A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF FAIRS AND FESTIVALS IN SOLAPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The tourism is a human activity, it performs from ancient time. In the modern age, it has got more importance as compared to old age. Nowadays it is emerges as fasted growing industry in the world. According to Davenport and Davenport (2006); Hemmati and Koehler (2000) tourism is the single fourth largest and fastest growing industry in the world. Tourism is one of the sectors supporting to the national economy of many countries like Hong-Kong, Singapore etc. It is not only supporting to these nations but it is a base of their economic development. Tourism industry contributes to economic activity of the country. The tourism industry may become a tool for undeveloped countries to generating income and employment. Tourism has great capacity to create job opportunities from skilled to unskilled. According to the World travel and tourism council, Travel and tourism contribute 9% of global GDP and have generated over 260 million jobs in 2012. Due to the global climate change, economic recessions, and the current global financial system is in slowing down of national growth of many countries. But tourism and travel industries still maintained growth as high as 3.1% in 2013. India is fertile for religious activities. Many temples are witness for it. Beside religious places their number of places which attracts the tourists. India has vast traditional culture, lifestyles, folks, religious heritage, fairs and festivals, and natural attractions. So these are the potentiality of the growth in tourism sector in India. So there is need to proper planning and management in tourism industry which has great capacity to change the economic face of the country. Tourism development impact is directly or indirectly beneficially for local community. Some direct benefits to local community from tourism development as follows. newlinei. A number of Employment opportunities. ii. Growth and development of private enterprise. iii. Improved standard of living. iv. Improved quality of life. v. Social development and upliftment. vi. Development in education facilities vii. Growth in foreign exchange earning newline