Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, Online ISSN 2278-8808, SJIF 2019 = 6.38, www.srjis.com PEER REVIEWED & REFERRED JOURNAL, SEPT-OCT, 2019, VOL- 7/53
A STUDY OF EXPECTATIONS OF THE VISITORS TO SEVERAL RELIGIOUS TOURISM CENTRES IN THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Eesha Vinayak Deshpande1 & Kishor L. Salve2, Ph. D. 1
Ph.D. Scholar- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University
2
(Principal- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Arts and Commerce, Aurangabad) Abstract
Maharashtra, a state in India, having residents of almost all prominent religions like Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism respectively, has a heterogenous composition of religious centres. Religious tourism is the most popular form of tourism in India. Since the religious practices and visits to various religious centres are rapidly gaining popularity, studying the expectations of the devotees from such religious tourism centres would prove to be salubrious to the management of such centres as well as to the visitors. There is a need to bridge the gap between the expectation of facilities by the visitors and the provision of such facilities from the management’s side. This paper is an attempt to understand the expectation of the facilities by the visitors to the various religious tourism centres. This will help to understand the need for further infrastructural development as well as other facilities offered by such centres. Keywords: Religious centres, religious tourism, pilgrimage, devotees
Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com I. INTRODUCTION Faith is one of the basic instincts and therefore, an inevitable part of our lives. People often travel to the places of religious importance for religious and/ or recreational purpose. Religious tourism is the most popular form of tourism in India. Hence there is a need to bridge the gap between the expectation of facilities by the visitors and the provision of such facilities from the management’s side. II. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY To study the expectations of facilities by the devotees visiting various religious tourism centres in Maharashtra. III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Despite the fact that the religious tourists having a different mindset which perhaps does not prioritize comforts, they still need amenities and facilities. In fact, historically, the origin of commercial hotels can be traced back to religious travelers; hotels were occasionally alluded to in contemporary hymns (O’Gorman, 2009). Bryce et al. (2013) found that in Safavid (Iran), both commercial and religious travelers were benefitted from amenities such as the Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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caravanserai. Melian et al. (2016) have posited that curative shrines signify the overlap between religious and accessible tourism; they found that both secular a n d religious tourists gave importance to various factors in accessibility. Jauhari and Sanjeev (2010) propose creation of infrastructure and hygiene facilities in order to enhance the experience of the visitors to spiritual and cultural places. Going by the anecdotal evidence, perhaps people may even travel more for religious purposes when things get rough. IV. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study is based on primary data collected from 433 visitors at various centres in the state of Maharashtra, by way of random sampling. Such data is collected by way of personal interview with the respondents with the help pf questionnaires. In a bid to go green, the information was recorded using the ‘Google forms’ function. The centres were selected across the six administrative divisions from Maharashtra in such a manner that each religion got adequate representation. V. LIMITATIONS The study is limited to 18 religious’ tourist centres in the state of Maharashtra. VI. DATA ANALYSIS Information pertaining to general profile of the respondents was collected. a. Age of the respondents: Information about the respondents’ age was collected. This information is classified into four different groups. The classified information is presented in the following table. Table 1 Visitors according to the age group Age of the respondents
Valid
Number of Percent Valid respondents Percent
Cumulative Percent
Up to 25 years
69
15.6
15.6
15.6
26 to 40 years
178
40.2
40.2
55.8
41 to 60 years
134
30.2
30.2
86.0
Above 60 years
62
14.0
14.0
100.0
Total
443
100.0
100.0
The above table indicates that, out of the 443 respondents, 69 (15.6%) respondents belong to the age group ‘Up to 25 years’, 178 (40.2%) respondents belong to the age group ‘26 to 40 years’, 134 (30.2%) respondents belong to the age group ‘41 to 60 years’ and the remaining Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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62 (14%) belong to the age group ‘Above 60 years’ respectively. The maximum number of respondents are from the age group 26 to 40 years, whereas the minimum number of respondents are of the age above 60 years. The following pie diagram gives us classification of respondents according to the age group.
Figure 1 Visitors according to the age group b. Gender of the respondents The following table represents the gender of the respondents. The gender is classified into three categories, namely, male, female and transgender. Table 2 Visitors according to gender Gender of respondents
the Number of Percent respondents
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Male
255
57.6
57.6
57.6
Female
187
42.2
42.2
99.8
Transgender
1
0.2
0.2
100.0
Total
443
100.0
100.0
Valid
There are, in all, 443 respondents, out of which 255 (57.6%) are male, 187 (42.2%) are females and whereas there is only 1 (0.2%) transgender. The maximum number of respondents are male and the minimum being transgender.
