The Explorer: Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2411-0132, Vol-1, Issue (3):62-65 www.theexplorerpak.org
KALLAR KAHAR’S TOURISM: A SIGNIFICANT UPLIFT IN LOCAL ECONOMY Nomana Sadaf Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Corresponding Author: Nomana Sadaf PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
[email protected] Abstract: Tourism is generally demarcated as a journey that is made by both local people and foreign tourists for recreational, business and other purposes. The economy is the status of a region in terms of its consumption of production and supply of money. The objectives of present study were to explore the economic impacts of local tourism in Kallar Kahar, to present a regional perspective of tourism development and to examine government’s role in projecting economic benefits of local tourism in the region. The study was exploratory in nature and data was collected qualitatively from a sample of 75 respondents, from whom demographic information was taken through socioeconomic census survey forms and qualitative information was obtained through an interview guide, over a period of six months. The study concluded that local tourism of Kallar Kahar had negative economic impacts on both area and indigenous community as well.
Key Words: Local Tourism, Regional Economy, Kallar Kahar INTRODUCTION Tourism directly affects life styles of local inhabitants and these impacts can be judged by increase in per capita income (Alvaro, et al. 2011). Tourism as a “holiday making activity” (Goeldner and Brent 2009) has become a process by which every element of life is affected therefore different governments are emphasizing the need to manage tourism as a growing industry (Page 2011). Geotourism supports geographical characteristics, economic and social benefits of tourist sites and the indigenous communities of that area (Boley 2009). The economic effects can change the living conditions of the communities as well (Reisinger and Dimanche 2009).Tourism’s economic impacts are therefore an important consideration in community planning and economic development. It also affects marketing and management sectors positively therefore; it is no doubt functioning as a tool for sustaining a country’s economy (Donnellan 2009). The generation of new market is not the only goal, thus development of historical and natural resources of the area is also very important. (Tezcan 2004). Tourism development must be considered in a long-term perspective and the purpose of it should not be to harm regional landscape and local community of that area (Brouder 2013). According to WTO, rural tourism can be used as a tool for rural development, because it can provide
additional income sources like transport, education and medical facilities to local population (Saule 2004). Sustainable tourism development is seen as a continuous process that needs management and monitoring of tourism’s impacts (Saarinen, et al. 2009).Tourist’s satisfaction depends upon the form of marketing, facilities in that area, which motivate visitors to visit these sites repeatedly (Nnanjar 2012). When the local community is not participating in regional development programs, then these plans fail to achieve the desired goals. Therefore the indigenous communities should be made to be more participative (Drakopoulou n.d). The concept of “pro-poor tourism” contributes very effectively in economic expansion, job opportunities and decrease of poverty (Samimi, et al. 2011). At national level, all these plans for sustainable tourism development should be ensured by applying various techniques including land use plans, environmental impact assessment, legislative regulatory, and enforcement measures and monitoring of local participation (Karim, et al. 2012). Therefore the socio-cultural goals should not be neglected by tourism policy makers (Breakey 2005). The negative factors of Pakistan’s tourism industry are mismanagement in providing tourism facilities and security issues. (Fakhar 2008). In the north of Punjab there is Salt Range, Katas Temple, Kallar Kahar and Khewra Salt mines and these are the
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major areas of tourism attractions (Anjum 2007). Kallar Kahar is famous for Kallar Kahar Lake, Takhte-Babri, beautiful species of peacocks and natural gardens. It has several picnic points, gift shops, restaurants and guest houses facilitating tourists at the bank of the lake (Kaleem 2011). MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was designed to focus on presenting a regional perspective of tourism development and government’s role in enhancing the economic benefits of local tourism in the region. The research was conducted mainly at Kallar Kahar’s tourist attraction sites. The sample of 75 local respondents who were directly or indirectly associated to tourism industry were selected through purposive sampling method. Information was taken through socio-economic survey forms and interviews. The findings were then interpreted through SPSS 16. RESULTS Table.1: The Major Professions of the Local Residents Professions Frequency Percentage Shop Keepers
51
68%
Drivers
09
12%
Hotel Employers
11
14.6%
Boaters
02
2.7%
Riders
02
2.7%
Total
75
100%
Table 1, illustrates the distribution of professions of the local people, who were working around the Kallar Kahar Lake, restaurants and picnic points. Majority of local employers were associated to shop keeping. 68 percent shop keepers were running government shops having highest frequency of 51. The hotel employers were 14.6 percent, some were working at TDCP’s hotels while a few people were working at private restaurants. Table.2: Income Groups Income Groups Frequency 3000-8000 65 9000-1400 06 15000-2000 04 21000-2600 2600 and above Total 75
Percentage 86.7% 08% 5.3% 100%
Table 2 illustrates the income groups of the local residents who were working at TDCP’s shops and hotels. At the locale, majority of employers were having monthly income, ranged between 3000 to 8000 rupees. They were 86.7 percent. The shop keepers were not satisfied to their monthly incomes. Only 8 percent people were satisfied, since their income was better than shop keepers.
