Cultural Tourism, Economics and Education: A Case Study of Umananda Island, Assam, India

Abstract

This case study examines Umananda Island, Guwahati, as a site where cultural tourism intersects with local economic development and educational/environmental learning. Using a descriptive-analytical approach grounded in secondary data, the study situates the island within established tourism frameworks, cultural tourism, eco-tourism, and educational tourism and examines its role as a small-scale but multi-functional tourism resource. The study argues that Umananda's significance lies not only in its religious and historical value but in its function as a live case of how micro-destinations generate local economic activity (transport, boat operators, informal vending, guiding) while simultaneously serving as an informal platform for heritage and conservation education. The paper concludes with a SWOT analysis and policy recommendations for balancing economic utilisation with ecological carrying capacity.