Impact of Tourism on Vernacular Housing in Shimla, India
Ajay Kumar, Nishant Arora & Davinder Pal Singh
Abstract
It is well known that tourism industry is an engine of economic growth and produces change in the socio-cultural activities by exchanging cultural ideas. In India, same can be observed. For example, tourism of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is making substantial contributions in the generation of employment and earning foreign exchange. However, it also leads to significant transformations of housing of the natives. In this context, this study examines the changes in the housing style of the native community resulting from the tourist activities. This study employs a quantitative methodology, and ascertains this impact of tourism on housing styles of the natives by employing tourism as an independent variable and impacts on housing and aspect of quality of life as dependent variables. Primary data is collected through a sample survey that generates quantitative data. From each municipality ward of Shimla, 100 households are surveyed. Research shows that the changes on Housing Style of Shimla, arises due to tourism. It reveals that the prime reason behind the transformations of the styles of vernacular housing is the fact that the houses are rented to tourists as accommodation. Undeniably, people make money and there is economic development. It is observed that increased tourism tends to change the lifestyle as well as the culture of the natives and also the places. It is noted that the physical, socio-economic and environmental conditions undergo changes of vivid nature and directly or indirectly impacts the livability of the native settlements. It is also noted that, many businessmen and the government agencies concerned with tourism have only recently begun to pay serious attention to its implications on quality of life of the natives. It thus concludes that planned interventions are needed to address this issue.
Keywords:
Tourism, Native community, Social Impact, Housing Styles, Shimla, India.