Logistic Challenges For Pilgrims Visiting Navagraha Temples In South Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Tourism is one of the key industries in India in terms of bringing a considerable amount of foreign currency and help for the development of allied industries such as transport, accommodation and encourages many micro and small entrepreneurs in the places of tourist destinations. Tamilnadu is one of the top states in the country in attracting domestic and foreign tourists towards various tourist destinations. Pilgrimage tourism is popular in the state and many people are visiting Navagraha temples in south Tamilnadu. In a tour plan both transport and boarding & lodging are essential. Hence the paper studied the problems faced by pilgrim respondents related to transport and boarding and lodging. The researcher selected a total of 450 sample pilgrim respondents visited Navagraha temples in south Tamilnadu using convenient sampling method. The study collected primary data through an interview schedule. The data collected from the respondents were analysed using mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and One-way ANOVA. The study found that the problems of “Cheating by the local taxi/Auto/ Travel agents” and “Inadequate Parking Facility was moderate” were severe transport problems faced by pilgrim respondents in the tourist places of Navagraha temples. “Poor traffic control” and “Poor quality of Road and Poor quality” were least severe transport problems. Among the boarding and lodging problems, the problems of “Lack of quality of the Accommodation (Rooms)” was the most severe boarding and lodging problem in the tourist places of Navagraha temples and “Sense of in security” was the least severe boarding and lodging problem.