They were earning 9000 to 14000 per month. Only 4 people were prosperous as their income ranged between 15000 to 2000 rupees per month. Table.3: Kallar Kahar’s Tourism Effect on Literacy Rate of The Local Community Education Frequency Percentage Illiterate 49 65.3% Primary 08 10.7% Middle 05 6.67% Metric 07 9.3% F.A 05 6.67% B.A 01 1.3% Total 75 100%
Table 3 shows the literacy level of the respondents at Kallar Kahar. Most of the respondents were illiterate i.e. 65.3, while 10.7 percent local people were primary pass. The primary pass employers responded that they were poor and tourism did not provide them with a fixed job or income, so enrolling into educational institutions was not possible. 6.67 percent people were middle pass. The local people who were metric and F.A were 9.3 and 6.67 percent respectively. Only one person was found to be a graduate. DISCUSSION The local shop keepers informed that markets selling loquats, apricots, plums and rose water invited more tourists to visit Kallar Kahar. The findings clearly resonate with the study that tourist’s satisfaction depends upon the form of marketing of that area (Nnanjar 2012). The production of ‘loquat’ and apricots rise in summer season and local people earn more by selling their products at very high prices not only on local level but at national level also. Thus, tourism functions as a tool for sustaining a country’s economy (Donnellan 2009). According to the community’s view the area had no management in the sphere of tourism, no developmental steps were being taken and no progress was observed in the past many years. Thus the findings were clearly in a contradiction to the research that different governments are managing tourism as a growing industry (Page 2011). The local population had pessimistic perception. They informed that local tourism even though had increased, providing them with income opportunities however, their livelihood conditions were so wretched and miserable that even though there was elevation in the income however, the change could not yet be directed towards literacy and education. Findings thus contradicted to the study that geo-tourism supports overall well being of indigenous communities (Boley 2009).
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According to hotel employers the income earned by the tourism activities were circulating overall improving the local economy of Kallar Kahar. That declaration clearly resounded to the study that economic effects can change the living conditions of the community as well (Reisinger and Dimanche 2009). The business community of Kallar Kahar was observed to have a visible change in their economy. They had become stable enough to be able to educate their children. Thus, improved life styles of the community can be judged by increase in income (Alvaro, et al. 2011). The local tourism influenced marketing and management sectors positively but place for improvement persists. The findings contradict to the study that sustainable tourism development needs management of tourism’s impacts (Saarinen, et al. 2009). The points open for recreational activities were located a bit far from the lake of Kallar Kahar. Therefore it was established that the local community of Kallar Kahar and environmental niche were both safe. Still, the capacity for tourism planning and proper management is visibly present. The purpose of tourism development should not to harm regional landscape and local inhabitants of that area (Brouder 2013). The community openly declared that local government did not construct new hotels. That finding vividly corresponded to the research that the negative factor of Pakistan’s tourism’s industry is improper infrastructure development programs (Fakhar 2008). According to the local people there were no private hospitals near the picnic points. Thus no alternative business had irrupted due to the tourism increase. The community was of the view that they were prepared to collaborate with local government in any tourism development plan on the projection that the projects do not harm them in any way. That finding clearly corresponded to the research that when local communities are not participating in regional development projects, then these programs fail to achieve the desired goals (Drakopoulou n.d).The overall condition of picnic points and lake was bad. The local inhabitants viewed that this all happened due to the carelessness of local government. CONCLUSION The study concludes that local tourism of Kallar Kahar has not effective in elevating the regional economy to the extent that was expected. The major finding was that since the income of the locals is too low, and there was not sufficient support from the local government or development
projects establishing their own business to take full advantage of natural resources and geographical features was not possible. REFERENCES Anjum, Sabahat 2007 The Tourism Potential of Pakistan and Future Development MA Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Stout. Breakey, Noreen 2005 Tourism Dstination Development beyond Butler PhD Thesis , University of Queensland. Brouder, Patrick 2013 Tourism Development in Peripheral Areas: Processes of local Innovation and Change in Northern Sweden PhD Thesis, University of Mid Sweden. Boley, Bertram Bynum 2009 Geotourism in the Crown of the Continent: Developing and Testing the Geotourism Survey Instrument (GSI) MA Thesis, University of Missoula. Drakopoulou, Athanasia N.d Tourism Certification and Community-based Ecotourism as tools for Promoting Sustainability in the Greek Tourism Sector: The Example of Zagori MA Thesis University of Lund. Donnellan, David 2009 Eco-tourism in Developing Countries Bachelors Thesis, College of Colorado. Fakhar, Anwar-ul-Haq 2008 Factors Affecting Tourism, Tourism Potential and Strategies for Development as an Industry in Pakistan MA Thesis, University of Gavl. Goeldner, Charles R., and J.R. Ritchie Brent 2009 Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies Canada: Wiley, Hoboken New Jersey. Kaleem, Sajid 2011 Pakistan Tours Guide Kallar Kahar Accessed 2012.
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http://www.Pakistantoursguide.Com/k allar- kahar.html Karim, Rehmat, Salma A. Durrani, and Azhar Hussain 2012 Review of Issues Related to Tourism Policies Regarding Environmental Management and Customary Practices of Tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering 1087- 1093.
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