Sciresol Sciresol http://ugit.net/publication_fsjoaj3qdho/geoeye_cm_ts9ypx7s/ Geo-Eye XXXX-XXXX 10.53989/bu.ge.v8i1.5 Research Article Tourism climatic comfort index for Solapur (Maharashtra) Adavitot S C 1 Professor & Head, Department of Geography, C.B.K’s B. Sci., R.V.Comm & R.J.Arts College Akkalkot, Solapur , 413216 India 8 1 15 2019 Abstract

Tourism is a major sector of the global economy. Climate has a strong influence on the tourism and recreation sector and in some regions of the world constitutes the resource on which the tourism industry is predicated. The present paper aims to highlights the application of Mieczowski’s (1985) ‘Tourism Climate Comfort Index’ (TCI) for Solapur and its environ. Along with this Comset’s Comfort Index and Thom’s Discomfort Index. The Solapur District is laying on the south eastern border of Maharashtra has a large number of tourist places particularly religious and historical centers such as Akkalkot, Pandharpur, Tuljapur, Ganagapur, Solapur, Bijapur and Gulbarga in its vicinity. Lakhs of tourist are attracting towards these destinations.T he study area is located far away from the influence of maritime. For the present study data has been collected from Meteorological Dept. Pune and Agricultural Research center Solapur. The study reveals that according to E.C.Thom’s Comfort Index the Temperature Humidity Index (THI value for the months of Nov. (70.34), Dec. (66.69), Jan. (66.95) and Feb (71.45) shows comfortness for tourism, while Camuset Climate Comfort Index (CI) shows the months of Dec.(899.36), Jan. (2007.080) Feb (2351.08) and Mar.(951.41) were comfort months for tourism. As per Mieczkoski’s formula the TCI for the months of Nov (21), Dec.(31), Jan (31) and Feb. (28) are the comfort months for tourist to visit Solapur and its environ.

 Keywords Tourism climate change tourism comfort index None Introduction

Tourism is a major sector of the global economy, with international tourism receipts of US$439billion in 1998 (World Tourism Organization 1999). It is projected that by 2020, there will be 1.6 billion international tourist arrivals, spending over US$2 trillion worldwide (WTO 1999 & 1998).

Climate has a strong influence on the tourism and recreation sector and in some regions of the world constitutes the resources on which the tourism sector is predicated. Inter- annual climate variability influences the length and quality of recreation seasons and the profitability of the tourism industry. There has been little consideration of how climate change might affect the tourism. Yet despite the importance of climate to tourism. Smith (1993:389) indicated that, “There have been comparatively few investigations into the relationships between climate and tourism". Existing methods for the evaluation of climate for tourism purposes are based on mean monthly values and climate elements i.e. air temperature,

To be comfort, or to be at case represent both physiological and psychological state and opposite of these are discomfort and disease respectively. The physiological concept of comfort basically depends upon age, health, acclimatization. etc. the feeling of comfort is highly subjective and is related to the environment, physical activity, shelter, clothing, cultural traditions, and acclimatization’s (Menon). Therefore here an effort has been made to identify the comfort seasons/durations to visit various tourist places in Solapur and its environ.

The bioclimatic and combined tourism indices involve more than one climatological parameter and consider the combined effects of them. The biometeorological literature, upon which the weightges of the five climatic variables that comprise the TCI and the thresholds used to devise the rating systems for each of the TCI.

The tourism climate index (TCI) was originally conceptualized by Mieczkowski (1985) as a composite measure that would systematically assess the climatic elements most relevant to the quality of the tourism experience for the ‘average’ tourist (i.e., the most common tourism activity of sight-seeing and shopping). The TCI developed by Mieczkowski (1985) was based on previous research related to climate classifications for tourism and recreation (Heurtier 1968, Crowe 1976) and theoretical considerations from the biometeorological literature related to human comfort, particularly with reference to tourism activities (Burnet 1963, Dammann 1964, Hofer 1967, Heurtier 1968, Danilova 1973, and Kandror et al. 1974). Initially, 12 monthly climate variables were identified from the literature as pertinent to the TCI. Meteorological data limitations reduced number of climate variables that were integrated into the TCI to seven (monthly means for maximum daily temperature, mean daily temperature, minimum daily relative humidity, mean daily relative humidity, total precipitation, total hours of sunshine, and average wind speed). These seven climate variables were combined into five sub-indices that comprised the TCI. A standardized rating system, ranging from 5 (optional) to -3 (extremely unfavorable), was devised to provide a common basis of measurement for each of the sub-indices. The five sub-indices and their relative contribution to the TCI are outlined in Table 1. Although devised on the basis of available

