One saying aptly says “The Traveler sees what he sees, but the tourist sees what he has comes to see”. Tourism offers multiple benefits to the individuals as well as society. At the individual level, tourism opens the gate to the outside world. People get to see, experience and know what is lying beyond the world they live in. This, in turn, enriches their knowledge about people, customs and traditions of other places. In short, Travel makes one modest.
Tourism Value & Benefits to the society & country
- Growth and boost in Economic activities.
- Boost wide scale industry revenues.
- Infrastructure development.
- Country’s improved brand image.
- Source of foreign exchange earnings.
- Source of revenue & livelihood to local communities.
- Source of employment generation.
- Connectivity and growth to local, regional and even the remotest areas.
India is one of the popular tourist destinations in Asia. Bounded by the Himalayan ranges in the north and surrounded on three sides by water , India offers a wide variety of tourist sites ranging from enchanting backwaters, hill stations and landscapes to see. India a beautiful country offers natural beauty together with architectural beauty and attracts tourists from all over the world.
It is a boon to India as it is filled over with number of historical places and monuments, great shrines, and temples, places of pilgrimages, wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, sea resorts, places of winter sports, etc. Besides, it offers a great variety of cultures, religions, festivals, languages, fairs, music, etc.
Hotels, travel agencies, transport including airlines benefit a lot from Tourism industry. Tourism promotes national integration and international understanding. It generates foreign exchange.
It also generates many employment opportunities to the local communities. It improves their livelihood. It promotes cultural activities. It also encourages handicrafts.
Tourism promotes business and commercial activities in the country such as transportation, hotel and restaurant services, shopping, banking, etc. and these in turn help in removing unemployment by generating ample employment opportunities. Travel and tourism have great educational, cultural, entertainment, national and international value. Travel has always been a new, refreshing, exciting and rewarding experience both for domestic and foreign travelers. It promotes harmony, friendship and goodwill.
India has a composite culture. There is a harmonious blend of art, religion and philosophy. Though India has been subjected to a series of invasions, she has retained her originality even after absorbing the best of the external influences. India has fascinated people from all over the world with her secularism and her culture.
The diverse geographical locales of India delight the tourists. The monuments, museums, forts, sanctuaries, places of religious interest, palaces, etc. offer a treat to the eyes. Every region is identified with its handicrafts, fairs, folk dances, music and its people.
In 2005 the Indian Tourism Development Corporation started a campaign called Incredible India to encourage tourism in India. The slogan of this campaign is Atithi Devoh Bhavah.
For a better growth the department divided different places in different sections like Medical Tourism, Spiritual Tourism, Spa Tourism, eco-tourism, Adventure Tourism, and Yoga Tourism.
Medical Tourism
India has a growing medical tourism sector. With an increasing number of foreign patients flocking to India for treatment, our country has become an attractive destination for medical tourism. Things have now started looking bright for the tourism industry.
Specialties attracting maximum medical tourists are dental services. India has also got the best known expertise in psychiatry, cardiovascular diseases / surgeries, bone marrow transplants, liver surgeries, Cataract surgeries etc.
India is a cheap destination for medical tourism and medical outsourcing. Kerala is the best destination for naturopathy. In north India besides Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar are known for cardiovascular surgeries.
Spiritual Tourism
Spiritual tourism is to travel to find purpose and meaning in our life. It elevates our physical, mental, and emotional energies. It develops, maintains, and improves our body, mind, and spirit. In a nutshell, it connects our body, mind, and soul.
Spa Tourism
Spa Tourism is part of the Wellness Tourism in which the experience is associated with activities that involve health improvement through hydrotherapy or balneotherapy. Recently, spa therapy also involves alternative medical treatments and the use of the five senses to create a physical, mental, and emotional balance.
Eco-Tourism
Ecotourism is catering for holiday makers in the natural environment without damaging it or disturbing habitats. It is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial mass tourism.
Adventure Tourism
Adventure tourism is a type of tourism in which tourist do some adventures activities like as skydiving, hill climbing, and scuba diving. Adventure tourism is very popular among young age tourists. Adventure tourism gains much of its excitement by allowing the tourists to step outside their comfort zone.
Yoga Tourism
A yoga tourist practices yoga during travels for this purpose. The ancient Sanskrit word yoga means union, yoke, or to connect. A practitioner seeks to connect with self, others, and surroundings. Yoga has roots in Indian culture and has been practiced for millennia. Since the 2000’s yoga has grown in Western cultures.
A study of yoga tourism identifies four motivations:
- Seeking spirituality,
- Enhancing mental wellbeing,
- Enhancing physical condition,
- And controlling negative emotions.
Yoga Tourism is a journey of self with transformative capacities on physical, psychological, spiritual and social awareness. Together they integrate mind, body, and spirit. This transformation is achieved through the eight limbs of yoga known as ashtanga (eight limbs).
Ashtanga yoga literally means “eight-limbed yoga,” as outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. According to Patanjali, the path of internal purification for revealing the Universal Self consists of the following 8 spiritual practices.
The eight limbs of yoga are
- Yama (moral restraints, moral codes),
- Niyama (observances, self-purification and study),
- Asana (yoga postures),
- Pranayama (breath control),
- Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses),
- Dharana (concentration),
- Dhyana (meditation),
- Samadhi (absorption).
Tourism in India provides a wonderful window to our so varied life, culture, historical places, wildlife sanctuaries, flora and fauna. Diversity, unity and assimilation have always been the hallmark of the eternal India and these make India the ultimate tourist destination.
