Tourism in Uttarakhand
Keywords:
Uttarakhand, destination image, SWOT analysis, current statusAbstract
Located in the Himalayan belt the State of Uttarakhand with snow capped mountains, lakes and rivers, flora and fauna, easy and challenging trekking routes, pilgrimage and religious places, wild life sanctuaries and national parks, fairs, events and festive, and a safe and secured tranquil environment with friendly hosts is a perfect tourist destination. The present study is focused on understanding the image that the tourists hold about Uttarakhand, and to know the current status of tourism in the state. A questionnaire is prepared to know about the perceptions of visitors. Primary data is collected from a sample of 150 visitors. The collected data is tabulated, frequency tables are prepared and charts are drawn and presented. Demographic profiles of the tourists are presented. Religious and rest and relaxation are the main reasons for visit. About 50% of the visitors are repeat visitors. The physical attributes are liked by the respondents, and they have a positive feeling towards the destination. SWOT analysis reveals that the state could be a strong contender as a favorable tourist destination. The current status of the tourism revealed that Uttarakhand is poised to become a top tourist destination by measures undertaken such as sponsoring travel bloggers, developing new destinations, organizing new events, ensuring ecological balance and giving the status of industry to tourism sector.
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