Government tourism efforts and reflections of tourism in the Satara District

This paper deals with Satara district's alignment with the tourism efforts and consists of two main parts: Part one is account of the Government's approach to the tourism with recent tourism developments whereas second part is account of the tourist arrival trend in respective area. The paper based on two objectives one to analyse the tourist arrival trend and to evaluate efforts of state and district government for the development of tourism. One alternative hypothesis is set to test i.e. H1: Government tourism planning and implementation is correlated. The research is mainly based on secondary data as published and unpublished documents of Government and discussion with government officials. Study is confined to Satara district only. Independent sample‘t’ test was used for testing hypothesis. Percentage is used to understand the gap between funds allotment and actual spending and growth rate of tourist arrival. Study concluded that tourist arrival trends are satisfactory. There is no uniformity in allocation of funds and actual expenditure. Satara district still lags in the development of basic infrastructure. Patan and Khatav taluka have larger share of tourism development funds. Development focus is mainly on museum, historical monuments, and pilgrimage centres. Funds are usually spent on basic and tourist infrastructure at the destinations. Funds are generally considered by influence of political force. The evidence is not sufficient to reject the null hypothesis so the null hypothesis is accepted and alternative hypothesis is rejected i.e. Government tourism planning and implementation is correlated. Study may aware the stipulation for proper marketing policy to develop Satara. However, there is scope for further study to check the feasibility of proposal designed and actual need of location to attract large number of tourist and also for the development of Satara as a multifaceted upcoming tourist destination of the Maharashtra, India.