Sub-indices within the tourism climate index

Sub-Index

Monthly Variables

Climate Influence on TCI

Weig-htingin TCI

Daytime

Comfort Index

(CID)

maximum daily

temperature &

minimum daily

relative humidity

Represents thermal comfort when maximum tourist activity occurs

40%

Daily

Comfort

Index (CIA)

temperature & mean daily relative humidity

represents thermal comfort over the full 24 hour period, including sleeping hours

10%

Precipitation

(P)

total precipitation

reflects the negative impact that this element has on outdoor activities and holiday enjoyment

20%

Sunshine

(S)

total hours of sunshine

rated as positive for tourism, but acknowledged can be negative because of the risk of sunburn and added discomfort on hot days

20%

Wind (W)

average wind speed

variable effect depending on

temperature (evaporative cooling effect in hot climates rated positively, while ‘wind chill’ in cold climates rated negatively)

10%

Source: Smith K (1993) The influence of weather and climate on recreation and tourism. Weather 48: 398-404

Bio meteorological literature, the rating systems of the five sub-indices and their relative weightings within the TCI.

Study area

Solapur district is situated entirely in Bhima river basin in southern Maharashtra. It lies between 170 10’ and 180 32’ north latitudes and 740 42’ and 760 15’ east longitudes. It has an area of 14,895 Sq. kms. and accounts 4.32% area of Maharashtra state. The district consist of 11 tahsils, the average annual rainfall is 584.3 mm and maximum temperature is 450 C. The population of the District according to 2011 Census is 4.317,756. There are some principal places of tourist interest such as Tuljapur, Pandarpur, Akkalkot, Gangagapur, Bijapur, Gulburga etc. which are located at 55 Kms. 75 Kms. 35 Kms. 100 Kms., 100 Kms. and 120 Kms. away from Solapur respectively.    

Objective

   The objective of the present paper is to identify and confirm climatic comfort index as proposed by Z. Mieczkoski and effort has been made to refer to Comuset’s Comfort Index and Thom’s Discomfort Index.

Data base and methodology

The tourism climate index (TCI) was originally conceptualized by Mieczkowski (1985) as a composite measure that would systematically assess the climatic elements most relevant to the quality of the tourism experience for the ‘average’ tourist (i.e., the most common tourism activity of sight-seeing and shopping). To support and apply the formula given by the above mentioned authors appropriate data was procured from meterological observations published by meteorological Dept. Pune and data from agricultural Research Center, Solapur.

Comfort Indices: E.C. Thom’s Discomfort Index

   E.C. Thom’s Discomfort Index, which is identical to the US Weather Bureau, takes into account, two important parameters- temperature and humidity. The formula is as follows.

      THI = 0.4 (T dry + T wet) + 15

Where,   THI refers to Temperature Humidity Index,

      T dry refers to dry bulb temperature in 0F.

      T wet refers to wet bulb temperature in0F.

Comfort Indices: E.C. Thom’s Discomfort Index (Solapur Centre)

Months

T dry (0F)

T wet (0F)

THI Value

January

76.28

53.6

66.95

February

80.87

60.26

71.45

March

87.17

63.14

75.12

April

93.83

68.72

80.02

May

87.98

71.33

91.79

June

84.11

73.31

77.96

July

80.69

72.77

76.38

August

74.93

71.41

77.54

September

80.42

80.69

79.44

October

81.59

60.62

71.88

November

78.44

59.92

70.34

December

75.48

61.25

69.69

Source: Complied by Researcher

   The above data and graph indicates the THI value for the months of November (70.34), December (69.69) Jan.66.95) and February (71.45), show less of discomfort and the other months of the year show greater discomfort. The same results are observed for the other two formulas.

      THI= 0.55 (T dry + 0.2 T dew) + 17.5 &

      THI= T dry – (0.55 – 0.55 RH) (T dry – 58)

Where,   THI refers to Temperature Humidity Index

T dry refers to dry bulb temperature in degree F,

      T dew refers to dew point temperature in degree F,

      RH refers to Relative Humidity expressed in decimals.

Thom’s Discomfort Chart for Solapur

   

 Camuset Climatic Comfort Index (CI)

Camuset Climatic Comfort Index (CI) is applied for the studies for identifying the French resorts which is as follows.

