is important for every destination and attraction's consumers and suppliers to understand the difference between sustainable and non-sustainable civilization.

The text emphasizes the need for sustainable tourism development in Maharashtra. It suggests that achieving sustainable growth within the next 10-15 years requires a balance between limits and usage, as well as continuous monitoring and planning. Various strategies can be employed to enhance competitiveness in tourism while maintaining sustainability. One such strategy is education and training, where providing basic knowledge about the environment and sustainability can lead to improvements. An example of this is a local tourist guide training program that enables locals to understand the history and significance of a place, allowing them to serve tourists on a competitive level.

The authorities establishments in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik have been crucial in providing education and training to researchers. In the tourism industry, the private organizations Taj and Oberoy have the most influence in Maharashtra.

Equal opportunity: It is important to focus on other parts of Maharashtra, not just Mumbai. Current policies are heavily concentrated on Mumbai, which provides many jobs and opportunities for people in various destinations. Therefore, the government and private organizations should not overlook the immense potential available in other places in Maharashtra. They could focus on agricultural tourism, medical tourism, heritage tourism, adventure tourism, and wildlife tourism, among others.

The role of research workers and professionals in the decision-making process:

They play a crucial role in policy and strategy analysis. In simple terms, they identify the positive and negative aspects through various research conducted by experts and scholars. This is important because any changes in

the tourism development process can have consequences, and it is the responsibility of the management and governing body.

Safety and security:

It is essential that tourists are not victims of any manmade or natural disasters. The local government and tour operators must take extra care to prevent any harm. Any harm to individuals or losses for national and international states can impact the specific destination and future tourists' decisions.

Decentralization and accountability:

The operational and management process involves various tasks and governing bodies. To reduce the timeframe, quick and accurate decisions are required to make changes or implement original strategies.

Keeping records of every event and financial transaction in the tourism sector is equally important. It helps ensure accountability and can contribute to improved forecasting for tourism in Maharashtra.