A STUDY ON CULTURAL AND PILGRIMAGE

TOURISM IN ASSAM

INTRODUCTION
Tourism has been defined in various ways but may be thought of as the relationship and
phenomena arising out of the journeys and temporary stay of people travelling primarily
for leisure and recreational purpose. Tourism is thus a multifaceted activity and
geographically complex one as different service are sought and supplied at different
stages from the origin to the destination. Tourism today is an important factor in the
world trade with international dimensions as a component of national economics, as a
contributor to receipts-expenditures and balance of payments of different countries, as a
means of foreign exchange earnings, as a provider of employment, as a powerful factor
of development and so forth and has been considered as the fourth dimension of
modern economics. The tourism industry is growing at a very fast rate throughout the
world. This includes both internal and external tourism.

Definition of Tourism
Austrain economist Herman V. Schullard has defined tourism as ‘the sum total of the
operations, mainly of an economic nature, which directly relates to the entry, stay and
movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city or region’.
The International Association of scientific Experts on Tourism ( IASET) defines tourism
as ‘the sum of total phenomena and relationship which arising from the travel and stay
of non residents, in so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not
connected with any earning activity.
Thus tourism is a composite phenomenon of various segments of society. It refers to
the temporary movement of people from one place to another. Tourism in the pure
sense of the term is essentially pleasure and recreational activity in which money
earned in ones’ normal domicile, is spent in the place visited. The scope of tourism
includes all the activities, facilities and arrangements associated with tourism.
Tourist
According to the Nineteenth Century Dictionary tourist is a ‘Person who travels for
pleasure of traveling, out of curiosity, and because he has nothing better to do.’

Page 1
 A STUDY ON CULTURAL AND PILGRIMAGE
TOURISM IN ASSAM

So, tourist is a person who makes a travel for the sake of curiosity and for the fun of
traveling.
Foreign Tourist
This definition includes following characteristics of foreign tourist.

1. Travelling for pleasure, domestic purposes, for health etc.

2. Travelling for meeting or as representative nature (scientific, administrative,
diplomatic, religious, athletic etc.).
3. Travelling for business purpose.
4. Travels by sea even when the stay overseas is less than twenty four hours.

The United Nations in 1945 accepted this definition, stated that the tourist was a person
who stayed in a foreign country for more than 24 hours and less than six months for any
non-immigrant purpose for the compilation of travel statistics.
Domestic Tourist
Domestic tourist as ‘for statistical purpose, the term domestic tourist designates any
person who travels within the country where he resides to a place other than his usual
place of residence for at least twenty four hours or one night, for a purpose other than
exercising a gainful activity and which may be classified under one of the following
categories:

 Leisure (recreation, holiday, health, study, religion and sport );

 Business, family, mission, meeting.’

Rationale of the Study

Assam is a hilly state situated in the north eastern part of India. There are a number of
tour places in Assam. Among them Assam holy places are most commonly visited by
the tourists. The devotees also come to these places. During any festivals, the temples
of Assam are crowded with devotees. The holy places of Assam include religious
centers built by people of every religion. The population of Assam is very
heterogeneous as people from every part of the country come to settle in this part.

Page 2
 A STUDY ON CULTURAL AND PILGRIMAGE
TOURISM IN ASSAM

Some of the religious sites have become pilgrim centers in Assam. Every year the
devotees visit these places and they pay homage to the respective gods and goddess
of the temple. Many of the Hindu temples are built in honor of a particular god or
goddess. The serene and peaceful atmosphere of the holy places in Assam purifies the
soul and mind of the visitors. The holy places of Assam are a meeting ground of all the
religion and cultures of India. These religious places can be accessed by reaching
Assam by rail, road or air. The tourists can avail bus services or rent cars to visit these
places in Assam.

