Local community attitudes towards community-based cultural tourism in Nilgiris, India

Saravanan, A. (2021) Local community attitudes towards community-based cultural tourism in Nilgiris, India. In: Ecotourism and rural community development. UMK Press, Kelantan, Malaysia. ISBN 9789672912422

Community-based tourism is a holistic and comprehensive approach that strengthens the ability of rural communities to manage tourism resources while ensuring the active participation of the local community. If developed well, community-based tourism can significantly contribute to the development of local communities through empowerment and promotes greater economic and social benefits to individuals in specific and society as a whole. Numerous studies have been explored on the impact of tourism in community development, preservation of cultural and historical uniqueness, multiplier effects of tourism on local inhabitants and conservation of environment. One of the decisive characteristics of community-based tourism is to establish an effective mechanism in engaging the local community in tourism activities and ensuring their active participation. The purpose of this paper is to understand community-based tourism and local community participation by addressing issues associated with the attitudes of local people towards the very idea of the establishment of community-based cultural tourism. "Toda" tribes in the Nilgiris have been accessed with the mixed methodology to gain insight on attitudes towards establishing community-based cultural tourism. The researcher had met 200 respondents from the tribal community to examine their perception of participating in community based cultural tourism activities. The study critically analysis the costs and benefits of tourism to the locals, and argues the need for research in examining the subject related to ethnicity and cultural values of locals to make unique tourism products. Considering all, the study concludes with a systematic approach to foster the tourism sector with active participation of the local community to project the Nilgiris as an indigenous community based cultural tourism destination.

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Abstract

Community-based tourism is a holistic and comprehensive approach that strengthens the ability of rural communities to manage tourism resources while ensuring the active participation of the local community. If developed well, community-based tourism can significantly contribute to the development of local communities through empowerment and promotes greater economic and social benefits to individuals in specific and society as a whole. Numerous studies have been explored on the impact of tourism in community development, preservation of cultural and historical uniqueness, multiplier effects of tourism on local inhabitants and conservation of environment. One of the decisive characteristics of community-based tourism is to establish an effective mechanism in engaging the local community in tourism activities and ensuring their active participation. The purpose of this paper is to understand community-based tourism and local community participation by addressing issues associated with the attitudes of local people towards the very idea of the establishment of community-based cultural tourism. "Toda" tribes in the Nilgiris have been accessed with the mixed methodology to gain insight on attitudes towards establishing community-based cultural tourism. The researcher had met 200 respondents from the tribal community to examine their perception of participating in community based cultural tourism activities. The study critically analysis the costs and benefits of tourism to the locals, and argues the need for research in examining the subject related to ethnicity and cultural values of locals to make unique tourism products. Considering all, the study concludes with a systematic approach to foster the tourism sector with active participation of the local community to project the Nilgiris as an indigenous community based cultural tourism destination.

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Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43000 UPM Serdang, Malaysia. G155 M3E19 2021 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	tourism
AGROVOC Term:	local knowledge
AGROVOC Term:	participatory rural appraisal
AGROVOC Term:	community management
AGROVOC Term:	social groups
AGROVOC Term:	local government
AGROVOC Term:	socioeconomic development
AGROVOC Term:	collisions
AGROVOC Term:	social change
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	23 Sep 2025 07:45
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2025 07:45
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2364

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