CI = Monthly Hrs. of isolation  x  Monthly Mean TempMonthly Rainfall

Camuset Climatic Comfort Index (CI) (Solapur Centre)

Months

Insolation

Temperature (00C )

Rainfall (mm)

January

301.6

23.30

003.5

2007.8

February

275.6

25.60

003.0

2351.8

March

253.4

29.10

007.2

951.41

April

252.8

31.80

013.8

582.54

May

254.8

34.45

026.3

333.76

June

194.5

27.65

106.7

050.40

July

122.1

26.85

127.7

025.67

August

131.2

26.60

139.9

024.95

September

167.7

26.50

133.8

033.21

October

221.3

26.45

092.2

063.42

November

202.6

24.10

028.0

174.38

December

271.9

21.50

006.5

899.36

Source: Complied by Researcher

Camuset Climatic Comfort Index (CI) Chart--Solapur

According to Camuset Climatic Comfort Index (CI) the months of Dec.(899.36), Jan. (2007.08) Feb.(2351.8) and Mar.(951041) shows comfort months for tourism in Solapur and its environ. It is also shown in Table 3 and Figure 1, Figure 2

Z. Mieczkowski’s Climatic Comfort Index

   Mieczkowsk’s Climatic Comfort Index is modification of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which is as follows...

TCI = 2[CID + CIA + 2 R + 2S + W ]

Where,      TCI    :Refers to Tourism Comfort Index.

CID    :refers to Daytime Comfort Index, Composed of

         T1    :Maximum Daily Dry Bulb Temp. in 0 C.

         Rhmin :Minimum Daily Relative Humidity

CIA    :refers to Daily Comfort Index, Composed of

         T2    :Mean Daily Dry Bulb Temp. in 0 C.

         Rh min :Daily RH.

R : refers to precipitation in mm

S : refers to Daily Hours of Bright Sunshine.

W: refers to Wind Speed in Km/Hr.

The Ideal Tourism Climatic Comfort Index is obtained as follows....   

TCI ideal = 2[20 + 5 + (2 x 5) + (2 x 5) + 5] = 100

The weightings for all the values are given to indicate the comfort for the tourists, some of which are numerical, others being graphical. Mieczkowski modified the ratings given by ASHRAE for the identification of thermal comfort, which is basically a graphical method, the x-axis representing the wet bulb temperature in degree C. and nearly horizontal part of the graph represent relative humidity in percentage. Combined figures represent the ratings. The precipitation rates are between zero and five. The sunshine ratings are also between zero and five. The wind ratings, in case of Solapur, the tropical trade wind climate are found to be between 2 and 5 . The CID ratings are basically marked with 4, while CIA ratings are fall between 0 & 5. The following table shows ratings in the formula of Comfort index by Mieczkowski for Solapur.

Mieczkowski’s Tourist Comfort Index (Solapur Centre)

Mieczkowski’s Tourist Comfort Index ( Solapur Centre)

Months

CID

CIA

R

S

W

TCI

January

4

5

10

9

3

31

February

4

2

10

9

3

28

March

4

1

10

8

3

26

April

4

0

10

8

4

26

May

4

0

9

8

4

25

June

4

2

3

6

5

20

July

4

3

2

3

5

17

August

4

2

1

4

5

16

September

4

2

2

5

2.5

15.5

October

4

0

4

7

2

17

November

4

4

9

6

4

27

December

4

5

10

8

4

31

Source: Complied by Researcher

As per Mieczkowski’s formula the TCI for the month of Nov.(27), Dec.(31), Jan.(31) and Feb.(28) are the comfort months for tourist to visit Solapur and its environ.

 Conclusion

Tourism is a major sector of the global economy. Climate has a strong influence on the tourism and recreation. Solapur district is attracting tourists from far and wide even from abroad. The study reveals that according to E.C.Thom’s Comfort Index the Temperature Humidity Index (THI value for the months of Nov. (70.34), Dec. (66.69), Jan. (66.95) and Feb.(71.45) shows comfortness for tourism, according to Camuset Climate Comfort Index (CI) the months of Dec.(899.36), Jan. (2007.080) Feb (2351.08) and Mar.(951.41) shows comfort months for tourism. As per Mieczkoski’s formula the TCI for the months of Nov.(21), Dec.(31), Jan (31) and Feb. (28) are the comfort months for tourist to visit Solapur and its environ. After applying various climatic comfort formulas the study reveals that the month of winter i.e. November to February are the comfort months for tourism in Solapur and its environ.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to the Metrological Dept. Pune and Agricultural Research Center, Solapur for providing climatic data.

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