Sustainable Tourism Development: Prospects and Challenges in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Chapter I: Introduction
• 1.1 Background
• 1.2 Tourism and World Heritage Sites
• 1.3 World Heritage and Sustainable Development
• 1.4 Cultural Tourism at World Heritage Sites in India
• 1.5 Research Overview
• 1.6 Need for the Study
• 1.7 Statement of the Problem
• 1.8 Major Objectives
• 1.9 Methodology
• 1.10 Major Hypothesis
• 1.11 Significance of the Study
• 1.12 Scope of the Study
• 1.13 Chapterisation
• 1.14 Limitations of the Study
• Chapter II: Review of Literature
• Chapter III: Mahabalipuram – A World Cultural Heritage Site
• Chapter IV: Results & Discussions
• Part I: Mahabalipuram Tourism and Ecological Footprints
• Part II: Data Analysis of Tourists
• Part III: Data Analysis of Residents
• Part IV: Prospects and Challenges
• Chapter V: Findings, Suggestions and Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This doctoral thesis investigates the prospects and challenges of sustainable tourism development (STD) in Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu, India. It aims to understand the perceptions of both tourists and residents regarding tourism's impacts and their implications for STD. The study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze various aspects of Mahabalipuram's tourism.

• The trends of tourist arrivals and their behavior in Mahabalipuram.
• The gap between tourist expectations and their satisfaction levels at the destination.
• The perceptions of tourists towards STD in Mahabalipuram.
• The perceptions of residents regarding tourism's impacts (economic, social, environmental) and their involvement in tourism planning.
• The prospects and challenges for promoting STD in Mahabalipuram.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter I: Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of sustainable tourism development (STD) within the broader context of global sustainable development initiatives. It establishes the significance of cultural tourism at World Heritage Sites (WHS), particularly in India. The chapter then focuses on Mahabalipuram as a case study, outlining the research problem, objectives, methodology, hypotheses, and limitations of the study.

Chapter II: Review of Literature: This chapter provides a comprehensive review of existing literature on sustainable tourism development, focusing on its historical evolution and various theoretical frameworks. It examines the history of world tourism, with a specific focus on India and Tamil Nadu, and explores key concepts such as cultural tourism, coastal and resort tourism, the tourism area life cycle, and ecological footprints. The chapter also reviews empirical studies on tourist behavior, resident perceptions, and tourism conflicts.

Chapter III: Mahabalipuram – A World Cultural Heritage Site: This chapter offers a detailed profile of Mahabalipuram, tracing its history from ancient times to the present. It describes the town's unique features, including its rock-cut shrines, monoliths, bas-reliefs, and structural temples, highlighting their historical and cultural significance. The chapter also examines the town's physical characteristics, demographics, infrastructure, and tourism-related aspects, such as the Mahabalipuram Dance Festival and tourist arrival trends.

Chapter IV: Results & Discussions (Part I): This section presents findings from secondary data on tourist arrivals, revenue generation from entry fees and parking, road accidents, energy consumption by hotels, pollution levels, and solid waste generation. It also includes estimations of the ecological footprint of tourism in Mahabalipuram.

Chapter IV: Results & Discussions (Part II): This part details the analysis of primary data collected from a tourist survey. It examines tourist demographics, travel behavior, satisfaction levels concerning various destination attributes, and perceptions of sustainable tourism development practices. Statistical tests (Chi-square, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Factor Analysis) are used to analyze the data and test hypotheses.

Chapter IV: Results & Discussions (Part III): This section analyzes primary data from a resident survey. It explores resident demographics, involvement in tourism-related jobs, perceptions of tourism impacts (positive and negative, economic, social, environmental), and attitudes toward tourism planning and sustainable tourism development. Statistical tests (Independent Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation) are employed to analyze the data and test hypotheses.

Chapter IV: Results & Discussions (Part IV): This concluding part of Chapter IV synthesizes the findings from both tourist and resident surveys, offering a balanced perspective on the prospects and challenges of sustainable tourism development in Mahabalipuram. It identifies potential opportunities and obstacles that need to be addressed for long-term sustainability.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Sustainable tourism development, Mahabalipuram, World Heritage Site, cultural tourism, coastal tourism, ecological footprint, tourist satisfaction, resident perception, tourism impacts, India, Tamil Nadu.

Häufig gestellte Fragen: Language Preview FAQ

What is the main focus of the research outlined in the language preview?

The doctoral thesis investigates the prospects and challenges of sustainable tourism development (STD) in Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu, India. It aims to understand the perceptions of both tourists and residents regarding tourism's impacts and their implications for STD.

What methodologies are employed in the study?

The study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze various aspects of Mahabalipuram's tourism. Tourist and resident surveys are used to gather primary data, and secondary data is also analyzed.

What are the main objectives of the research?

The objectives include analyzing tourist arrival trends and behavior, assessing the gap between tourist expectations and satisfaction, understanding tourist perceptions of STD, examining resident perceptions of tourism's impacts, and identifying prospects and challenges for promoting STD in Mahabalipuram.

What is covered in the Literature Review (Chapter II)?

The Literature Review provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature on sustainable tourism development, including its historical evolution, theoretical frameworks, and key concepts such as cultural tourism, coastal tourism, and ecological footprints. It also reviews empirical studies on tourist behavior and resident perceptions.

What makes Mahabalipuram a significant case study?

Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with unique historical and cultural significance, featuring rock-cut shrines, monoliths, bas-reliefs, and structural temples. Its status as a popular tourist destination also makes it relevant for studying the impacts of tourism.

What kind of data is analyzed in the Results and Discussions chapter (Chapter IV)?

Chapter IV presents and discusses the results of both secondary and primary data. This includes tourist arrival statistics, revenue generation, energy consumption, pollution levels, waste generation, tourist survey data (demographics, travel behavior, satisfaction), and resident survey data (perceptions of tourism impacts, involvement in tourism planning).

What statistical methods are used in the data analysis?

The study uses various statistical tests such as Chi-square, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Factor Analysis, Independent Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation to analyze the data and test hypotheses.

What are the key themes explored in the research?

Key themes include sustainable tourism development, cultural tourism, coastal tourism, ecological footprint, tourist satisfaction, resident perceptions of tourism impacts (economic, social, and environmental), and the prospects and challenges for tourism in Mahabalipuram.

What is the scope of the research?

The research focuses specifically on Mahabalipuram, a World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu, India. It considers the perceptions of both tourists and residents, and aims to provide a balanced view of the benefits and challenges of tourism in the area.

What are the keywords associated with this research?

Keywords include: Sustainable tourism development, Mahabalipuram, World Heritage Site, cultural tourism, coastal tourism, ecological footprint, tourist satisfaction, resident perception, tourism impacts, India, Tamil Nadu.