http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4206 Fri, 01 May 2026 13:41:22 GMT 2026-05-01T13:41:22Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18409 THE RELEVANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MARKETING TOOL FOR NEW TOURISM PRODUCTS Khare, Amit S.; Randhave, Mahesh R. Social media marketing can offer a plethora of benefits for promoting tourism products and destinations. Social media platforms have billions of active users worldwide, providing an enormous audience to reach with your tourism products. This allows for targeted marketing to specific demographics, interests, and geographic locations. It enables direct engagement with potential customers through comments, messages, and interactive content. This engagement helps build relationships, trust, and loyalty with your audience, ultimately increasing the likelihood of conversion. Tourism products are inherently visual, and social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook prioritize visual content and provide physical evidence which is one of the major components of it.The study looks into the use of social media and its relevance while using social media as a marketing tool to promote and advertise tourism products. With the ever increasing the use of social media and the utility of different social media platforms it becomes imperative to comprehend how these platforms can help tourism products. The data was gathered through a structured questionnaire. It was circulated within Pune city to gather the responses. The sample size for the study of was 152. The statistical tools used to examine the hypothesis created were t-test and linear regression. The results show a strong relationship between physical evidences provided on social media and tourism choices made by the customers. It was also found that Instagram is the most efficient social media platform used as a marketing tool for tourism product. The study was conducted in Pune city and no particular type of tourism product was included. Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18409 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18405 UNDERSTANDING YOUTH TRAVEL AND BACKPACKING Upadhye, Nilesh; Shetty, Priyanka This research is about young travellers who like to explore new places while spending less money, often by staying in hostels. We want to understand where this type of travel comes from and what it means today. Backpackers prefer affordable places to stay, enjoy meeting new people, plan their trips freely, stay longer, and engage in interactive activities. We collected data from surveys and studies to show that these travellers are unique and important for Australia's tourism industry. There are 145 respondents, 60 were female and 84 male respondents were motivated through self- discovery and personal growth. The reason behind the respondent choosing a tour destination is activities at the destination and choosing a tour destination for the duration of the trip. Another study focuses on what makes backpackers happy when staying in hostels in Lisbon. This helps hostel managers attract more backpackers. We use interviews and surveys to find out what different types of backpackers like. Ultimately, we want to understand what makes hostel backpackers enjoy their stay in Lisbon. Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18405 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18402 IMPACT OF OVERCROWDING AT A HISTORICAL TOURISM DESTINATION: A CASE STUDY ON FORT SINHAGAD Sadhale, Manasi; Joshi, Aditi The tourism sector is witnessing significant growth, resulting in an increasing number of destinations experiencing the challenges associated with overcrowding. Overcrowding refers to the situation where the volume of visitors exceeds the destination's capacity, negatively impacting the experience for both tourists and local residents. This phenomenon stands in stark contrast to the principles of responsible tourism and poses detrimental effects on the environmental integrity, social fabric, and economic sustainability of these locations.This paper analyzes the escalating issue of tourist overcrowding at Fort Sinhagad, which has become a prominent concern. The situation is deteriorating steadily with each passing day. Data was collected from 80 participants through a Google questionnaire, comprising 35 males and 45 females. Visitor numbers tend to peak on weekends, while the promotion of Fort Sinhagad by social media influencers exacerbates the overcrowding situation. The fort is facing adverse impacts on its environmental, historical, and cultural aspects. Urban development is also contributory to environmental degradation. While local businesses benefit from the surge in tourist numbers, many visitors remain unaware of the accommodation options available. To address this issue, government intervention is essential to implement sustainable measures aimed at mitigating overcrowding. Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18402 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18401 A STUDY ON CHOICE OF GEN Z TOURISTS OF PUNE CITY TOWARDS SELECTING RELIGIOUS TOURISM AS A VACATION CHOICE IN INDIA Shetty, Priyanka; Upadhye, Nilesh Religious tourism is a significant aspect of travel and leisure, drawing millions of tourists each year to explore destinations of cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. In recent years, the preferences and choices of Gen Z tourists, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, have gained prominence in the tourism industry. Understanding the motivations and decision-making processes of this demographic group is crucial for tourism stakeholders and policymakers. This study aims to delve into the choice of Gen Z tourists in Pune City, Maharashtra, when it comes to selecting religious tourism as a vacation choice in India. Religious tourism encompasses visits to destinations that hold deep religious or spiritual meaning. These destinations often have sacred sites, temples, mosques, churches, and other religious structures that attract devotees, pilgrims, and tourists seeking spiritual experiences. India, with its rich cultural and religious diversity, offers a myriad of options for religious tourism. From the sacred ghats of Varanasi to the iconic temples of Tirupati and the spiritual aura of Rishikesh, India's religious destinations hold immense appeal. Pune City, known for its vibrant youth culture and educational institutions, provides an ideal setting to study the preferences of Gen Z tourists. This tech-savvy generation is characterized by their openness to new experiences, social media influence, and individualistic mindset. Exploring their choices in religious tourism will shed light on their beliefs, spirituality, and cultural heritage. The objectives of this study are three-fold. Firstly, it aims to establish a comprehensive understanding of the concept of religious tourism, highlighting its significance and growth in India. Secondly, the study will identify and describe the major religious tourist places in India, emphasizing their historical, cultural, and religious importance. Lastly, it will delve into the factors influencing the choice of religious tourism among Gen Z tourists in Pune City, considering personal beliefs, spirituality, cultural heritage, social media influence, and marketing strategies. To achieve these objectives, a mixed-methods approach will be employed. Surveys will be conducted to gather quantitative data from a sample of Gen Z tourists in Pune City, while in-depth interviews will provide qualitative insights into their decision-making process. The data collected will be analyzed using statistical tools and qualitative analysis techniques Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18401 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z