Residents’ attitude towards the mining heritage tourism development in Dhanbad (Jharkhand), India

The study attempts to identify the major factors of the attitude of the residents of Dhanbad, Jharkhand on mining heritage tourism development. Data have been collected from residents of Dhanbad, Jharkhand during December 2012 to January 2013. The empirical analysis has drawn using Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis as per the objective of the research using SPSS version 16.0. Results of this study indicated that residents have positive perception toward tourism. Regression analysis indicated that 94.7%, 93.7% and 89.3% of variation in residents’ attitudes towards tourism development was determined by the ten variables which are depicted into three factors. The study findings provide a glance of residents’ attitudes toward mining heritage tourism in the study area i.e. Dhanbad, Jharkhand. It expose that both community attachment and economic dependence have significant effects on positive tourism impact and, in turn, can affect the support for tourism development. Although both impacts have significant effects to sustain for tourism development, the effect from the positive impact is much greater than the negative impact. This research work will help the stakeholders of mining heritage tourism to understand their key areas of strength and accordingly frame their strategies for decision making in order to improve infrastructure and facilities to gain possible benefit for all.