164
L. Singh
the respondents (71.5%) concluded that they were adequately informed regarding
major rural tourism and other attractions of the area by local government, instead of
those (28.5%) who responded negatively on this issue.
6 Contribution of Rural Tourism in Sustainable
Development in Jyotisar
The results regarding contribution of rural tourism in sustainable development in the
area is shown in Table 2.
The indicator showing the highest mean score (4.19) is that tourism is good for our
community. Respondents thought that the rural tourism is essential for development
of the area, with the mean score of 3.67. The development of rural tourism encouraged
locals to engage in tourism business activities in the area (mean = 3.93). Most of the
respondent also believed that the existence of rural tourism in the area helps them
to obtain some type of education or take training programmes that help to increase
the level of awareness and participation in tourism development process (mean =
3.32). The local community of the study area also perceived that the benefits received
from rural tourism in the area override its negative sides (mean = 3.80). The lowest
mean score (2.94) was attained by the indicator that the rural tourism development
in the area focused on interests of the local community. The local community firmly
believed that they should be informed about current and future rural tourism schemes
by various government and non-government agencies, with the mean score of 3.86.
Most of the respondents viewed that rural tourism provides more business &
employment opportunities to the local community (mean = 4.40), followed by the
view that rural tourism helps to improve living standard of locals by increasing their
income level (mean = 3.23) and rural tourism leads to development of infrastructural
facilities in the local area (mean = 3.21). Rural tourism increases the prices of goods
and services for locals in the area had a mean score of 3.13, followed by a rise
in cost of land for tourism expansion (mean = 2.72) and an increase in unhealthy
competition among tourism stakeholders in the area (mean = 2.98).
The view that rural tourism opportunities in the area enhance the pride of the
community by giving recognition to local culture-heritage and handicrafts had a
mean score of 3.94, followed by the view that it is an opportunity to learn and foster
cross-cultural exchange (mean = 3.84). Furthermore, the view that rural tourism also
contributed towards preservation of local heritage and monuments in the area scored
a mean value of 3.26. Among socio-cultural costs caused by rural tourism, the harm
to moral standards and the increase social problems like drug, crime, alcoholism,
child labour etc. was indicated by a mean score of 4.10 in the area. It was also noted
that overcrowding of tourists causes loss of ethnicity and culture identity of local
community (mean = 3.61) due to excessive rural tourism activities in the area. Greater
numbers of tourists to rural tourism site in the area also resulted in commercialization
of local culture and heritage, which causes a decrease in cooperation among guest
L. Singh
the respondents (71.5%) concluded that they were adequately informed regarding
major rural tourism and other attractions of the area by local government, instead of
those (28.5%) who responded negatively on this issue.
6 Contribution of Rural Tourism in Sustainable
Development in Jyotisar
The results regarding contribution of rural tourism in sustainable development in the
area is shown in Table 2.
The indicator showing the highest mean score (4.19) is that tourism is good for our
community. Respondents thought that the rural tourism is essential for development
of the area, with the mean score of 3.67. The development of rural tourism encouraged
locals to engage in tourism business activities in the area (mean = 3.93). Most of the
respondent also believed that the existence of rural tourism in the area helps them
to obtain some type of education or take training programmes that help to increase
the level of awareness and participation in tourism development process (mean =
3.32). The local community of the study area also perceived that the benefits received
from rural tourism in the area override its negative sides (mean = 3.80). The lowest
mean score (2.94) was attained by the indicator that the rural tourism development
in the area focused on interests of the local community. The local community firmly
believed that they should be informed about current and future rural tourism schemes
by various government and non-government agencies, with the mean score of 3.86.
Most of the respondents viewed that rural tourism provides more business &
employment opportunities to the local community (mean = 4.40), followed by the
view that rural tourism helps to improve living standard of locals by increasing their
income level (mean = 3.23) and rural tourism leads to development of infrastructural
facilities in the local area (mean = 3.21). Rural tourism increases the prices of goods
and services for locals in the area had a mean score of 3.13, followed by a rise
in cost of land for tourism expansion (mean = 2.72) and an increase in unhealthy
competition among tourism stakeholders in the area (mean = 2.98).
The view that rural tourism opportunities in the area enhance the pride of the
community by giving recognition to local culture-heritage and handicrafts had a
mean score of 3.94, followed by the view that it is an opportunity to learn and foster
cross-cultural exchange (mean = 3.84). Furthermore, the view that rural tourism also
contributed towards preservation of local heritage and monuments in the area scored
a mean value of 3.26. Among socio-cultural costs caused by rural tourism, the harm
to moral standards and the increase social problems like drug, crime, alcoholism,
child labour etc. was indicated by a mean score of 4.10 in the area. It was also noted
that overcrowding of tourists causes loss of ethnicity and culture identity of local
community (mean = 3.61) due to excessive rural tourism activities in the area. Greater
numbers of tourists to rural tourism site in the area also resulted in commercialization
of local culture and heritage, which causes a decrease in cooperation among guest