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The following pie diagram represents gender wise classification.
Figure 2 Visitors according to gender c. Religion of the respondents The following table represents the religion followed by the respondents. Table 3 Visitors according to religion Religion of respondents
Valid
the Number of Percent respondents
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Hinduism
295
66.6
66.6
66.6
Jainism
28
6.3
6.3
72.9
Buddhism
43
9.7
9.7
82.6
Sikhism
22
5.0
5.0
87.6
Christianity
18
4.1
4.1
91.6
Islam
37
8.4
8.4
100.0
Total
443
100.0
100.0
There is a total of 443 respondents, of which 295 (66.6%) respondents follow Hinduism, 28 (6.3%) respondents follow Jainism, 43 (9.7%) respondents follow Buddhism, 22 (5%) respondents follow Sikhism, 18 (4.1%) respondents follow Christianity and 37 (8.4%) respondents follow Islam. The maximum number of respondents follow Hinduism whereas the minimum number of respondents follow Christianity. Copyright Š 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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The following pie chart represents religion-wise classification of respondents.
Figure 3 Visitors according to religion followed d. Occupation of the respondents The following table represents the occupation of the respondents. Table 4 Visitors according to occupation Occupation of respondents
the Number of Percent respondents
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Student
40
9.0
9.0
9.0
Service
162
36.6
36.6
45.6
Business
104
23.5
23.5
69.1
Retired
36
8.1
8.1
77.2
Homemaker
101
22.8
22.8
100.0
Total
443
100.0
100.0
Valid
There are total 443 respondents, of which 40 (9%) respondents are students, 162 (36.6%) respondents are at service, 104 (23.5%) run their own businesses, 36 (8.1%) respondents are retired from work life and the remaining 101 (22.8%) respondents are homemakers respectively. The maximum number of respondents are at service and the minimum number of respondents are retired individuals.
Copyright Š 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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The following pie chart represents classification of respondents according to their occupation.
Figure 4 Visitors according to occupation e.
Annual income of the respondents
The following table represents annual income of the respondents. Table 5 Visitors according to annual income Annual Income
Frequency
Below INR 2.5 lakhs 252
Valid
INR 2.5 lakhs to 5 103 lakhs Rs.5 lakhs to 10 66 lakhs
Percent
Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
56.9
56.9
56.9
23.3
23.3
80.1
14.9
14.9
95.0 100.0
Above INR 10 lakhs
22
5.0
5.0
Total
443
100.0
100.0
There are total 443 respondents, of which 252 (56.9%) respondents have annual income below INR 2.5 lakhs, 103 (23.3%) respondents have annual income in the range of INR 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakhs, 66 (14.9%) respondents have annual income in the range of INR 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs and the remaining 22 (5%) have annual income above INR 10 lakhs. The maximum
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respondents have annual income below INR 2.5 lakhs and minimum respondents have annual income above INR 10 lakhs. The following pie chart represents classification of respondents according to their annual income.
Figure 5 Visitors according to annual income f. A) Expectation of the respondents about the following facilities (1 to 4) The following table represents the expectation of the respondents about the given facilities (17.1 to 17.4). Table 6(A) Expectation of visitors Sr. no. 17.1
Type of facility
Very important Availability of worship 43 material
Important
17.2 17.3 17.4
118
Less important 77
Not important 205
Cleanliness and ambience 384 of the premise Charity work of the trust 185
57
1
1
189
52
17
Comfort and safety of the 175 stay facility
233
27
8
17.1: There are total 443 respondents, of which 43 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Availability of worship material’ facility is very important, 118 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Availability of worship material’ facility is important, 77 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Availability of worship material’ facility is less
Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
Eesha Vinayak Deshpande & Dr. Kishor L. Salve (Pg. 13125-13135)
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important and the remaining 205 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Availability of worship material’ facility is not important. Hence, maximum number of respondents feel that ‘Availability of worship material’ facility is not important.
17.2: There
are 384 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Cleanliness and
ambience of the premise’ facility is very important, 57 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Cleanliness and ambience of the premise’ facility is important, 1 respondent is of the opinion that ‘Cleanliness and ambience of the premise’ facility is less important and the remaining 1 respondent is of the opinion that ‘Cleanliness and ambience of the premise’ facility is not important. Hence, maximum number of respondents feel that ‘Cleanliness and ambience of the premise’ facility is very important.
