List of tables

Sl.no Content Table no.

1 Table showing age of respondents 4.1
Table showing the awareness of the people towards the forest fire crisis
2 4.2
in the valley

3 Table showing the respondents facing difficulty due to forest fire 4.3
4 Category of respondents 4.4
5 Table of respondents who are interested to be part of forest fire campaign 4.5
6 Reasons for the forest fire 4.6
7 Frequency of tourist visit to Tirthan valley 4.7
8 Trip postponed due to forest fire 4.8
9 Role of tourist in the forest fire 4.9
10 Challenges faced by tourist due to forest fire 4.10
11 Reduction of tourist inflow due to forest fire 4.11
12 Booking cancelation due to forest fire crisis 4.12
13 Destruction of forest will affect the tourism industry 4.13
14 Role of tourism department 4.14
15 Negative review for the firm 4.15
16 Role of tourism stake holder 4.16
17 Challenges faced by tourism stakeholders 4.17
18 Intentional lighting of forest fire 4.18
19 Affecting livelihood 4.19
20 Experiencing drought issues 4.20
21 Local community role in tourism activities 4.21
22 Role of local community 4.22
23 Challenges faced by local community 4.23
24 Age group and awareness about the forest fire 4.24
25 Reducing tourist inflow & Booking cancelations 4.25
 List of figures

Sl.no Content Figure no.

1 Table showing age of respondents 4.1
Table showing the awareness of the people towards the forest fire
2 4.2
crisis in the valley
3 Table showing the respondents facing difficulty due to forest fire 4.3
4 Category of respondents 4.4
Table of respondents who are interested to be part of forest fire
5 4.5
campaign
6 Reasons for the forest fire 4.6
7 Frequency of tourist visit to Tirthan valley 4.7
8 Trip postponed due to forest fire 4.8
9 Role of tourist in the forest fire 4.9
10 Challenges faced by tourist due to forest fire 4.10
11 Reduction of tourist inflow due to forest fire 4.11
12 Booking cancelation due to forest fire crisis 4.12
13 Destruction of forest will affect the tourism industry 4.13
14 Role of tourism department 4.14
15 Negative review for the firm 4.15
16 Role of tourism stake holder 4.16
17 Challenges faced by tourism stakeholders 4.17
18 Intentional lighting of forest fire 4.18
19 Affecting livelihood 4.19
20 Experiencing drought issues 4.20
21 Local community role in tourism activities 4.21
22 Role of local community 4.22
23 Challenges faced by local community 4.23
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Great Himalayan national park

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is located in the Banjaar sub-division
of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India, in the far western Himalaya. Initially constituted
in 1984, and formally notified as a national park in 1999, GHNP is a relatively recent addition
to a network of protected areas in northern India and adjacent countries which increasingly
provide protection to the Himalaya.
The Himalaya as a whole is listed as one of Conservation International’s 34 major
biodiversity hotspots. The Himalaya Hotspot contains not only the world’s highest mountains
and associated alpine ecosystems but also large expanses of lower-elevation temperate and
subtropical forests and grasslands. It spans 3,000km east to west, and 300km to 500km north
to south.
Hotspots are defined by various criteria, including the presence of high percentages of
endemic plants and animals, and high biodiversity. GHNP easily fulfils these criteria, and is
home to 832 & 386 number of floral and faunal species, respectively, which includes the
rarest Himalayan blue poppy, the western tragopan and the Himalayan tahr. The World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF) has listed parts of the Himalaya in its Global 200 analysis of critical
ecosystems (since 2001), and GHNP is within one of them.

1.1.1 Tirthan valley

Perched at an altitude of over 1600 meters above sea level, the riverside retreat of Tirthan is
an adventure-centric getaway blessed with a wealth of nature’s treasures. Located in the
Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Tirthan Valley derives its name from the Tirthan river,
which winds its way through it. The pristine river originates from the icy cold glacial springs
of Hanskund, a snow-capped peak in the verdant Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP).
Tirthan is an offbeat destination that has something for everyone. This quiet valley is ideal for
trekking, fishing, wildlife watching, and discovering under-explored hill villages. There’s
also the option of doing absolutely nothing as you relax among the pine trees in the valley.
1.2 Forest fires in India

The most common hazard in forests is forests fire. Forests fires are as old as the forests
themselves. They pose a threat not only to the forest wealth but also to the entire regime to
fauna and flora seriously disturbing the bio-diversity and the ecology and environment of a
region. During summer, when there is no rain for months, the forests become littered with dry
senescent leaves and twinges, which could burst into flames ignited by the slightest spark.
The Himalayan forests have been burning regularly during the last few summers, with
colossal loss of vegetation cover of that region.

1.2.1 Causes of Forest Fire

Forest fires are caused by Natural causes as well as manmade causes

• Natural causes - Many forest fires start from natural causes such as lightning which set
trees on fire. However, rain extinguishes such fires without causing much damage. High
atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) offer favourable circumstance for a fire
to start.
• Manmade causes - Fire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or bidi,
electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material.

1.2.2 Classification of Forest Fire

Forest fire can broadly be classified into three categories;

• Natural or controlled forest fire.

• Forest fires caused by heat generated in the litter and other biomes in summer through
carelessness of people (human neglect) and

• Forest fires purposely caused by local inhabitants.

Types of Forest Fire

There are two types of forest fire

i) Surface Fire and ii) Crown Fire

•Surface Fire -A forest fire may burn primarily as a surface fire, spreading along the ground
as the surface litter (senescent leaves and twigs and dry grasses etc) on the forest floor and is
engulfed by the spreading flames.

•Crown Fire- The other type of forest fire is a crown fire in which thecrown of trees and
shrubs burn, often sustained by a surface fire. A crown fire is particularly very dangerous in a
coniferous forest because resinous material given off burning logs burn furiously. On hill
slopes, if the fire starts downhill, it spreads up fast as heated air adjacent to a slope tends to
flow up the slope spreading flames along with it. If the fire starts uphill, there is less
likelihood of it spreading downwards.

Vulnerability

The youngest mountain ranges of Himalayas are the most vulnerable stretches of the world
susceptible to forest fires. The forests of Western are more frequently vulnerable to forest
fires as compared to those in Eastern Himalayas. This is because forests of Eastern
Himalayas grow in high rain density. With large scale expansion of chirr (Pine) forests in
many areas of the Himalayas the frequency and intensity of forest fires has increased.

Preparedness and Mitigation Measures

Forest fires are usually seasonal. They usually start in the dry season and can be prevented by
adequate precautions. Successive Five Year Plans have provided funds for forests fighting.
During the British period, fire was prevented in the summer through removal of forest litter
all along the forest boundary. This was called "Forest Fire Line"
This line used to prevent fire breaking into the forest from one compartment to another. The
collected litter was burnt in isolation. Generally, the fire spreads only if there is continuous
supply of fuel (Dry vegetation) along its path. The best way to control a forest fire is
therefore, to prevent it from spreading, which can be done by creating firebreaks in the shape
of small clearings of ditches in the forests.
1.3 Need of the study

The main objective of this study is to gain more knowledge about the impact the
forest fire creating on the tourism development in Tirthan valley. This study also helps to find
out factors that affect the perception of the local community and tourist visiting eastern
Himalayas. As well as provides information’s regarding the reasons behind the forest fire
crisis.

