• Retheesh. P. T
• Dr. Bindi.Varghese
• Sagar R

This paper targets to identify the challenges and issues faced by local communities towards involvement in tourism activities at Hampi. Generally, the tourism can create positive or negative impacts (social-cultural and economic) on the local communities. The involvement from the local communities decides the benefits and costs occasioned by the tourism activities. Hampi is beautiful heritage site located in the northern part of Karnataka state and declared as World Heritage site in the year of 1986 by UNESCO. Due to lack of knowledge and awareness, most of the inhabitants aren’t bothering about the potential of tourism activities happening near their village or residence. Even though the potential is more in regard to the employment opportunities and entrepreneurship, a good number of local people are depending subsistence agriculture. During the study, it is observed that the local community awareness level about tourism and its potential is below average and couldn't find proper measure or initiative from the authorities to address such issues. It’s very difficult to convince and improve the level of community participation in tourism unless by assuring basic education and continuous awareness program through self-help groups. Communication is another area to be improved as it is an important element in the leisure industry. Right decisions and implication of the same are very much essential to eliminate such issues. From the study, it is observed that the local community is quite unhappy with the approaches of various responsible authorities like Archaeological Survey of India and the state tourism department. Boards, agencies, and other key decision makers should discuss the need for such initiatives to assure the involvement of local community in tourism activities and bring forward them into to mainstream of tourism sector. Potential of Hampi is huge but only thing is, there must be enough consideration for inhabitants while taking decisions from time to time.

Community-based Tourism (CBT); Hampi World Heritage site; Local public and education; local community awareness; social and economic impacts

"A STUDY ON THE CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN TOURISM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS AT HAMPI", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 9, page no.248-254, October-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRA006362.pdf

"A STUDY ON THE CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN TOURISM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS AT HAMPI", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 9, page no. pp248-254, October-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRA006362.pdf