Chapter-V Resource Analysis to Contribute to SWOT Analysis for the Destination (стр. 3 )

In terms of per capita consumption of electricity which is a good indicator of development, the position of N. E. states is far below the national average. Sikkim’s relative position in the N. E., however, is better. In terms of road density, the situation in N. E. is generally poor and Sikkim’s position, even worse. As compared to the national average 749 km per 1000 sq. km of area, Sikkim has only 258 km per 1000 sq. km. Among the N. E. states, the density of road in Sikkim is better than only Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. The density of post offices measured in terms of population per post office is higher in Sikkim than all other N. E. states, except Mizoram.

The comparative picture of access to safe drinking water in N. E. states for 1991 is somewhat discouraging. The relative position of Sikkim, however, is quite good. At 73 per cent Sikkim has the highest level of access to safe drinking water in North-East and the state betters the national average of 62 per cent with good quality.

Index of social and economic infrastructure for 1999 worked out by the Eleventh Finance Commission placed Sikkim ahead of all the other N. E. states and above the national average.

Sectoral composition of plan expenditure of N. E. states and three different points of time is presented below in table 4.2.

Table 5.2: Sectoral Composition of Actual Plan Expenditure

States	Social Sector	Infrastructure
1981-82	1991-92	1997-98	1981-82	1991-92	1997-98
Sikkim	19.83	28.09	45.38	41.42	47.07	32.9
Arunachal Pradesh	24.59	25.90	29.65	45.66	47.07	46.37
Nagaland	26.65	24.38	36.73	39.33	30.42	19.87
Manipur	29.07	24.58	32.44	29.93	37.31	38.57
Mizoram	26.54	25.68	30.35	40.93	35.38	41.10
Tripura	28.69	30.16	43.18	27.53	26.11	22.34
Meghalaya	28.97	29.32	37.83	45.09	38.99	33.58
Assam	17.97	34.31	45.89	52.56	29.97	22.12

Source : Sikkim Development Report ( Table 1.3, p. 36), 2010

Social sector expenditure in Sikkim was one of the lowest among N. E. states in 1981-82. The social sector expenditure in the state in the year 1997-98 was one of the highest among the N. E. states. Even as the share of social sector in plan expenditure in all the N. E. states has been increasing in the 1980s and 1990s, the growth of social sector spending in Sikkim has been distinctly higher. Indeed, this has resulted in better performance in terms of human development indicators in Sikkim.

Financial resources are the amount and type of finance available to develop and promote Sikkim as a tourist destination. The development characteristics and control measures are largely dependent on the authority of sources of the funds or investment required. Again the development of tourism in Sikkim through the allocation of funds or choice of investment from various available sources largely depends on the political philosophy, administrative system, extent of participation and consultation of local people and degree of dependencies over the tourism industry by the government in the state. So, financial resources for a destination are considered in terms of the balance between different types of finance and the relative cost of each of the different types of resources. Financial policy direction[2] of Sikkim is based on - (i) provision of inputs and information, (ii) enrichment of household through Community Information Centre ( CIC) for the identification of multiple source of income, ( iii) skill formation and development of entrepreneurship, ( iv) surmount of two major constraints viz. land and infrastructure, ( v) establishment of a high powered investment board, ( vi) invitation to market leaders, ( vii) provision of loans, grants, etc. ( viii) effective marketing network.

Human resources for Sikkim as a tourist destination include employees working in any tourism firm in private and public sector organization situated in Sikkim or any other tourist generating area, local community participating and consulting in tourism phenomenon in Sikkim, local community as a part of attraction features are considered to be the human resources for the destination Sikkim. These resources are considered in terms of numbers, education, skills, training, experience, age, motivation, wage costs and productivity in relation to the needs of the organization.

Sikkim has significantly developed itself in the matter of drop-out rates. The rate has decreased drastically and indicate that as the students climbed the education ladder the number of children enrolled steadily fell indicating that the drop out phenomenon persists in a much more remarkable manner.