1.4 Objectives of study

 To understand the negative impacts caused by forest fire on the tourism sector on
Tirthan valley.
 To identify the role of tourism stakeholders in preventing and spreading awareness on
the forest fire.
 To evaluate the role of local community in this issue.
 To interpret the contribution of tourist regarding the issue.
 To detect the reasons behind the forest fire.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study is conducted on the Tirthan valley, near the great Himalayan nation park. Forest
fire crisis is one of the major problems faced by the valley. The first beneficiary of this study
will be the tourism sector in the valley. The study also helps to identify the causes of frequent
forest fire in the valley. The study also throws light to the challenges faced by the tourist,
tourist stake holders and the local community. Hence, the findings from this study will help
establish key information regarding the issue. The results can thus be used to formulate
effective strategies the crisis faced by the valley.

1.6 Limitations of the study

 The study was conducted exclusively to the local community, tourist and tourism
stakeholders in the Tirthan valley, so the findings may not be generalized in a
broadert prospective.
  Time limitation factor- The time period was not sufficient to conduct a study on such
a vast area
 Few respondents were not interested to co-operate with the study, they weren’t
comfortable in openly sharing their response on the varied topics involved in the
study.
 There is a chance of personal bias may lead to disastrous result.

1.7 Hypotheses
H 0 There is a relation between the age group and the awareness about the forest
fire crisis in the valley
H 0 There is a relation between the reduced tourist in flow and the booking
cancelation by clients due to forest fire.

1.8 Research Methodology

Kothari (2004) defines that the research is an original contribution to the existing stock of
knowledge making for its development. The systematic approach concerning generalizations
and formulation of a theory is also research. As such the term ‘research’ refers to the
systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis,
collecting the data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of
solutions towards the concerned problem or in certain generation for some theoretical
formulation.

This project titled “To study the impact of forest fire on the tourism industry with reference
to Tirthan valley, Kullu”, Himachal follows a comprehensive research design involving
quantitative techniques as the study aims to analyse critically various factors influencing the
tourism sector in the Tirthan valley. Further it also tries to get an insight of the various factors
influencing the tourist perception.
The study is based on both primary and secondary data.
 Primary data
 Observation method
 Interview method
 Structured questionnaire
  Secondary data
 Journals
 Internet
 News paper

1.9 Sampling Technique

Sample Size: 100 respondents which include 50 tourist, and 50 from local community &
tourist stakeholders

Sampling Method: Stratified random sampling

1.9.1 Primary Data

A questionnaire has been prepared for the objective “To study the impact of forest fire on the
tourism industry with reference to Tirthan valley, Kullu”, Himachal.” Questionnaires were
given directly to the tourist, tourism stakeholders like home stays, travel agencies, trekking
companies etc.

1.9.2 Secondary Data

Apart from the primary data collected, support was taken from secondary sources. This study
required information from the outside sources. Secondary data were collected from
newspapers, Websites, e-journals etc.

1.10 Tools for Data Analysis

SPSS

SPSS Statistics is a software package used for statistical analysis. Long produced by SPSS
Inc. Companion products in the same family are used for survey authoring and deployment
(IBM SPSS Data Collection), data mining (IBM SPSS Modeler), text analytics, and
collaboration and deployment (batch and automated scoring services SPSS is a Windows
based program that can be used to perform data entry and analysis and to create tables and
graphs. SPSS is capable of handling large amounts of data and can perform all of the analysis
covered in the text and much more. SPSS is commonly used in the Social Sciences and in the
business world, so being familiar with this program should serve well in the future.

MICROSOFT EXCEL

Microsoft Excel has the basic features of all spreadsheets, using a grid of cells arranged in
numbered rows and letter-named columns to organize data manipulations like arithmetic
operations. It has a battery of supplied functions to answer statistical, engineering and
financial needs. In addition, it can display data as line graphs, histograms and charts, and with
a very limited three-dimensional graphical display. It allows sectioning of data to view its
dependencies on various factors for different perspectives. It has a programming
aspect, Visual Basic for Applications, allowing the user to employ a wide variety of
numerical methods, for example, for solving differential equations of mathematical
physics, and then reporting the results back to the spreadsheet.

1.11 Chapterisation

The first chapter deals with the introduction to the topic of study, the
objectives, the scope, limitations, and research design. The second chapter explains
the topic in detail with the Literature review. Third chapter includes the profile of the
company in detail. Data analysis and Interpretation is included in the fourth chapter
based on the questionnaire. The fifth chapter deals with the major findings and
conclusion of the study.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Forest fire Management in India

In India there are no comprehensive data to indicate the loss to forests in

terms of area burned, values, and volume and regeneration damaged by fire. FSI in a
country-wide study in 1995 estimated that about 1.45 million hectares of forest are
affected by fire annually. According to an assessment of the Forest Protection Division of
the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change, Government of India, 3.73
million hectares of forests are affected by fires, annually in India. Around 50% of the
forest areas as fire prone with very heavy, heavy and frequent forest fire damages are
noticed only over 0.8%, 0.14% and 5.16% of the forest areas respectively. Thus, only
6.17% of the forests are prone to severe fire damage annually (Mehta, 1996). A large
fraction of India's deciduous and semi-deciduous forests is characterized by open and
frequently burned stands. According to the Constitution of India forests are in the
concurrent list where, the central and state governments in the country are enabled to
legislate on forestry issues. The implementation part of the forest policy/programmes lies
with the state government. Thus, fire prevention, detection, and suppression activities are
the responsibility of the forest department of state government while the policy,
planning, and financing are the primary responsibility of the Union Government. Forest
fire prevention is an important function of the Forest Protection Division in the MoEF &
CC, GOI which is headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Forests. The plan scheme
on "Modern Forest Fire Control Methods" was implemented in states and also proposed
to set up a National Institute of Forest Fire Management in the country for proper research,
extension of technology and training of personnel. This project launched in fourteen states
and covers more than 70 percent of the forest area of the country. This assistance was
being used by the state governments for procuring hand tools, fire resistant clothes, fire
fighting tools, radios, fire watch towers, fire finders, creation of fire lines, research,
training, and publicity on fire control programme. There is generally no separate wing for
carrying out forest fire management in the states, during forest fire seasons in some of the
divisions, to help regular staff fire watchers are recruited by the state governments as a
special provision. During the 10th Plan a Centrally Sponsored Scheme called
“Integrated Forest protection Scheme (IFPS)” continued during 11th and 12th Plan period
with the new name “Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS)” with objectives
to address the most pressing needs of forest protection. The components of the scheme
includes forest fire control and management, survey, demarcation and preparation of
working plans, strengthening of infrastructure such as roads, camp offices, watch
towers, improved mobility, fire arms and use of modern information and
communication technology etc. In North East (NE) states and North West (NW) Himalayan
state it 90% funded by central government. (Forest fire in western Himalayas of India: A
Review ,Manmohan JR Dobriyal and Arvind Bijalwan, 2017)

2.2 Flames in the forest

Have you ever seen trees, hundreds of years old, being engulfed in flames? A fire that
destroys the entire ecology of our beloved mountains like a monster, from the riverside to the
top ? If you live in the Himalayas, you must have seen this disheartening sight many times.
As in many other regions of the country, forests are simply vanishing from the Himalayas,
and fires are a major cause.

Is it necessary to mention the consequences of vanishing forests in one of the largest

mountain ranges in the world? We are (un)consciously aware that to intentionally burn a
forest is a crime towards Mother Nature, and hence towards us. It is a suicidal act, as many
aspects of our existence — health, economy, food, water, leisure and even the air we breathe
— are dependent on forests.

