Tourism is one of the world’s most important activities, involving millions of people, generating local employment, stimulating improvements to infrastructure. Tourism is considered to be successful as long as the benefits are not outweighed by the costs. The use of tourism should be taken as a regional development tool. Tourism in Darjeeling generates an annual revenue of Rs 450 crore, with tea and DHR playing a niche role in it. Tiger Hill, located 14kms from Darjeeling in Ghoom, the highest railway station in India stands at 8500ft above sea level and is the most popular tourist destination in Darjeeling. Tiger Hill is a real attraction among the tourists, with a spectacular vantage point view of the third highest mountain peak, Kanchenjunga and world’s highest peak Mount Everest. Almost 4000 tourists visit Tiger Hill during the peak season everyday for the sunrise. There is a continuous rise in the number of tourists in Tiger Hill. It is recorded that in 2011-12 there is 1,82,021 numbers of tourists (both domestic and foreign) coming to this spot, whereas the year 2014-15 has recorded the highest number of tourists in Tiger Hill with 2,39,101. It is also seen that till Feb 2016 there is 2,21,249 numbers of tourists and it could rise further in the near two months leaving the highest record in the last 5 years. This shows that Tiger Hill is the most promising, famous and most visited site by the tourists in Darjeeling which provides recreational services to the people. The revenue generated in 2013-14 is least in the last 5years and the highest revenue collected is Rs. 54,97,820 in 2014-15.
Tiger Hill is the central tourist site for middle income people. The results of the survey shows that the educated tourists (domestic and international) are well known of the place Tiger Hill and they love visiting the place even more than twice. Needless to say that, a trip to Darjeeling is incomplete without visiting Tiger Hill. The view of the sunrise, nature friendly environment, and chilled weather allows the tourists to visit the place again and again, adding recreational benefits to the region.