17.3: There are 185 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Charity work of the trust’ facility is very important, 189 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Charity work of the trust’ facility is important, 52 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Charity work of the trust’ facility is less important and the remaining 17 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Charity work of the trust’ facility is not important. Hence, maximum respondents are of opinion that ‘Charity work of the trust’ facility is important.
17.4: There are 175 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Comfort and safety of the stay’ facility is very important, 233 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Comfort and safety of the stay’ facility is important, 27 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Comfort and safety of the stay’ facility is less important and 8 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Comfort and safety of the stay’ facility is not important. Hence, maximum respondents are of the opinion that this facility is important.
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Figure 6(A) Expectation of visitors B) Expectation of respondents about following facilities (Q 17.5 to 17.8) Table 6(B) Expectation of visitors Sr. no. 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8
Type of facility
Very Important Less Not important important important and 331 109 3 0
Crowd management assistance service Ease of access to the centre 194 and parking Hygiene of the washroom 381 facility Treatment from the staff 264 (security personnel, priest, office etc.)
206
34
9
59
3
0
145
30
4
17.5: There are 331 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Crowd management and assistance service’ facility is very important, 109 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Crowd management and assistance service’ facility is important, and the remaining 3 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Crowd management and assistance service’ facility is less important. Hence, maximum number of respondents are of the opinion that ‘Crowd management and assistance service’ facility is very important.
17.6: There are 194 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Ease of access to the centre and parking’ facility is very important, 206 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Ease of access to the centre and parking’ facility is important, 34 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Ease of access to the centre and parking’ facility is less important ,
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and the remaining 9 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Ease of access to the centre and parking’ facility is not important. Hence, maximum number of respondents are of the opinion that ‘Ease of access to the centre and parking’ facility is important.
17.7: There are 381 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Hygiene of the washroom facility’ is very important, 59 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Hygiene of the washroom facility’ is important, and the remaining 3 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Hygiene of the washroom facility’ is less important. Hence, maximum number of respondents are of the opinion that ‘Hygiene of the washroom facility’ is very important.
17.8: There are 264 respondents who are of the opinion that ‘Treatment from the staff’ facility is very important, 145 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Treatment from the staff’ facility is important, 30 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Treatment from the staff’ facility is less important, and the remaining 4 respondents are of the opinion that ‘Treatment from the staff’ facility is not important. Hence, maximum number of respondents are of the opinion that ‘Treatment from the staff’ facility is very important.
The following bar chart represents the expectations of the respondents.
Figure 6(B) Expectation of visitors
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Eesha Vinayak Deshpande & Dr. Kishor L. Salve (Pg. 13125-13135)
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CONCLUSION
A majority of the visitors assigned highest importance to ‘Ambience and cleanliness of the premise’, ‘Crowd management system’, ‘Hygiene of the washroom facility’ and ‘Treatment from the staff’. This means that the management personnel of the religious tourist centres must focus on deploying staff on the following: i. Keeping the premise clean and decorated with items such as Rangoli, paintings etc. to keep a pleasant ambience inside the centres. ii. Ensuring the management of crowd in an effective manner so as to maintain the discipline and decorum of the holy place and prevent stampede- like situation during festivals. iii. Provision of adequate washroom units and assigning dedicated staff to take care of the hourly cleaning of such units. iv. Provide adequate training to the staff, volunteers, priests etc. to converse politely with the visitors. Directing or requesting the visitors verbally would do good in enhancing their experience. The staff must refrain from any rude and/ or violent contact with the devotees. The above-listed provisions, if implemented effectively through proper staffing will ensure the provision of good-quality facilities to the devotees leading to higher number of satisfied devotees. This may attract more visitors due to positive mouth-to-mouth publicity and thereby, generate additional revenue for the trust. VIII. REFRENCES O’Gorman, KD (2009), “Origins of the commercial hospitality industry: from the fanciful to factual”, Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 21 No. 7, pp. 777-790 Bryce, D, O’Gorman, KD and Baxter, IWF (2013), “Commerce, empire and faith in safavid Iran: the Caravanserai of Isfahan”, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 204-226. Melian, AG, Prats, L and Coromina, L (2016), “The perceived value of accessibility in religious sites – do disabled and non-disabled travellers behave differently?”, Tourism Review, Vol. 71 No. 2, pp. 105-117. Jauhari, V and Sanjeev, GM (2010), “Managing customer experience for spiritual and cultural tourism: an overview”, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 2 No. 5, pp. 467-476.
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