Another fact, rarely mentioned or even agreed to, is that a majority of these fires are set
intentionally. The Great Himalayan National Park, a protected area in Kullu, and the Tirthan
valley are unfortunately no exceptions to this rule. Interns and researchers from Himalayan
Ecotourism approached local communities in the region and discussed the matter with them.
Our first understanding is that very few villagers are interested in discussing this issue. Forest
fires keep people of all backgrounds mute and hopeless. When people started talking, they
told us about the local belief: “The fires generate smoke which goes up and reaches the eyes
of God, because of which God starts crying and his tears fall back on Earth in the form of
rain.”

The researchers felt this story was a somewhat diplomatic way to avoid digging into the
problem. Eventually, the villagers admitted that the forest fires are mostly intentional.
Burning forest lands is an environment management practice carried out by villagers in order
to enhance their livelihoods. Fires clear the forest land of “unwanted” bushes and let good
grasses grow for their cattle. This gives the villagers easy access to many forest resources that
can be turned into income. An example is the gucchi (Morchella Esculenta), a mushroom
with a very high selling price, which is known to grow well on burnt forest land. The forests
burned for such purposes are usually rich ecosystems.

Of course, this perspective is wrong when time as a factor is considered. Natural resources
are being consumed for insignificant short-term benefits and a jeopardised future. Are the
villagers aware of this? Yes, to a certain extent. And so, forest fires are a shame which
weighs heavily on everyone. There is also a lack of awareness about how smoke from these
forest fires increases the CO2 levels in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change,
adversely affecting the local climate. The same goes for how depleted forest ecology has an
adverse impact on agricultural production. So, raising awareness is definitely something we
can do to fight forest fires.

However, while raising awareness may increase the social pressure on those who set these
forest fires, the situation is unlikely to change significantly unless there are alternatives.
While such alternatives exist, none are as easy as setting a fire in a forest or to the fields.
Villagers have to be informed about innovative practices and technologies that can take them
away from intentional forest fires without having to substantially increase their work.

Efforts towards raising awareness and community mobilisation will be helpful, but there is
another issue that may condemn any effort to failure — the ownership of forests. Villagers
believe that the future of the forests is in the hands of government officers and not their own.
In this context, a wrong mindset is encouraged. Villagers have a tendency to take whatever
they can from the forest before the government takes it.

We need to promote the idea that the forests belong to all people. Their conservation is
necessary for the whole of mankind and for this world to survive. We need to raise
awareness, empower women, increase access to knowledge, introduce green technologies and
bring in resource-friendly income-generating activities.

Whatever alternate practices are promoted, it is crucial to keep lands for the forest to grow,
protected from fires. We have come across a few individuals in rural areas who actively
inform the local authorities and the National Green Tribunal through its online portal
(https://ngtonline.nic.in/ngtonline/ homePage.action) about such fires and have received a
quick response. The care and concern for the environment as shown by such individuals
should be ingrained in all of us. With the help of mobile applications, SMS or through the
website, citizens can help track forest fires whenever they occur and bring them to the
attention of local authorities, who can then take appropriate steps.

This battle has to start somewhere. A forest fire, whenever it occurs, should bring about the
kind of ground-level response we see in case of earthquakes or floods. To tackle this issue,
the officers at the ground level can work together with the public to bring about a holistic
solution. Through a concerted effort, we may halt this fire which is engulfing our forests,
harming our wildlife and making the once “pure” Himalayan air toxic.

(The indian express, Apoorv Devgan & Stephan Marchal, 2018)

2.3 Wildfires and tourism

Over the last few years, the impacts of risks associated with natural disasters such as wildfires
have gained interest among scholars (Armstrong & Ritchie, 2007; Borrie et al., 2006; Brown
et al., 2008; Cohn et al., 2006; Davis et al., 2011; Hendricks et al., 2008; Hystad & Keller,
2008; Schroeder & Schneider, 2010; Walters & Clulow, 2010). Wildfires have been
considered to be an increasing issue for tourist destinations, with extensive economic
consequences for host communities. In Florida, in recent years drought conditions have led to
wildfires affecting large parts of the state, leading to smoke conditions closing interstate
highways and causing air quality alerts (Albright, 1998; Davis, 1998; Farrington, 2001).
These conditions have become increasingly perilous for visitors as well as for Destination
Management Organizations.

The impact of smoke from wildfires has been documented since the 1920’s at the early stage
of tourism in Florida (Carter, 1975; Derr, 1989). In 1998, Florida’s tourism industry was
dramatically affected as nearly 500,000 forest acres burned. These acres were largely located
in 18 northeastern counties and triggered a forced evacuation from many tourist destinations
such as Daytona Beach (Hays, 1998). Due to the risk associated with potential fire, fireworks
were forbidden statewide during the month of July, with an exception for Disneyworld. The
mandatory evacuations, smoke conditions, road closures and negative media contributed to
the economic aftermath in tourist-dependent communities.
Since 1998, the number of fires has increased but fewer acres have burned in Florida.
However, although the number of fires decreased in 2001, a substantial increase of acres was
lost (Florida Department of Forestry, 2002). In 2011, a total of 627,169 acres of lands was
lost, out of this, 299,991 acres were attributed to wildfires while 327,178 acres were
attributed to prescribed fires (National Interagency Fire Center, 2012). The frequency and the
increased numbers of fires and lost acres are of concern to the industry, as sustained negative
economic impacts do not bode well for Florida as tourism is its major economic generator.

The impact of fire on tourism and consequent economic losses is also apparent in western
portions of the United States. In Montana, for instance, about 20 million acres of land were
closed as a result of wildfires in 2000 owing to public safety concerns. As a response, several
tourism operators voluntarily closed while other operators experienced a decline in tourism
revenues (Wilkinson, 2000). Likewise, in Idaho tourism-related businesses were severely
impacted by the closure of natural areas and facilities at popular tourism destinations
particularly the Salmon River (Yeh, 2000). Similar measures and outcomes were experienced
due to wildfires in Colorado with the closure of Mesa Verde National Park, a tourist
attraction located in a tourism-dependent community. Effects of wildfires have been seen
throughout in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Utah
(Ruggless, 2000). In California, the impacts of the 2008 summer wildfires were detrimental
for residential and tourism-dependent rural communities such as in Trinity County. The
tourism industry was largely based on family-owned outdoor recreation enterprises (e.g.,
rafting, hiking, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and camping services), which were
substantially impacted resulting in closure of numerous businesses due to economic losses
(Davis et al., 2011). More recently, the sustained wildfires during the peak 2012 summer
season in Colorado intensely impacted tourist mobility and decreased economic impacts in
tourism-dependent mountain communities (Anas, 2012). Overall, in 2011, there were 74,126
fires that burned 8,711,367 acres throughout the country, a substantial increase from 2010
(71,971 fires and 3,422,724 acres burned) (National Interagency Fire Center, 2012).

Obviously, wildfires are an increasing concern for tourist destinations and host communities.
As the wildfire season coincides with the peak tourist season, it compounds economic
difficulties, particularly for nature-based operators and suppliers who rely on tourist
businesses during the summer months (Anas, 2012; Davis et al., 2011). The gravity of
wildfire situations are further propagated by the media, which in turn discourages potential
visitors who may choose alternate destinations, causing a loss of income to the original
destination. Nevertheless, destination and state promotion agencies have been assertive in
rendering positive spins through press releases and the Internet in order to offset the negative
burning image. For instance, the Colorado Tourism Office website offers current updates of
wildfires and information about affected regions (Anas, 2012). Other states like Arizona have
infused financial funds for marketing campaigns to lure back tourists in order to overcome
the economic losses in tourism. Overall, promotional agencies in various fire-affected states
have been aggressive with new marketing campaigns and press releases to make tourists
aware that their respective states are still open for business.

