NATURE BASED TOURISM, SEASONAL VARIATION AND ITS IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME: EVIDENCE FROM MEGHALAYA

Abstract

The present paper attempts to examine the impact of nature based tourism in Meghalaya on the income and employment. Nature based tourism has important impact on the welfare of the local people of Meghalaya, especially women who have been engaged in various tourism related activities along with the others involved in hotel and higher level activities related to tourism. It is examined through the variation in income and employment in relation to the seasonal variation in tourist inflow in various sites of the state. The analysis of primary data and estimated income and employment multiplier reveals huge potential of tourism for the growth of the state economy. It thus calls for a better tourism management and adoption of appropriate tourism policy.