TOURISTS SATISFACTION TOWARDS TOURISM PRODUCTS AND MARKET: A CASE STUDY OF UTTARANCHAL

Abstract

Foreign tourists who visit Uttaranchal get a glimpse of the ancient art and culture of India as well as adventure and wildlife spots also. Most of the respondents availed of high-class accommodation and were satisfied with the hygienic conditions in these hotels.  They travelled by different modes of transport to reach the rural areas of Uttaranchal the satisfaction related to the attitude of drivers and they not at all appreciated conductors. Uttaranchal market as symbol of culture and heritage are satisfactory but proper marketing of tourism product is not satisfactory which need of an hour. The places, the temples, the river, the adventure spots, parks and the tranquil environment of Uttaranchal are highly appreciated by the tourist. But the communication and banking facilities are found to be dissatisfactory in rural areas and tourist spots. There are many PCOs and banks are available in the town.   Although they feel quite satisfied with their Uttaranchal visit but still a gap exists between their expected and perceived services. One of the reasons for this gap has been identified as non-availability of tourism area packages, improper interpretation facilities, poor conditions of ordinary buses and share taxies plying between interior rural areas, awful maintenance of city roads, traffic congestion, non-availability of adequate information on official web site and non-availability of quality souvenirs at Uttaranchal. Based on this identification recommendations have been offered for eliminating the gap. This may result in tourist delight and an increase in tourist satisfaction at Uttaranchal and ultimately into socio-economic development of the state.