Wildfires have received substantial attention in the media, leading to a level of indisputable
concern among the public. Firerelated research has principally utilized samples from the
western region of the country targeting residential communities and visitors to national parks
and wilderness areas. Likewise, empirical research has primarily examined specific issues
such as public attitudes, knowledge, perceptions, and social acceptability of wildland fire and
fire management techniques and actions (i.e., prescribed burning, timber harvesting,
mechanical thinning, clear-cutting) (Absher & Vaske, 2007; Bright, Manfredo, Fishbein, &
Bath, 1993; Cortner, Gardner, & Taylor, 1990; Davis et al., 2011; Knotek, Watson, Borrie,
Whitmore, & Turner, 2008; Manfredo, Fishbein, Haas, & Watson, 1990; McCool & Stankey,
1986; Taylor et al., 1986; Winter, Vogt, & Fried, 2002). Given the nature of existing research
regarding the effects of wildfires, there is a paucity of research in understanding the public
from other regions of the country. The southeast states such as Florida are an area where
wildland fire plays an essential role in the daily lives of residents and potentially millions of
tourists. The few studies (Butry et al., 2001; Jacobson, Monroe, & Marynowski, 2001;
Johnson et al., 2011; Loomis, Bair, & González-Cában, 2001; Winter et al., 2002) that have
been conducted in Florida have all utilized resident samples, and therefore a focus on visitors
is still lacking.

Florida’s economy mostly depends on tourism. Recreational and leisure travelers, and the
businesses that rely on and support the needs of visitors, are also severely affected. While the
displacement of tourists and the negative economic impact to the tourism industry due to
wildfires has been widely reported in the popular media, empirical studies about tourists and
evacuation behaviors are lacking. Most studies in tourism related to the effect of wildfires are
prescriptive in nature, i.e., the impact of the wildfires to the tourism industry and recovery
strategies. Given the limited research with respect to the impact of wildfires on travel
behaviors, Hystad and Keller (2008) advocated the need to assess the specific risks from
travelers’ perspectives. Hence, the purpose of this study was to understand different segments
of travelers and their perceptions of travel risk with respect to wildfires. More specifically, to
examine: 1) segment profiles and perceived types of risks; 2) perceived level of risk
associated with wildfires in various states; and 3) potential travel behavior modifications due
to specific wildfire situations.

2.4 Risk perception and tourism

Perceived risk in tourism has been examined in numerous studies and is a growing area of
study. Tourism products are sensitive to external factors (e.g., disasters and crises), and have
been found to intensify the perceptions of risk which subsequently lead to alteration of travel
decisions (Floyd et al., 2004; Fuchs & Reichel, 2011; Lepp, Gibson, & Lane, 2011; Matyas et
al., 2011; Pizam & Mansfeld, 1996; Quintal, Lee, & Soutar, 2010; Reisinger & Mavondo,
2005; Roehl & Fesenmaier, 1992; Sonmez, 1998; Sonmez & Graefe, 1998a, 1998b). In the
tourism literature, perception of risk has been found to vary depending on tourists’
characteristics. Roehl and Fesenmaier (1992) classified tourists on the basis of their risk
perception as place risk, risk neutral, and functional risk. Among the three groups, the place
risk group perceived vacations to be fairly risky while their most recent vacation destination
as very risky. Conversely, the risk neutral group did not perceive travel or their destination to
be risky. However, the functional risk group perceived more physical and equipment risk
than the other two groups. Subsequently, Lepp and Gibson (2003) noted that perception of
risk associated with international tourism varied based on tourist’s role and preferences for
familiarity or novelty. Mass tourists tended to prefer familiarity and travel to less risky
destinations while drifters who sought more novel experiences preferred to travel to more
risky destinations. Furthermore, tourists’ perceptions of risk are influenced by individual
lifestyles (Bello & Etzel, 1985; Mitchell & Vassos, 1997), personality (Carr, 2001) and
country of origin (Fuchs & Reichel, 2011; Reisinger & Mavondo, 2005; Seddighi, Nuttall, &
Theochaous, 2001), which suggests that travel risk perception is affected by individual
sociocultural and psychological backgrounds.

Likewise, the literature has also noted that perception of risk varies and is dependent on the
type of risk perceived. Tsaur, Tzeng, and Wang (1997) examined risk perceptions of six
group package tour itineraries with a focus on physical risk and equipment risk. Results
demonstrated that the level of perceived risk associated with types of risk varied.
Correspondingly, Sonmez and Graefe (1998a) examined risk perception with four subscales.
In the first stage, respondents were requested to rate their perception of risk/ safety regarding
fifty countries. In the second stage, respondents were presented ten types of risk and asked
which of them they associate with international tourism, and to what extent. In the third stage,
respondents were asked about their level of agreement with fifteen statements with regard to
risk associated with international travels. In the final stage, respondents were presented
semantic differential scales used to determine international travel attitudes. In the analysis,
responses were standardized to generate a risk index.

Similarly, Sonmez and Graefe (1998b) identified types of risks associated with international
travel and the overall degree of safety felt during travel; and how perceived risks affect the
likelihood of travel or avoidance of diverse geographical regions in the future. To measure
risk perceptions, Sonmez and Graefe (1998b) illustrated ten types of risks and asked
respondents the extent to which they associated each type of risk with international travel
based on a 6-point Likert scale. The types of risk were equipment/ functional risk, financial
risk, satisfaction risk, social risk, terrorism and time risk. The results implied that perceived
risk was found to be a robust predictor of the likelihood of avoidance. Essentially, Sonmez
and Graefe’s (1998a,b) work demonstrated that the more respondents perceived the
destination to be risky, the greater the likelihood they would avoid that respective destination.

With regards to the relationship between perceived risk and intention to travel, scholars have
consistently found that when a potential traveler is exposed to risks, there are several possible
alternative outcomes. The individual can still pursue a travel plan without any modifications,
pursue travel plan to the same destination with some modifications such as, shortening length
of stay, changing destination to a safer one that offers similar attractions, canceling travel, or
seeking additional information to continue with travel plans (Chandler, 1991; Englander,
1991; Kozak et al., 2007; Reisinger & Mavondo, 2005). For instance, when a destination is
perceived to be too risky beyond the individual’s risk tolerance level, it may become
undesirable (Crompton, 1992), and therefore can be eliminated from the selection process
(Sonmez & Graefe, 1998a). In Maser and Weiermair’s (1998) study, they examined travel
risks associated with diseases, crimes, natural disasters, hygiene problems, transportations,
cultures and language barriers, and uncertainty related to destination specific laws and
regulations. One notable finding of the study was the significant connection between
perceived risk, information search and B. Thapa et al. / Tourism Management 36 (2013)
284e292 285 decision making process. Overall, the higher the perceived risk, the more
information tourists would seek with rationality in their decision-making process
 CHAPTER III

