Volume 1, Issue 8 (August, 2014) Online ISSN-2347-7571 Published by: Sai Om Publications Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH FOR KNOWING PILGRIMS SECOND CHOICE TO VISIT WITHIN DISTRICT RAJOURI Dr. Parvez Abdulla 1 Assistant Professor, BGSB University, Rajouri, Jammu, India Email: parvezabdullahkhan@gmail.com Sharaz Ahmed Malik 2 Research Assistant, Katra, Jammu, India Email: sherazahmedmalik09@gmail.com ABSTRACT This study is based upon the previous survey conducted during 2012-13 in Shahdra Shrif Shrine Rajouri from the visitors who visited Shahdra Shrief Shrine. This is a exploratory study, which focused to explore visitors perception to visit to places other than Shahda Shrif Rajouri. Accordingly survey is conducted through structured questionnaire from selected sample of 734 visitors. Data is tabulated and analyzed in SPSS using very simple statistical techniques for understanding of general audience. Keywords: Rajouri; Tourists; Shrine; Planning; Visits; Visitors INTRODUCTION Rajouri and along with Poonch can be the favorite tourist destination as moderate summer and winter climate are equal but short distance from the summer and the winter capitals of state provides additional advantages to the region to woo holiday makers who look for respite from scorching heat in summer and bone chilling cold in winter. Unlike other tourist resort in state, Rajouri along with twin District Poonch can developed all round the year rather than seasonal activities. Region has potential for seasonal cum round the year all types of tourism which includes Heritage Tourism Leisure tourism Pilgrimage tourism Nature Based Tourism includes (Adventure Tourism and Eco-Tourism) There are many places in the periphery of Rajouri for tourist to explore. Rajouri is fortunate to have Shrine of Great Saint Baba Ghulam Ali Shah Badshah Shahdra Shrief. This Shrine receives millions of visitors round the years throughout the entire State and from few other States. This is the only Shrine in the State which receives such a large chunk of pilgrims after Shrii Mata Vasihno Devi. Besides this Shrine there are number of others shrines and prominent religious places of Hindu Muslim and Sikh, like Sain Gangi RA Darhal, Mangla Devi in Noshera, Panj Peer, Gurdawara Chatti Badshai- Bangla Sahib Rajouri. But this is holiest one in the District. There are few heritage places like Chingus, Dhanidhar Fort and few Mughal Saraies (inns). Tatta Pani in Kalakote- a sulphar mixed stream is much popular among visitors who suffer from joints problem. OBJECTIVE This study is devoted to explore tourist among pilgrim visiting to Shahdra Shrief Shrine Rajouri. Available online on www.saiompublications.com 16
HYPOTHESIS Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management In consonance with aforementioned objectives, the following hypotheses have been laid down. H O : Pilgrims does not want to go to other places other than Shahdra Shrief H O : There is no Second Choice for pilgrim to visit around Rajouri METHODOLOGY Methodology includes primary data collection. So survey is conducted through structured questionnaire from selected sample of 734 visitors. Data is tabulated and analyzed in SPSS using very simple statistical techniques like frequency, average, and percentage method used for bringing simplicity in understanding. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Literature about tourism in Rajouri is not available. During past couple of year research own-self conducted few studied which are also mentioned in the referred in the review. There are studies which states tourism is a good tool for socioeconomic underdeveloped development of the areas like Rajouri. Jin Huh (2002) undertaken a research to identify the relationship between cultural/heritage destination attributes and the overall satisfaction of tourists who visited a cultural/heritage destination, and analyze the differences in the level of overall satisfaction of tourists with respect to demographic and travel behavior characteristics. The study provided a general picture of the relationship between cultural/heritage destination attributes and tourists overall satisfaction with the Virginia Historic Triangle and analyzed tourists level of satisfaction variations by demographic and travel behavior characteristics. However, the study did not mention the relationship between tourist satisfaction and intention to revisit a destination. Vijayanand (2012) describes that pilgrimage tourism is playing a major role in socio-economic development. Among other observations, it has shown that, for many countries of the region, the