Need for the Study

India is a home of different religions having large number of world famous pilgrimage
sites. Thus, it provides excellent opportunities for pilgrimage tourism. Due to enough
sacred sites the prospects of pilgrimage tourism in North India is very bright. However,
the pace of growth of domestic tourism in India is far from satisfactory. It is worth
mentioning that there is a lack of basic tourism infrastructure facilities like, food,
accommodation, transportation, drinking water and sanitation etc. in most of the
pilgrimage places in North India. Further, the state governments in these states have
started taking a keen interest in developing pilgrimage tourism. Moreover, the survey of
literature on tourism has revealed that no comprehensive research work has been
undertaken to study the growth and potential of pilgrimage tourism in North India.
Considering these facts and importance of pilgrimage tourism activities for the North
India and at the national level, the above study is an attempt to evaluate the pilgrimage
tourism in North India

Objective of the study

1. To assess the resources concerning cultural & Pilgrimage tourism.

2. To study the linkage of culture and tourism development in the study region.
3. To highlight the problems and prospects of cultural tourism in the region

Research methodology

Page 3
 A STUDY ON CULTURAL AND PILGRIMAGE
TOURISM IN ASSAM

Research Methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem i.e. it

signifies how the research is being carried out. Here we study the various steps that are
adopted in studying the research problem. The methodology gives the researcher a
chance to put forth his views, contentions and justifications for having adopted a certain
way of doing research and ruling out other possibilities. It is with this view that this
particular content of the synopsis (research methodology) will be incorporated in the
project work and will be divided into following sections:-
1) Research Design
2) Sample Design
3) Data Collection
4) Data Analysis Procedure

PRIMARY DATA: Data collected from previous annual records by the researcher
himself for the purpose of research is primary data. It directly
benefits the research problem.

Primary data can be collected by three methods:

 Observation
 Experiment
 Personal Interview

But there, only surveys method of data collection is preferred

which is very suitable to reach the researcher motto.

SECONDARY DATA: In order to collect data from secondary sources the following
sources of data collection have been used-

 Books, Reports and Journals.

 Project Report.
 State Govt, annual Data Report
 Websites.

Page 4
 A STUDY ON CULTURAL AND PILGRIMAGE
TOURISM IN ASSAM

RESEARCH DESIGN

This research design is based on descriptive research with focus on discovery of ideas, themes
and models. It is a primary investigation which does not have rigid design because researcher
gets engaged in a descriptive study.

After the collection of data, it has to be analyzed to find out the various points and issues to be
worked on. These points are further is to be analyzed in detail and rearranged according to the
requirement so that the desired results can be obtained.

AREA OF SURVEYS: The survey is to be conducted in Tourist and holy places in

Assam

SAMPLING PLAN

Sampling Size: The sample is to be consisted of 100 Tourist, 50 Local People and
50 administrative staff are selected randomly.

Sampling Method: Data will be collected by the survey. The researcher will directly
contact and interview.

Analytical Aspect: Case-studies, different statistical methods and tools as applicable.

Statistical Techniques: Description (Mean, S.D) and influential sustain will be used,
comparatively variables will be evaluated by T- test.
To multiple regresses regularly will also be applied.

TOOLS USED FOR ANALYSIS OF DATA

The data will be collected for the study tabulated and analyzed by employing
mathematical and statistical tools like percentage, weighted mean, Chi-square test and
Friedman ANOVA. Weighted Mean is to be used to rank the responses of various
questions. Chi-square Test and Friedman ANOVA are to be used to test the significance

Page 5
 A STUDY ON CULTURAL AND PILGRIMAGE
TOURISM IN ASSAM

of results obtained based on analysis. To sustain relation and the variables prime move
moment of coefficient of correlation will be used.

CHAPTER SCHEME

The dissertation consists of seven chapters. The scope of these chapters is briefly as follows.

 First chapter gives an introductory briefing.

 The second chapter presents the methodology used for the study, data collection
techniques and the tools of analysis used for the study.
 Chapter three contains an overview of the historical perspective of the present study.
 Chapter four narrates the present scenario of the cultural and pilgrimage tourism in
Assam.
 Chapter five deals with the evaluation of the working of system based on the analysis
and interpretation of the collected data.
 Chapter six brings into picture the different problems faced and future prospects.
 Chapter seven gives the suggestions and conclusions emerging from the study

REFRENCES:

 Bhagabati, A. K. et.al. (Ed) 2001 Geography of Assam, Rajesh Publications, New

Delhi.
 Bhattacharya, P. 2004 Tourism in Assam: Trend and Potentialities,
Labanya Prakashan, Guwahati.
 Dhar, P.N. 2008 Cultural and Heritage Tourism, Kanishka Publisher, New Delhi.
 Megu, K. 2007 “Prospectus of Cultural Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh”, in
Ahmed, J.U. (ed) Industrialization in North-Eastern Region, Mittal Publications,
New Delhi

Page 6