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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online), Volume 3, Issue 3, September- December (2012)
 51
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PILGRIM TOURISM: A CASE STUDY OF SABARIMALA PILGRIMAGE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PERUNADU
* JOHN V. DANIEL ** DR. BABY M.D * RESEARCH SCHOLAR IN MANAGEMENT, NIMS UNIVERSITY JAIPUR RAJASTHAN ** RESEARCH GUIDE IN MANAGEMENT, NIMS UNIVERSITY AND H.O.D, COMMERCE, S.D .COLLEGE KANJIRAPPALLY
ABSTRACT
India is blessed with plenty of well-known pilgrim tourism locations. Due to the pilgrim tourism an enormous economic gains to local community .This study attempts to investigate how Sabarimala pilgrimage helps economic benefits as well as increase in standard of living of locals at Perunadu village. The study is designed as empirical one based on survey method. Two wards of Perunadu village have been identified as places where high & low level of economic activity is taking place during pilgrimage season .The survey reveals high positive effects of pilgrimage tourism on income , employment and standard of living of host community in Perunadu locality.
Keywords:
 Benefits, Pilgrimage tourism , Sabarimala
 INTRODUCTION
Kerala is located at the Southern extremity of the Indian sub continent hugging the Arabian sea, resplendent for her scenic splendour and cultural opulence’s(P .O.George,2006) Perunadu is a small town located in the banks of Pampa river and a main base station for Sabarimala pilgrimage. Perunadu is also famous for important crop , the rubber. One of the most important pilgrim centre in South India Sabarimala. Sree sastha temple is located in Perunadu village. Kakkatu koickal Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is situated in Perunadu.The processions of Thiruvabharanam and Thanka anki (The royal ornaments of lord ayyappa) halt here in pilgrim season.The ayyappa idol in the perunadu temple is used to get decorated with Thiruvabharanam for a day during its return trip from Sabarimala to pandalam palace. This gives an opportunity for women to witness ayyappa decorated with Thiruvabharanam as they cannot enter the sabarimala temple .Other religious places are Bethany Orthodox Ashram . Perunadu market, Mandathum mozhi, Koonamkara, kollamala, puthukkada, Lahai, Mampara, Poovathumoodu and madamon are major places in this locality
 
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT (IJM
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ISSN 0976 – 6367(Print)
 
ISSN 0976 – 6375(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, September- December (2012), pp. 51-61
 
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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online), Volume 3, Issue 3, September- December (2012)
 52
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A substantial volume of literature both at the macro and micro levels can be seen on the subject of tourism and its impacts. The literature survey helped to understand and appreciate the earlier studies conducted in the field of tourism and it provided a broad framework of this study. Douglas Pearce, with the help of cost benefit analysis, evaluated the economic impacts of Tourism. He located employment generation as one of the major impacts of Tourism development ,particularly at the regional and local level. Krishnan K. Kamra(2001),(Economics of Tourism; Pricing impacts, Forecasting- Kanishka Publishers , NewDelhi) in his book finds that there is no economic activity at present that can generate so much income, employment and foreign exchange . There are so many studies on the economic impact of tourism industry and its benefit in the form of income and job opportunities (expenditure by tourists, sale of raw materials and other inputs to the suppliers of tourism) in the host region increases. These benefits are often referred to as primary or direct benefits of tourism. A study of Hisma Badia in Jordan by Samawi(1999) showed that 75% of people in that area work in tourism. 95% of those who work in the industry are in favour of tourism and 86% have a positive perception of it.
IMPORTANCE
 
OF
 
THE
 
STUDY
 
This study is an attempt to evaluate the impact of tourism development in Perunadu village , Kerala. 1.The study access the impact on socio-economic development and shifting of people from one to another profession in host region 2.Tourism is highly labour intensive with high rate of employment potential in micro and macro level. 3.Tourism also helps promotion of traditional culture and preservation of heritage 4.Occupation has significant association with the area .
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 The study is empirical in nature and primary data was considered for analysis. The Data were collected using interview schedule and open discussion with the respondents. The respondents were selected by convenient sampling( non-probability sampling method depending on availability .This interview schedule has been finalized after conducting a pilot study of 50 respondents.
Sample size
 Within the State, Perunadu village is identified for collecting data in such a way that 257 respondents were selected .At the first stage ,the respondents were divided into two categories viz ,those who are continuing in tourism field more than 10 years and those who changed their occupation to tourism related activities within 10 years.184 respondents hails from the first category and 73 from the second category .
Data Collection and Tools
A structural interview schedule has been used for collecting responses from the persons .The collected data was tabulated and frequency distribution tables were framed.
Percentage analysis, Chi- square tests & binomial test
were used for the analysis.
 
International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6510(Online), Volume 3, Issue 3, September- December (2012)
 53
ANALYSIS OF DATA
1. Awareness about the past and present occupation ( by assessing opinions from respondents who changed their occupation to tourism related activities ) 2. Comparing the average monthly income of respondents in impact & non-impact area 3. Comparing the household facilities of respondents in both area 3. Analise negative impacts of pilgrim tourism
Table I : Classification of respondents who shifted to tourism related work
Type of economic activity No. of respondents who are having experience in tourism activities for more than ten years No. of respondents who entered into tourism activities within ten years Total Restaurants, tea shop and accommodation 120(75%) 40(25%) 160 (100%) Transportation(Auto rickshaw/Taxi) 37(74%) 13 (26%) 50 (100%) petty Trading 27(57.5%) 20 (42.5%) 47 (100%) Total 184(71.6%) 73(28.4%) 257 (100%) Source; Primary Data The above table shows that out of 257 respondents 73 (28.4%) have changed their occupation to tourism related activities within 10 years period

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