COMPANY PROFILE
3.1 Himalayan Ecotourism

Himalayan Ecotourism is a joint venture between a cooperative society and a

commercial firm. Both parties operate the business and social projects under the brand name
of Himalayan Ecotourism. Our firm takes care of the marketing and the required overall
management for ensuring the quality of our services. The cooperative members are the local
experts who guide you into the Himalayan wilderness.
Himalayan Ecotourism is based in Himachal Pradesh, India. This is in the ‘Green’ Himalayas
with evergreen forests and alpine meadows. We are located on the outskirts of the GHNP
(Great Himalayan National Park), a relatively new national park established in 1999 which
was inscribed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in June 2014. We are located close to the
major tourist hubs in Himachal Pradesh – Lahaul, Spiti, Shimla, Dharamshala, Kull-Manali.
We are also on the main road from New Delhi and the Indian plains to Ladakh, Zanskar and
Lahaul Spiti via the Rohtang Pass Himalayan Ecotourism has social and environmental goals.
Its founder is an experienced consultant in rural development. He has a vision for social,
economic and environmental development based on more than 10 years of consultancy in
rural India. Unlike most tourism operators, our business structure is not pyramidal or
hierarchical. Each member is a partner and a shareholder. Our local staff are all members of
the "GHNP Community-based Ecotourism Cooperative" that we promoted. 65 Members of
the community living in the ecozone of the GHNP (Great Himalayan National Park) have
joined the cooperative as mountain guides, cooks and porters. They all have an equal share of
the capital of the cooperative. They are the ones who will accompany you on your treks and
tours.
A substantial part of the revenues of Himalayan Ecotourism goes directly to the cooperative
as profit. The profits are managed collectively and a large part is devoted to support eco-
development projects. We are also doing our best to ensure the safety and comfort of your
local hosts during your travels. The porters carry maximum of 20 kg. We are also reinvesting
a portion of the profits in equipment – bags, shoes, tents, sleeping bags and warm clothing.
You will feel the difference it makes in your overall experience by having happy and
empowered guides, cooks and porters!
We have form in parallel a firm that supports the activities of marketing and management.
Himalayan Ecotourism is the joint venture of the cooperative and the firm. We have
developed an innovative model of social enterprise that empowers the local and allows us to
support sustainable development projects.

3.2 The work of Himalayan Ecotourism, a social enterprise in the

himalayas

Working as a social enterprise!

We believe that to achieve sustainable development in remote rural areas the local
community needs to be socially and economically empowered. That's why we have
encouraged the people of the Eco zone of the GHNP engaged in tourism activities to come
together to establish their own society: "The GHNP Community-Based Ecotourism
Cooperative".
We, the cooperative members and a couple of other professionals/supporters work together as
Himalayan Ecotourism for organizing your treks and travels.
We have set the rules so that everyone has a larger benefit being a member of the cooperative
rather than working as an individual. Each member has at least one share in the company. It
means that your trekking staffs do not work as simple daily-based wage earners but as
shareholders of the company.
Himalayan Ecotourism is the company of your staff ... That's why they care so much about
you, their customers, and very soon their friends.
So our cooperative model is not only good for the locals, it is very good for your travel
experience as well.
The cooperative has become the instrument of the locals to raise their voice, to claim for their
rights and to envision a growing path.
It has greatly enhanced the social, economic and even politic empowerment of the local
community.

The mission of Himalayan Ecotourism

Aiming at conservation by empowering the locals Himalayan Ecotourism is born from a will
to save the Himalayan ecosystems and to promote sustainable development around the Great
Himalayan
National Park. We believe that conservation is primarily the matter of the local communities,
and that a continuous effort towards conservation by the locals can happen if supported by a
viable social enterprise. This is how we understand sustainable development.

Our ecotourism products

We have specialized in outdoor activities near the GHNP, in Spiti and in Ladakh. Our
enterprise provides our clients with skilled guides and specific equipment for ensuring a safe
and comfortable Himalayan adventure. On request, we also provide help with the entire tour,
including transportation,
hotel booking, guided visits, etc.

Our main offer is :

Trekking in and around the GHNP

From 2 to 10 days, our treks allow our visitors to enjoy the pristine environment of the
national park. This attracts nature lovers, bird watchers, avid trekkers and even researchers in
the field of wildlife, ecology and social sciences. We have an excellent reputation owing to
the amazing hospitality of the cooperative members, our clean and comfortable outdoor
equipment, the delicious food we cook in the wild, and the overall quality and safety.

Easy camping in the wild

We believe that even a brief stay in the wild, can be a very positive experience by bringing
one closer to the natural elements. We also believe that this should be accessible to anyone
who is trying to connect with the nature during their holidays. And so we made it possible for
senior citizen, young kids or physically challenged persons. The unmatched quality and
comfort of our camping equipment makes the experience memorable for anyone.

Trekking for women

It happens more and more that we have to organize treks for groups of women or even solo
woman. We simply love that trend ! We understand that women groups would be more
comfortable with women trekking staff, and so we do. Some women who are relatives of the
cooperative members have happily accepted to be a part of the trekking team for women
groups.
Tours in Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh
We mostly take foreigners groups for tours in these areas focusing on meeting the local
people (homestay), exploring the local culture (monasteries festivals, teaching of Tibetan
Buddhism) and experiencing camping in the wild. Our Spiti and Ladakh counterparts have
similar social and environmental values.

Our projects for conservation and women empowerment

With the help of interns, volunteers and researchers, Himalayan Ecotourism implement
various projects. We generate the funds ourselves thanks to the business and we get more
funds from private donors, often former clients.
Currently we are working on the following projects :

Stop Forest Fires

The entire Himalayan range suffers from intentional and repetitive forest fires. These fires
critically endanger the local ecology and have adverse impacts on the climatic changes.
We raise awareness of the locals, through field work, placing road signs, broadcasting our
documentary and mobilizing school children.

Symbioz, delivering green technologies

We are developing appropriate clean wood stoves and solar cookers. After 3 years of R&D
and social researches in the local villages we will be ready soon with final products. Then the
products will be introduced to the market in this part of the Himalayas.

Women empowerment as a key to conservation

We play a role of a catalyst in the formation of women Self-Help Groups in some villages
where cooperative members live. We are training them and offering them all the facilities for
production of value-added products. So far we are able to produce on a small scale : hand-
made soaps with apricot oil, local fruit jams, chutney & pickles, and felted wool products.
Our documentary in Hindi shows the importance of women and children for conservation.
3.3 Our Founder members

Stephan Marchal or “Tintin in the Himalaya”

A Belgian-born OCI who has dedicated his life for working towards sustainable development
with local communities in India. After 7 years of various actions and consultancy for rural
development in tribal areas of Jharkhand, Stephan has shifted to Himachal Pradesh. He
decided to continue working for his mission in a social enterprise fashion

Avneet Mangat
An IT professional and photojournalist who completed his MSc from University of Oxford.
Dedicated to protection of wildlife, Avneet knows well and loves the Himalayas. He found
with Himalayan Ecotourism a way to promote conservation with the local communities
 CHAPTER IV

DATA ANALYSIS AND

INTERPRETATION
 Table 4.1
Table showing age of respondents

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid below 20 4 4.0 4.0 4.0

20-30 27 27.0 27.0 31.0

30-40 40 40.0 40.0 71.0

above 40 29 29.0 29.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.1

INTERPRETATION

Out of 100 respondents 4 respondents comes under the age group of 20 and 27 respondents
comes under 20-30, 40 respondents come under the age group of 30-40. 29 respondents
belong to the category of above 40. The respondent includes tourist, tourism stake holders
and local community. Majority of the respondents belongs to the category of 30-40 (40%)
 Table 4.2
Table showing the awareness of the people towards the forest fire crisis in the valley

Are you aware of the forest fire crisis in the valley

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 72 72.0 72.0 72.0

no 28 28.0 28.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.2

INTERPRETATION

Out of 100 respondents a majority of 72% are aware of the forest fire crisis in the tirthan
valley, the respondents include tourist also. Around 28 % responded that they are not
aware of anything related to the crisis.
 Table 4.3
Table showing the respondents facing difficulty due to forest fire

Have you faced any difficulties do to the forest fire

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 57 57.0 57.0 57.0

no 43 43.0 43.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.3

INTERPRETATION

From the table it is visible that 57 out of 100 respondents have faced some kind of
difficulties due to the forest fire. At the same time 43 participants have responded that
they have never faced any kind of difficulties due to forest fire. But we can conclude that
a majority are victims of the fire in a way or another.
 Table 4.4
Category of respondents

