Understanding the link between Infrastructural services and Homestay Tourism in the Rural district of Kalimpong, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjss.2025.v05.n01.034Keywords:
Infrastructure, accessibility, rural tourism, service providersAbstract
Understanding the link between tourism and infrastructure is vital for travel destinations in rural settings. The vision of sustainable development of rural areas rests on the regeneration of rural infrastructures to reach the full potential of any rural economic activity. In fact, this will support the SDG goal as embedded in the National target Framework guidelines. Rural homestay tourism is such an enterprise that demands the functioning of decent public service facilities. Since the present study is based in rural hilly terrain, characterized by limited infrastructures, the rugged topography is not only an impediment to the creation of public services, but maintaining them is also challenging. The study is based on a primary survey of Gram-panchayats offices (village-based level administrative offices) and personal interviews of rural tourism service providers. The panchayat-wise mean spacing of facilities has been calculated to determine the availability of public services. The actual access to such facilities by service providers has been analyzed using the Importance-Access status matrix. The findings suggest basic facilities like rural road connections, drinking water, and electrification are moderately accessible. But the district lags far behind in terms of tourism-centric facilities. A holistic approach with region-specific policy and planning is desirable to boost rural homestay tourism as a driving force of economic growth in the district.
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