Table 5.3: Stage-wise Drop Out Rates

Stage/ Classes	Boys	Girls	Total	Remarks
I-V	15.37	15.06	15.22	Primary Stage
VI-VIII	14.44	11.19	12.64	Upper Primary Stage
I-VIII	23.02	21.70	22.39	Up to Elementary Stage
IX-X	12.00	16.66	11.35	Secondary Stage
I-X	27.13	25.39	26.29	Up to Secondary Stage

Source : Sikkim Development Report ( Table 5.11, p.79), 2010

Intangible resources are obtained through brand, reputation, goodwill, skills and ‘free’ technical and conceptual services which are assessed and recognized by people in terms of their overall value to the organization.

Categorizing resources inevitably requires some degree of discretion. The relationship between the type of categories and the relative importance to different visitor markets has to be carefully understood. What is leisure tourism destination to one can be an adventure sports venue for another. What is principal resource to one can be a supplementary resource to another. In fact not all destinations actually have a principal resource per se, but rather an amalgam of supporting resources which when combined together form a synthetic principal attraction (Godfrey and Clarke, 2000; p.65). Simply, natural, cultural, events, activities and services are five broad categories combining together for a complete vacation experience. These are discussed here under with respect to Sikkim.

Figure 5.2: Types of Tourism Resources in Sikkim

Natural	Cultural	Events	Activities	Services
i.  Flora ·  forest ·  areas ·  orchards and ·  orchids ·  wilderness ·  spices and herbs ·  endangered species ii.  Landscape ·  glaciers ·  mountains ·  valleys ·  plateau etc. iii.  Fauna ·  insects ·  birds ·  animals iv.  Climate ·  seasonal ·  summer ·  winter ·  autumn ·  Alpine ·  wind etc water ·  Rivers-show ·  Meander ·  Rapids ·  Cataracts ·  lakes estuaries ·  thermal ·  Spring ·  waterfall ·  snow fall etc.	i.  Religious ·  A mix of Hindu, Buddhist and Lepcha culture ii.  Heritage ·  Tibetan heritage and culture, distinct Lepcha culture iii.  Others ·  Ethnic ·  Celebrations ·  Indigenous ·  culture-dance, dress, language/dialect, food and drink, music, art, work & industry, craft work, archeological sites, folklore, local tradition	i.  Festivals ·  Flower festival, ·  craft fare ·  fares celebrating special occasion ii.  Tournaments ·  Archery, yak race etc, iii.  Business ·  Trade shows, ·  recreational vehicles, iv.  Others ·  Rodeos ·  street ·  carnivals ·  fishing contest ·  military displays ·  photo exhibition ·  celebrity visits	i.  Recreational ·  children’s playground ·  golf course ·  tennis court ·  nature trails hiking trails, bike trails ·  ski hill/dry slope ·  hunting & shooting ·  caving/potholing ·  white knuckle activity ii.  Services ·  Camping suppliers ·  retail outfitters, ·  water sports ·  winter sports ·  theatres, cinemas ·  conference centers ·  art and craft galleries etc. iii.  Facilities ·  winery-tours/tasting, sales ·  zoo/sealife centre ·  wildlife sanctuary ·  game park ·  farm park, theme park-amusement ·  water mini/crazy ·  golf ·  industrial tours.	i.  Transport ·  Roadways ·  airways ropeways ·  sightseeing operators etc. ii.  Accommodation ·  Star hotels ·  supplementary accommodations iii.  Reception ·  Information centre ·  local guide ·  community attitude ·  image/town theme ·  government policy ·  tour operators iv.  Catering ·  Bars/pubs ·  bistros/wine bars ·  coffee shop ·  tea room ·  takeaway/takeout ·  family restaurant ·  ethnic cuisine ·  international cuisine ·  picnic sites ·  street vendors ·  self service v.  Services ·  Car repairs ·  petrol stations ·  banks - currency exchange ·  cash machines ·  police/ security ·  medical services ·  communication-postal ·  telephone energy/water supply ·  sewage services

Source: After Godfrey and Clarke( 2000, p.65)