Which category you belongs to

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid tourist 50 50.0 50.0 50.0

tourism stake holder 25 25.0 25.0 75.0

local community 25 25.0 25.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.4

INTERPRETATION

Among the 100 participants in the study selected using stratified random sampling,
50 respondents (50%) are tourist. Among the rest 25 respondents are selected from local
community and the remaining 25 are tourism stakeholders which include travel agents,
home stay owners, resort managers etc. These participants from various categories will
help to get an overall outlook of how forest fire affects the valleys tourism.
 Table 4.5
Table of respondents who are interested to be part of forest fire campaign

Would you like to be part of the campaign against forest fire

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 38 38.0 38.0 38.0

no 62 62.0 62.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.5

INTERPRETATION

From the study it is found that many of the respondents don’t want to be part of any
campaigns that are against the forest fire. 62% of the respondents answered that they are
not intended to be part of any campaign. At the same time 38% reported that they would
like to make some contribution for forest fire campaign.
 Table 4.6

Reasons for the forest fire

RANK 1 RANK 2 RANK 3 RANK 4 RANK 5 RANK 6 RANK 7

Grass 43 24 5 7 0 8 13
Agriculture 10 43 14 5 8 13 7
Religion 5 0 7 8 66 14 0
Timber 22 5 53 13 7 0 0
Natural 0 7 13 0 14 43 23
Mushroom 7 13 8 67 5 0 0
Tourism 13 8 0 0 0 22 57

Figure 4.6

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
Grass Agriculture Religion Timber Natural Mushroom Tourism

INTERPRETATION

The above question was intended to find the major reasons behind the forest fire.
The major reason was to generate grass (Rank 1); the second most important reason was
Timber collection (Rank 2); Agriculture (Rank 3) & Mushroom (Rank 4) production
holds the next positions; Religion is the next important reason (Rank 5); While natural
causes(Rank 6) holds the sixth position, Tourism (Rank 7) holds the last position among
the reasons for forest fire.
 Question for Tourist

Table 4.7
Frequency of tourist visit to Tirthan valley

How many times have you visited tirthan valley

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid first time 25 50.0 50.0 50.0

2-3 16 32.0 32.0 82.0

more than 3 times 9 18.0 18.0 100.0

Total 50 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.7

INTERPRETATION

Among the 50 respondents majority are visiting the valley for the first time (50%),
32% have visited 2-3 times, 18% of the respondents are those who visited the valley for
more than 3 times.
 Table 4.8
Trip postponed due to forest fire

Have you ever postponed your trip due to forest fire issue

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid often 9 18.0 18.0 18.0

sometimes 10 20.0 20.0 38.0

never 31 62.0 62.0 100.0

Total 50 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.8

INTERPRETATION

From the above table we can figure out that a majority of respondents (62%) has never
postponed their trip solely due to forest fire, this includes 31 participants; 20% have
postponed theirs sometimes; but 18% have often postponed their trips mainly due to the
forest fire problem.
 Table 4.9
Role of tourist in the forest fire

Strongly Strongly
Disagree Neutral Agree
Role of tourist Disagree Agree
I am aware of the forest fire
crisis and its future 8 8 9 9 16
consequences in the valley
I try to avoid being the reason
0 3 13 20 14
for forest fire
I would like to make financial
contribution to organizations 3 10 22 14 1
working against forest fire
I have concerns for the
nature even during my leisure 3 7 13 19 8
time

Figure 4.9

25

20

15
Strongly Disagree
10 Disagree
Neutral
5
Agree

0 Strongly Agree
I am aware of the I try to avoid I would like to I have concerns
forest fire crisis being the reson make finacial for the nature
and its future for forest fire contribution to even during my
consequences in organizations leisure time
the valley working against
forest fire
INTERPRETATION

The above table shows the role of tourist in the forest fire crisis of the valley.
Majority of the respondents marked Strongly agree regarding their awareness of the forest
fire crisis and its consequences in the future (32%); while 18% marked Agree, 18%
marked Neutral in the survey; 16% marked Disagree and another 16% marked Strongly
disagree.

In the next category asking the respondents whether they try to avoid being the reason for
the forest fire, 28% marked strongly agree, 40 % marked strongly disagree; 26% want to
be neutral, and 6% disagree to the that option.

Next in the question whether the respondent like to make any financial contribution to the
organization to the firms working against forest fire, 2% entered strongly agree, 28%
marked Agree to that, but the majority want to be neutral to that question (44%); 20%
entered disagree & 6% marked strongly disagree.

The next question regarding the concerns of the tourist for the nature during their leisure
time, 16% strongly agree to that, 38% agree to that; 26% marked neutral, 14% disagree to
that & 6 % strongly disagree to that.
 Table 4.10

Challenges faced by tourist due to forest fire

RANK 1 RANK 2 RANK 3 RANK 4 RANK 5 RANK 6

BREATHING ISSUES 13 2 4 1 2 3
WATER CRISIS 3 1 3 14 3 1
CANCELING OF TREKKS 2 4 13 5 1 0
VISUAL POLLUTION 1 13 4 3 2 2
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES 1 4 1 2 14 3
DESTRCTION OF NATURAL
5 1 0 0 3 16
RESOURSES

Figure 4.10

120
100
80
60
40
20
0

INTERPRETATION

Among the challenges faced by the tourist, they ranked Breathing problems as Rank 1;
visual pollution holds the Rank 2; Cancelling of treks is an another challenges faced by
them, it holds Rank 3; water crisis (Rank 4); Transportation issues (Rank 5); destruction
of natural resources (Rank 6) are the other major challenges ranked by them.
 Questionnaire for Tourism stakeholders

Table 4.11

Do you thing that the forest fire crisis has reduced the tourist inflow

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 12 48.0 48.0 48.0

no 13 52.0 52.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.11

INTERPRETATION

Among the stake holder who have responded 52% responded that the forest fire crisis
didn’t reduced the tourist inflow to the valley, at the same time 48% responded that it has
affected the tourist inflow to the valley.
 Table 4.12
Booking cancelation due to forest fire crisis

Has there been any booking cancelation by clients strictly due to forest fire

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid often 5 20.0 20.0 20.0

occasionally 14 56.0 56.0 76.0

rarely 6 24.0 24.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.12

INTERPRETATION

The question enquires whether there have been any booking cancellations strictly due to
forest fire. 20% of the stake holders reported that often there will be cancelations due to
forest fire; 56% responded that occasionally there will be cancelation; and 24% responded
that cancelations are rare due to forest fire crisis.
 Table 4.13
Destruction of forest will affect the tourism industry

How do you think that the destruction of forest cover will affect the tourism
industry

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid direct effect 14 56.0 56.0 56.0

indirect effect 7 28.0 28.0 84.0

no effects 4 16.0 16.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.13

INTERPRETATION

Among the respondents 56% feel that the destruction of forest fire will make a direct
effect on the tourism industry; at the same time 28% feel that it has only an indirect effect
on the tourism industry; 16% comment that it has no effects on the industry.
 Table 4.14
Role of tourism department

Do you feel that the tourism department is ignoring the issue

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 13 52.0 52.0 52.0

no 6 24.0 24.0 76.0

no comments 6 24.0 24.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.14

INTERPRETATION

The question was about the role of tourism department in this issue. 52% of the
respondents feel that the department ids ignoring the issue; 24% feel that it’s not true, and
the department is considering the issue; at the same time 24% doesn’t wish to make any
comment on this.
 Table 4.15
Negative review for the firm