economic significance of pilgrimage tourism is very large when measured against GDP and exports. For many countries in general and the least developed countries in particular, pilgrimage tourism is a sector in which they have comparative, if not competitive, advantages for which they can efficiently convert domestic resources into foreign exchange. If appropriately used, such foreign exchange can purchase the investment goods necessary to support more broadly based economic development policies.. The study has demonstrated that the social significance of pilgrimage tourism, measured in terms of employment (especially unskilled labour), is very large. It has also illustrated that appropriate pilgrimage tourism-related interventions can play a role in raising the standard of living and in reducing poverty in local communities. Report of the Working Group on Tourism (2011) explains that tourism is one of the largest sectors of the service industry In India. It is capable of providing employment to a wide spectrum of job seekers from the unskilled to the specialized, even in the remote parts of the country. Compared to other modern sectors, a higher proportion of tourism benefits (jobs, petty trade opportunities) accrue to women. Hence, growth of the tourism sector is more inclusive than other sectors. Tourism and Hospitality is a diverse industry, being a collection of activities, comprising transportation, and accommodation, eating & drinking establishments, retail shops, entertainment businesses and other hospitality services provided to individuals or groups travelling away from home for leisure, business or other purposes. The broad scope of economic activities involved in tourism enables wide participation in its growth, including the participation of the informal sector. Furthermore, tourism is highly dependent upon natural capital (e.g. forest, wildlife) and culture. These are assets that some of the poor have, even if they have no financial resources. The state of Jammu & Kashmir and the North Eastern Region which has the capacity to host medium size conferences should be promoted as potential destinations for conferences during the summer months. VOL. 1, ISSUE 8 (August 2014) 17
Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management Malik, S.A. and Abdulla, P. (2013), studied Potential, Prospects and Challenges of Development of Tourism in Rajouri & Poonch which is published in Acme Intellects International Journal of Research in Management, this study is explores unexplored tourism potential of the area. In another attempt Malik, S.A. (2013) undertakes development of difficult Region through Travel, Trade and Tourism: A Case Study of Twin Border Districts Rajouri and Poonch which is also published in International Journal of Marketing, Financial Services & Management Research. This study sets a relation between cross border tourism and economic development in the area. (Malik, S.A. and Abdulla, P. (2013), in one more study entitle Exploring Heritage of Neglected Region: A case of Rajouri and Poonch,, which was published In International Refereed Journal, entitled in ABHINAV- International Monthly Refereed Journal of Research in Management & Technology explains heritage and cultural wealth of the twin border district Rajouri and Poonch. This study suggested that this heritage and cultural wealth can be utilized and promoted for development of the region. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION Pilgrims were asked series of question regarding their experiences and preference to visits other places in District Rajouri. Accordingly their responses were recorded and analyzed here. Number of visits to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Darhal This is a Shrine which is located in between way to Darhal from Rajouri. So, while survey there are about 69% respondents who never visited there and 21% respondent said that they once they visited remaining 5%, 1% and 1% visited three or more than three times, three times and two times. In an average out of 734 in an average 32% respondent visited to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Darhal, Rajouri as shown in the Table 1. Table 1: Number of visits to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Darhal Valid Never 504 68.7 68.7 68.7 Once 156 21.3 21.3 89.9 Twice 26 3.5 3.5 93.5 Thrice 10 1.4 1.4 94.8 >3 times 38 5.2 5.2 100.0 Average =Once Figure 1a. Number of visits to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Darhal Planning to visit to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Darhal - 38% respondents said that they may visit to this spot but they said that they were not sure. 53% respondents respond that they are planning to visit this place and 8% respondent denied that they won t visit to this place. VOL. 1, ISSUE 8 (August 2014) 18
Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management Table 2. Planning to visit to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Darhal Valid Perhaps 284 38.7 38.7 38.7 Yes 389 53.0 53.0 91.7 No 61 8.3 8.3 100.0 Average = Yes Figure 2a: Planning to visit to Dargah Sain Gangi Sahib (RA) Number of visits to Chingus`- Chingus is a tomb near Rajouri where intestine of Mughal Emperor Janghir was buried under by Noor Jahan, when exterior died in mysterious circumstances while going to Lahore from Kashmir via Mughal Road. During Survey, about 68% respondents said that they never visited there 21%, 3%, 1% and 5% respondents said that they had visited one time, two times, three times and more than three times to this tomb as shown in the Table 3, Out of 734 respondents in an average 32% respondents had visited to this. Table 3. Number of visits to Chingus Valid Never 503 68.5 68.5 68.5 Once 155 21.1 21.1 89.6 Twice 23 3.1 3.1 92.8 Thrice 11 1.5 1.5 94.3 >3 times 42 5.7 5.7 100.0 Average = 1 Figure 3a: Number of visits to Chingus VOL. 1, ISSUE 8 (August 2014) 19
Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management Planning visits to Chingus - As for as planning to visit Chingus 55% respondent said that they wanted to go there. 38% were in dilemma and nearly 7% won t visit to this spot. Table 4. Planning visits to Chingus Valid Perhaps 280 38.1 38.1 38.1 Yes 404 55.0 55.0 93.2 No 50 6.8 6.8 100.0 Average = Yes Number of visits to Mangla Mata, Noshera Mangla Devi Shrine is located in the interior of Noshera in District Rajouri. This is also a popular shrine among Hindu pilgrims and excursionists. Regarding this Shrine, Out of total of 734 respondent 87% did not visit this Shrine. 11%, 3% 0.7% and 1% are one, two, three and more than three time visitors. Thus, this Table 5 shows that only 13% people visited this place. Vali d Table 5. Number of visits to Mangla Mata, Noshera Never 621 84.6 84.6 84.6 Once 81 11.0 11.0 95.6 Twice 19 2.6 2.6 98.2 Thrice 5.7.7 98.9 >3 times 8 1.1 1.1 100.0 Average = Never Planning of visit to Mangla Mata, Noshera - Nearly 42% respondents said that they may visit to this Shrine, 16% refuse to visit and remaining 42% were planning to go this Shrine, which is located within Rajouri District. Table 6. Planning of visit to Mangla Mata, Noshera Valid Perhaps 306 41.7 41.7 41.7 Yes 311 42.4 42.4 84.1 No 117 15.9 15.9 100.0 Average = Yes Figure 6a. Planning of visit to Mangla Mata, Noshera VOL. 1, ISSUE 8 (August 2014) 20
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management In average almost all visitors once had been visited to these sites and they also express their desire to visit these places in future. It also had been observed that a large chunk of visitors would like to Tatta Pani (A hot warter Stream) in tehsil Kalakote in Rajouri. Therefore concerning tourism authorities with the collaboration of district administration and State Government should developed infrastructure, connectivity and attraction around the periphery of Rajouri for the comfort of tourist. So, that large numbers of tourist would switch to these places for more economic growth of area and socioeconomic benefit of the people residing. REFERENCES 1. Jin Huh. (2002). Tourist satisfaction with Cultural / Heritage sites: the Virginia historic triangle, Masters Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 2. Malik, S.A. and Abdulla, P. (2013), Potential, Prospects and Challenges of Development of Tourism in Rajouri & Poonch in Acme Intellects International Journal of Research in Management, Vol. 2 (2), 2320-2793, p. (69-76). 3. Malik, S.A. (2013) Development of Difficult Region through Travel, Trade and Tourism: A Case Study of Twin Border Districts Rajouri and Poonch in International Journal of Marketing, Financial Services & Management Research (PRINT JOURNAL), Vol. 2 (2), p. 56-66. 4. Malik, S.A. and Abdulla, P. (2013), Exploring Heritage of Neglected Region: A case of Rajouri and Poonch, In International Refereed Journal, ABHINAV- International Monthly Refereed Journal of Research in Management & Technology, Vol(II), pp-(168-176). 5. Report of the working group on tourism 12th five year plan. (2012-17). Ministry of tourism Government of India. 6. Vijayanand, S. (2012). Origin and Evolution of Pilgrimage Tourism Management, South Asian Journal of Marketing & Management Research, 2, (4). VOL. 1, ISSUE 8 (August 2014) 21