Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item An exploratory study on Indian traditional hospitality "atithi Devo Bhawah" in Uttarakhand's rural areas post pandemic using data science(2024) Kusum, KusumIndia, the land of art and culture, has always been the center of tourism since ages and people welcome and serve their guest as a god as they believed in "Atithi Devo Bhawah"which means "Guest is like God". Also, the government provides many subsidies and incentives on making people entrepreneurs and encouraging the hotel and tourism industry to come up with the best ambience and hospitality for their guests. Hospitality industry provides lots of opportunity in terms of jobs as well as revenue for development of states like Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand etc. Tourist places are mostly situated in the extreme interiors of rural areas led by local entrepreneurs, where life is itself a challenge to deal with the extreme climatic conditions, not well-structured accommodations, poor safety guards and lack of medical facilities that are all intrinsic to meet the basic living standards. In Uttarakhand, such rural areas include religious sites Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, Chopta, Chakarata, etc along with some semi and well-developed cities like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Nainital, etc which all remain flooded with tourists in the season. In this COVID-19 phase, the whole industry has suffered badly and left everyone bewildered to make any decision for the future. Central and the state governments had updated some and will update several guidelines and policies for the tourism industry in the coming days. Hotels with good financial conditions and market values can easily adopt new SOP's and technologies to deal with the situations after the pandemic, but it will not be the same for the small or local entrepreneurs. This study covers the current and post COVID-19 problems faced by small and local entrepreneurs of Uttarakhand and proposals and plans needed by them to boost their business and tourism with the same theme of Atithi Devo Bhawah. © 2024 Author(s).Item Shifting Sands: Post-COVID-19 Students’ Motivations for Tourism and Hospitality Education?(2024) Mishra, Jitendra MohanGlobal tourism and hospitality education have witnessed a steady increase in student enrolment globally despite the inherent vulnerabilities, volatilities, and constraints. Till recently, the patronage of the tourism sector by governments as an employment sector and students’ aspiration to be part of the growing tourism sector could be underlined as primary drivers behind the surge in students’ enrolment in India, to be specific. However, the COVID-19 pandemic not only shook the industry but also brought about a drastic change in the trajectory of students’ enrolment in tourism and hospitality education, leading to plenty of institutions witnessing very few admissions. The imminent shift in students’ motivation/disinterest has raised questions about the sustainability of the program and the continued supply of quality manpower to the industry. The present study aims to bridge the knowledge gap by adopting a qualitative method approach to investigate changing students’ motivation and factors influencing the trend in students’ enrolment in the post-COVID-19 era. The study used self-structured open-ended questions with selected students and teachers representing all the countries’ regions. The inquiry continued until the data reached a level of saturation. The findings reveal a change in students’ motivation, negative perception of the industry, low salary structure, decreased corporate presence, and delicate career growth as the reasons for declined students’ enrolment. However, amidst changing industry dynamics and challenges, factors such as the affordability of the programs, job prospects, self-exploration, and international exposure remain pivotal motivations for Indian students to choose tourism and hospitality programs. The insights gained from the study are essential for educational institutions, teachers, instructors, and policymakers to plan the curriculum given the unfolding challenges to understand the needs of the students, understand the job market, and ultimately strengthen the landscape of tourism and hospitality and tourism education in the country. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd 2024.Item Overtourism in the Himalayan Region: Envisioning sustainable visitors management practices(2024) Mishra, Jitendra MohanDue to inadequate management practices historically associated with tourism development in the Himalayan region, significant repercussions have arisen. While studies have explored the phenomenon of over-tourism in the region, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of overtourism in the Himalayan region, and to revisit the existing tourism management practices and effective mitigation strategies concerning the ecological, socio-cultural, and economic impacts caused by excessive tourist influx to be evolved. This study explores sustainable visitor management practices as a means to address the challenges posed by over-tourism in the Himalayas. Existing contextual literature has been reviewed to understand the pros and cons of over-tourism in the Himalayan region. Accordingly, the study suggested measures to overcome the impacts of over-tourism through sustainable visitor management practices and offers valuable insights for policymakers, destination managers, and local communities in fostering sustainable tourism practices in the Himalayan region © 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved.Item Gender inclusivity in tourism sector and measures towards an equitable workplace(2024) Mishra, Jitendra MohanAs tourism is a growing sector in all developing and developed nations, ensuring gender equality in tourism will contribute to reducing gaps between gender roles and responsibilities that exist in the regions. The SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression & Sex Characteristics), identities like LGBTQ+ (Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenders, Queer.), and women are underrepresented in all forms of development operations and seeking reservation in employment. The tourism and hospitality industry has yet to take measures to include women and LGBTQ+ by providing a dignified and supportive employment environment (Badgett et al., 2013). Women are known for their natural closeness to nature, maintaining and conserving resources and preserving culture. Despite their innate nature to adopt sustainable practices, empirical evidence claims that the participation of women compared to men in the tourism sector is disproportionate. Though skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled people can be easily absorbed in this sector, women and SOGIESC identities still face difficulties engaging in tourism jobs, which becomes a hurdle in the nation's social and economic sustainability aspirations. This study examines the present scenario of sectoral inclusivity issues, i.e., formal and informal sectors in tourism. The scenario of gender and sustainability has been examined through case studies and literature reviews, and few observations have been made based on empirical reasoning. Also, the study identifies the issues and challenges in mobilising women and SOGIESC identities in the tourism sector and examines linkages between inclusive tourism and sustainable development. Accordingly, the study suggests future directions addressing gender inequality in the sector and incorporating more equal opportunities for women and SOGIESC identities to accomplish the goal of sustainability in all dimensions. © 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.Item Smart Technology Integration in Religious Tourism Destinations: Enhancing Visitor Experiences and Destination Management(2025) Mishra, Jitendra MohanReligious tourism serves as a distinct form of cognitive travel by meeting tourists’ epistemological curiosity, enabling them to experience, witness, and participate in religious rituals, ceremonies, and processes while offering opportunities to purchase religious attributes and souvenirs. The main task for authorities managing a religious destination is to ensure a smooth flow through the activities and a safe, healthy, and spiritual journey. In recent years, the integration of smart technology in religious tourism destinations has gained attention as a means to enhance visitor experiences and destination management. This research chapter explores the integration of smart technology in religious tourism destinations and its impact on visitor experiences and destination management. Through a comprehensive literature review and case studies, this study investigates the role of smart technologies in enhancing the authenticity, accessibility, and sustainability of religious tourism experiences. Additionally, the chapter examines the implications of smart technology adoption for destination managers, including challenges, opportunities, and best practices for effective implementation. By addressing these issues, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersection between technology and religious tourism. It offers insights for policymakers and practitioners on how technological innovations can enhance visitor experiences, improve destination management practices, and foster sustainable development within religious tourism destinations.