Did the forest fire ever resulted in a negative review for your firm

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 11 44.0 44.0 44.0

no 14 56.0 56.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.15

INTERPRETATION

In the question to find out the relation between forest fire and the negative review for the
firm; 44% responded that it has resulted in a negative review for the firm, 56% responded
forest fire crisis never resulted in a negative review for their firm.
 Table 4.16
Role of tourism stake holder

Strongly Strongly
Role of tourism stakeholder Disagree Neutral Agree
Disagree Agree
Try to spread awareness among the
0 0 10 9 6
tourist
We support the organizations that work
0 6 9 6 4
against the forest fire crisis
We give necessary instructions to
2 5 5 7 6
tourist before each trek
We extend full support to authorities
1 6 3 9 6
relating this issues
We take all precaution while setting
1 1 2 11 10
bonfire activities

Figure 4.16

12

10

6
Strongly Disagree
4 Disagree

2 Neutral
Agree
0
Try to spread We support We give We extend full We take all Strongly Agree
awarness the necessary support to precaution
among the organizations instrctions to authorities while setting
tourist that work tourist before relating this bonfire
against the each trek isuue activities
forest fire
crisis
INTERPRETATION

In analysis the role of the stake holder, the question asked was whether they try to spread
awareness among tourist or not; 40% responded neutral to that, 36% responded agree to
that while 24% responded strongly agree.

Among the respondents to the question whether the firm will support the organizations
working against the crisis 24% disagree to that 36% remain neutral, 24% agreed to that
and 16% strongly agree to that.

Giving instructions to tourist before each trek- 8% strongly disagree to that, while 20%
disagree to that another 20% remain neutral to that question, 28% responded agree &
24% responded strongly agree.

Support to authorities relating to the issue- 4% strongly agree to that; 24% Agree to that;
12 % remain neutral; 36% marked agree; and 24% marked strongly agree.

In the question asking the precaution taking while setting up a bonfire, 4% strongly
disagree to that while 4% disagree to that, 8% remain neutral, 44% agree to that while
44% strongly agreed to that.
 Table 4.17
Challenges faced by tourism stakeholders

Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4 Rank 5

Negative feed back 5 0 13 4 3
Water crisis 13 5 4 3 0
Cancelling of treks 0 13 8 0 4
Visual pollution 4 3 0 18 0
Transportation issues 3 4 0 0 18

Figure 4.17

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Negative feed water crisis canceling of visual pollution transportation
back treks issues

INTERPRETATION

To list the major challenges faced by the stakeholder’s water crisis hold the first rank,
cancelling of treks in an another problem faced by them it holds the Rank 2, Negative
feedback is the next challenge (Rank 3); while visual pollution holds Rank 4,
transportation issues hold Rank 5 .
 Question for local community

Table 4.18
Intentional lighting of forest fire

Did you ever intentionally light forest fire

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 2 8.0 8.0 8.0

no 13 52.0 52.0 60.0

no comments 10 40.0 40.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.20

INTERPRETATION

Among the local community people from various villages who have participated in this
survey, 8% responded that they have intentionally light the forest fire; 52% responded
that they won’t do it; and 40% doesn’t wish to comment on that.
 Table 4.19
Affecting livelihood

Does the forest fire problem directly affect your livelihood

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 12 48.0 48.0 48.0

no 13 52.0 52.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.19

INTERPRETATION

Among the participants in the survey from the local community 48% said that the forest
fire issue have directly affected their livelihood, 52% said that it’s not affecting their
livelihood.
 Table 4.20
Experiencing drought issues

Are you experiencing serious drought issues during summer

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 22 88.0 88.0 88.0

no 3 12.0 12.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.20

INTERPRETATION

Among the respondents 88 % marked Yes for the question asking whether they are
experiencing drought issues during summer; only 12% marked no for the question.
It shows that majority are expiring water crisis during summer period. It will affects the
tourism industry also.
 Table 4.21
Local community role in tourism activities

Are you directly or indirectly taking part in any tourism related activities

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid yes 13 52.0 52.0 52.0

no 12 48.0 48.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Figure 4.21

INTERPRETATION

The question was asked among the local community participants; 52% are directly or
indirectly participating in some kind of tourism related activities in the valley, and 48%
said that they are not part of any tourism activities happening in the valley.
 Table 4.22
Role of local community

Strongly Strongly
Disagree Neutral Agree
Disagree Agree
I wish to conserve the nature by protecting it 0 0 4 11 10
I voluntarily take part in extinguishing the
0 0 5 11 9
forest fire
I spread the word of awareness among the
0 3 11 6 5
villagers
I understand the need to conserve the
0 3 11 6 5
environment for the future generation
I take part in forest regeneration activities 1 1 12 8 3
I extend my complete support to forest
0 4 9 9 3
officials in their initiatives to stop forest fire

Figure 4.22

14
12
10
8
6
4 Strongly Disagree

2 Disagree

0 Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
INTERPRETATION

In the question to analysis the role of the local community, 40% marked strongly agree to
conserve the nature by protecting it, 44% marked agree for it; and 16% marked neutral for
it.
20% marked neutral to the question asking whether they would participate voluntarily in
the extinguishing activities of the fire; 44% agree to that; and 36%
Strongly agree to that.
I spread word of awareness among the villagers- 12% said they are disagreeing to that
question; 44% marked neutral; 20% agreed and 24% strongly agreed.
I understand the need to conserve the environment for the future generation- 4% strongly
disagree; 4% strongly disagree; 48% neutral and 32% agreed and 12% strongly agree.
I take part in forest regeneration activities- strongly disagree 20%; disagree 32%; 36%
neutral; 8% agree and 4% strongly disagree.
I extend my complete support to forest officials in their initiatives to stop forest fire-
16% disagree; 36% neutral; 36% agree and 12% strongly agree.
 Table 4.23
Challenges faced by local community

Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4

Drought issues 15 2 3 5
Affect agriculture 2 15 5 3
Grazing of cattle 3 5 15 2
Loss of vegetation 5 3 2 15

Figure 4.23

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
drought issues affect agriculture grazing of cattle loss of vegetation

INTERPRETATION

In the attempt to rank the major challenges faced by the local community due to the forest
fire crisis, Drought issues ranked 1; Affecting agriculture ranked 2; Grazing of cattle
(Rank 3) is the third most important challenge; Loss of vegetation(Rank 4) is the fourth
important challenge.
 Anova Test

Table 4.24
Age group and awareness about the forest fire

ANOVA

Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Between Groups .890 3 .297 1.479 .225

Within Groups 19.270 96 .201
Total 20.160 99

INTERPRETATION

Since the p value is higher than 0.05 we can accept the null hypothesis. So there is no
need of an alternative hypothesis. So we can conclude that there is a relationship between
the age group and their awareness towards the issue.

