Management approach towards Agro Tourism with special reference to potential challenges development and growth in Western Maharshtra

Abstract

India is primarily a cultural destination not only in international tourism but in domestic tourism also. Tourism is also growing as an industry in India. In recent years a phenomenal growth in tourism is observed in India; inbound as well as outbound. Though tourism as an industry is contributing to the GDP and it is considered as a smokeless industry there are certain trends that are developing to avoid the impacts of tourism at the destination. There is a gradual shift in tourism demand from mass to niche tourism. Special Interest Tourism (SIT) which encompasses various niche tourism segments is an emerging field. This trend has resulted in various new forms of tourism like adventure tourism, eco tourism, wild life tourism etc. Agro tourism is one such form of tourism which has recently emerged in Maharashtra. It is a field with potential to develop. Certainly as a newly developing field it has its own share of challenges and management issues to face. The issues like guest host relationship, sustainability, economic feasibility are important for any new tourism development at a destination. It is more so in the case of agro tourism as it has a direct impact on the host culture and rural community as a whole. The current research topic, thus selected, is relevant and efforts are made to gather systematic information from about 11 districts from western Maharashtra.