ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF TOURISM A CASE STUDY OF AGRA.docVIP

TOURISMOS: AN INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF TOURISM Volume 6, Number 2, Autumn 2011, pp. 139-158 UDC: 338.48+640(050) ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF TOURISM: A CASE STUDY OF AGRA Surabhi Srivastava1 University of Lucknow Tourism in its broadest generic sense can do more to develop understanding among the people, provide jobs, create foreign exchange and raise living standards than any other economic force. India is world famous for the city of Taj -Agra. There are a number of other tourists attractions like Agra Fort, Itmad-ud- daulas tomb, Bharatpur Sanctuary, Sikandara, Fatehpur Sikri etc which have equal historical and architectural significance but tourists are not aware of about all these places and monuments. The focus of this paper is on the economic benefits accruing to the state byway of tourists arrivals to Agra. Though Agra receives maximum number of tourists but except Taj Mahal they are not aware about other monuments. This study will evaluate the reasons of lacking in economic benefits from tourism and also analyse the tourist’ problems facing at Agra. Key Words: Economic, Potential, Tourism, Agra, Taj Mahal. JEL Classification: L83, M1, O1 INTRODUCTION Tourism is a field of human activity known to mankind from time immemorial. It cuts across barriers of caste, colour, creed and builds universal brotherhood. The worlds oldest industry is also one of the largest and fastest growing industries today. In general terms travel is referred to any movement of one or more people from one point to another. There is not much difference between tourism and travel; in general both terms are used as synonyms (Nanthakumar et al, 2008). Many people believe that tourism is a service industry that takes care of visitors when they are away from home. Some restrict the definition of ? University of the