Table 4.25
Reducing tourist inflow & Booking cancelations

ANOVA

Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Between Groups .037 1 .037 .078 .783
Within Groups 10.923 23 .475
Total 10.960 24

INTERPRETATION
In this case the p value is higher than 0.05, so we can accept the null hypothesis. So
By performing the Anova test we can conclude that there is a relation between the
reduced tourist inflow and the booking cancelations.
 CHAPTER V

FINDINGS & SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Findings from the survey

 40% of the respondents belongs to age group of 30-40

 Among the respondents 72% are aware of the crisis in the valley
 57% has agreed that they have faced some kind of difficulties due to forest fire.
 Interestingly 62% of the respondents don’t want to be part of any campaigns that are
working against the forest fire.
 Grass generation was selected as the major reason behind the forest fires in the valley;
it is followed by other major reasons like timber collection, agricultural practices,
mushroom collection, religious purposes, natural causes etc.
 Tourism was ranked the least among the reasons for the forest fire.
 50% of the tourist is visiting the Tirthan valley for the first time.
 18% often postponed their visits to the valley solely due to the forest fire crisis.
 28% agreed to make contributions to the campaigns working against the forest fire.
 Among the major challenges faced by the tourist breathing issues ranked one, visual
pollution ranked two, cancelation of treks, water crisis, etc. were the other challenges
faced by them.
 48% of tourism stakeholders feel that forest fire crisis reduced the tourist inflow in the
valley.
 56% stakeholders claim that there are occasional cancelations in the booking due to
the issue.
 56% claim the forest fire crisis will directly affect the industry in the valley.
 52% says that the tourism department is ignoring the issue.
 44% stakeholders say that the forest fire issue has resulted in a negative review for the
firm.
 36% agree that they spread awareness among tourist regarding the issue.
 24% strongly agree that they give instructions to the tourist before treks.
 36% like to support the authorities regarding the issue.
 44% agree that they necessary precautions while setting up bonfire.
 Among the major challenges faced by the stakeholders, water crisis is the major one,
followed by cancelling of treks. Negative review is another challenges faced by them.
 48% say that crisis has directly affected their livelihood
  82% directly experience drought issues
 36% remain neutral to the question whether they support the forest official or not.
 Among the major challenges faced by local community water crisis was the major
one.
 It is proved that there is a significant relation between Age & awareness of the issue
 It is also proved that the reduction in tourist inflow & booking cancelation are related.

5.2 Conclusion

Fire is a good servant, but a bad master- The old saying was always true. Forest fire is one of
the major crises faced by the valley. The tourism department is still ignoring the issue;
according to them it’s only the issue that concerns the forest department. There were no
proper safest instruments for the official to control, the fire. The local community is also
ignoring the issue, they should take an active role in the putting an end to this. We need to
develop an alternative source of income for them and proper awareness should be given to
them. If this continues, in the next 5 year it’s going to destroy the tourism industry in the
valley. Water crisis is one the major outcomes of this problem, visual pollution,
transportation issues are the other major problem faced by tourist and the stakeholder.
References

 Forest fire in western Himalayas of India: A Review (2017), Manmohan JR Dobriyal

& Arvind Bijalwan, Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) Bhopal, M.P.,

India

 Indian express article (2018), Apoorv Devgan & Stephan Marchal, forest-fire-

mountains-himalayas-uttarakhand-himachal-fire-environment.

 www.himachal.nic.in FOREST FIRES IN INDIA

 Wildfires and tourist behaviours in Florida (2013) Brijesh Thapa & Ignatius

Cahyanto.

 www.sciencedirect.com- fire-safety-journal/volume46/issue/1-2.

 www.researchgate.net
ANNEXURE 1
 DEPATMENT OF TOURISM STUDIES
PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY

Dear Participant,
I am an MBA tourism pursuing students of Pondicherry central university. And I am doing
my internship on the Himalayan ecotourism, Banjar, Kullu , Himachal. As part of my
internship project, I am examining the area of “The impact of forest fire on the tourism
industry with reference to Tirthan valley”
We are inviting you to participate in this research study by completing the
attached surveys. The following questionnaire will require approximately 5mins to complete.
There is no compensation for responding nor is there any known risk. We will ensure that all
information will remain confidential; Inclusion of your name is optional. Copies of the
project will be provided to our University. If you choose to participate in this project, please
answer all questions as honestly as possible and return the completed questionnaires
promptly.

Thank you for taking the time to assist us in our educational endeavors. The data collected
will provide useful information regarding forest fire problem in the valley.
If you require additional information or have questions, please contact us at the number listed
below:

Phone:
+91 9746950816
 Questionnaire
Part A

1. Name: ________________________________(optional)

2. Name of village/ place: ________________________

3. Age

Below 20 20-30 30-40 Above 40

4. Are you aware of the forest fire crisis in the valley?

Yes No

5. Have you faced are difficulties due to forest fire in the valley?

Yes No

6. Which category you belongs to:

Tourist Tourism stakeholder Local community

7. Would you like to be the part of the campaign against forest fire?

Yes No

Rank the following statements.

Reason for forest fire Rank

1. To generate fresh grass for the cattle

2. Agricultural purpose
3. Religious beliefs
4. Timber collection.
5. Natural causes
6. Mushroom collection
7. Tourism activities
 Part B

Questionnaire for Tourist

1. How many times have you visited Thirtan valley?

For the first time 2-3 times More than 3 times

2. Have you ever postponed your trip due to the forest fire issue?

Often Sometimes Never

Select the appropriate statement from the following.

(SD- Strongly Disagree: D- Disagree: N- Neutral: A-Agree: SA- Strongly Agree)

Role of tourist SD D N A SA
1. I am aware of the forest fire crisis and its future consequences in the
valley
2. I try to avoid being the reason for forest fire
3. I would like to make financial contributions to organizations
working against forest fire
4. I have concerns for the nature even during my leisure time

Rank the following

Challenges faced due to forest fire (tourist) Rank

1. Breathing problems
2. Water shortage
3. Canceling of treks and other activities
4. Visual pollution
5. Transportation issues
6. Destruction of natural resources
 Questionnaire for Tourism stakeholders
(Guesthouses, Homestays, Travel agencies)

1. Name of the firm :__________________________(optional)

2. Do you think that the forest fire crisis in the valley reduced the tourist inflow?

Yes No

3. Has there been any booking cancelation by clients strictly due to forest fire?

Often Occasionally Rarely

4. How do you think that the destruction of forest cover will affect the tourism?

Direct effect Indirect effect No effects

5. Do you feel that the tourism department is ignoring the issue?

Yes No No comments

6. Did the forest fire issue ever result in a negative review for your firm?

Yes No

If yes, specify_______________________________________

Select the appropriate statement from the following.

(SD- Strongly Disagree: D- Disagree: N- Neutral: A-Agree: SA- Strongly Agree)

Role of tourism stakeholders SD D N A SA

1. Try to spread awareness among the tourist regarding the issue
2. We support the organizations that works against the forest fire crisis

3. We give necessary instructions to tourist before each trek

4. We extend our full support to authorities relating this issue
5. We take all precautions while setting bonfire activities
Rank the following

Challenges faced due to forest fire Rank

1. Negative feedback from tourist
2. Water crisis
3. Canceling of treks and other activities
4. Visual pollution
5. Transportation issues

Questionnaire for local community

1. Did you ever intentionally light forest fire?

Yes No No comments

2. Does the forest fire problem directly affecting your livelihood?

Yes No

3. Are you experiencing serious drought issues during summer?

Yes No

4. Are you directly or indirectly taking part in any tourism related activities?

Yes No

If yes specify, ______________________________________________________

Select the appropriate statement from the following.

(SD- Strongly Disagree: D- Disagree: N- Neutral: A-Agree: SA- Strongly Agree)

Role of local community SD D N A SA

1. I wish to conserve the nature by protecting it
2. I voluntarily take park in extinguishing the forest fire
3. I spread the word of awareness among the villagers
4. I understand the need to conserve the environment for the future
generation
5. I take part in the forest regeneration activities

6. I extend my complete support to forest official in their initiative to

stop forest fire
Rank the following

Challenges faced due to forest fire Rank

1. Drought issues
2. Affects agricultural practices
3. Grazing of cattle’s
4. Loss of vegetation

PERCEPTION (in words):

Suggestions if any,___________________________________________________________