Some special trains like Palace on Wheels and the Great Indian Rover have been introduced. The former is meant for places of tourist interest in Rajasthan, and the latter for the places of Buddhist interest in India.
A new range of hotels known as Heritage hotels has been introduced to add to the attraction of tourism in India. This class includes hotels opened in palaces, havelies, castles, forts and residences built prior to 1950. As these traditional places represent and reflect the Indian culture of the past, they have been very popular among the tourists. The heritage scheme rightly aims to ensure that such properties and landmarks of our culture and heritage are not lost due to decay and disuse.
With the rapid improvement in the living standards, induce the increase in the income of the middle classes, the potential for domestic tourism has grown substantially during these years. Middle class add more colour to tourism and travel. Keen desire in people to travel to different parts of the land and to have first-hand knowledge of them promotes Indian Tourism.
Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism – which includes eco-tourism and community based tourism – is the need of the hour in India. Sustainable tourism in India is being driven by social enterprises and offbeat travel companies. These not only offer sustainable holidays in India and drive sustainable tourism projects in India, but also create meaningful travel opportunities that can elevate your “Incredible India” experience.
Sustainable tourism is the concept of visiting somewhere as a tourist and trying to make a positive impact on the environment, society, and economy. Tourism can involve primary transportation to the general location, local transportation, accommodations, entertainment, recreation, nourishment and shopping.
Sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The positive of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development is a positive experience for local people; tourism companies; and tourists themselves.
When it comes to sustainability, there are actually three “pillars” to consider: environmental, economic, and socio-cultural. Tourism has to be sustainable in all three areas to truly be considered “sustainable tourism.”
There are many forms of sustainable tourism: the ecological tourism (eco-tourism), the green tourism, the soft tourism, the rural tourism and Agro tourism, community tourism, equitable tourism, solidarity and responsible tourism etc.
Ecological Tourism
Eco tourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists an insight into the impact of human beings on the environment and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats.
Green Tourism
Green tourism is a term that can be applied to any form of tourism that relates to natural environment and cultural heritage of an area or that undertakes good environmental management (or green) practice. It is a form of Sustainable Tourism – tourism which takes into account the needs of the environment, local residents.
Soft Tourism
The concept of soft tourism encompasses environmental and social compatibility, optimum wealth creation, and a “new culture of travel”. The term has become the buzzword for a change of values in tourism, which has been demanded and is already being implemented to some extent.
Agro Tourism
Agro tourism can be defined as a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism in order to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining and/or educating the visitors and generating income.
Community Tourism
Community based tourism is tourism in which local residents (often rural, poor and economically marginalized) invite tourists to visit their communities with the provision of overnight accommodation. The residents earn income as land managers, entrepreneurs, service and produce providers, and employees.
Equitable Tourism
Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) is a research, campaign and advocacy NGO working on social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of tourism on local communities in India. Their work is directed towards enabling non-exploitative, equitable and sustainable tourism in India. They function out of Bangalore, India and were founded in 1985.
Solidarity Tourism
Justice Tourism or Solidarity tourism is an ethic for travelling that holds as its central goals the creation of economic opportunities for the local community, positive cultural exchange between guest and host through one-on-one interaction, the protection of the environment, and political/historical education.
Responsible Tourism
Responsible tourism is any form of tourism that can be consumed in a more responsible way. “Responsible tourism is tourism which: minimizes negative social, economic and environmental impacts. Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities.
It is very important for the tourism industry to promote responsible tourism and take actions accordingly in order to better develop the industry and preserve the culture and heritage of our country.
Preserving Culture
Preserving the Culture of the place is one of the most important things in the tourism sector.
Responsible tourism puts more emphasis on the responsibility of tourism industry through generating greater economic benefits for local people and enhancing the well-being of host communities, improving working conditions, involving local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances, making positive impact in their life.
Regional Tourism in India
India is a vast country with high population density and huge number of cities, towns and villages. It becomes easier if we divide the country in few regions based on their geographical locations. This will not only simplify the task of gathering information but also will create a particular picture about the architecture, culture, food and topography of that region.
From tourism point of view there are mainly four regions:
- North India,
- South India,
- Central India
- And Himalayas.
All the four regions have their own specialties and there is a clear picture for each. North India is a region full of architectural monuments likes forts and palaces, traditional villages, Thar Desert and Ganges. Similarly when we think about South India it reminds us Massive temples of ancient period, spice plantations, Beaches and dense forests. Central India is known for its ancient caves, medieval forts and most importantly Tiger Safaris. During your travel to the Himalayas you can admire the natural beauty as well as plan various adventure activities on the tall mountains covered with snow.
NORTH INDIA
Most of the popular travel destinations of India lies in Northern region of India. Some of these popular destinations are Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Varanasi, Khajuraho etc. Besides these there are many other small towns and villages which have a similar importance especially among the foreign tourists visiting North India. This is the perfect destinations for a real and memorable experience of rich and original culture particularly in the remote areas of Rajasthan.
SOUTH INDIA
South India provides us a pleasant atmosphere to spend our perfect holiday destination with white sandy beaches, evergreen mountains, rivers, forests and backwaters. With natural treasures, another feature of the region that makes it even more attractive are Architectural wonders such as its huge temples, palaces, forts, churches, caves of Ajanta and Ellora etc.
CENTRAL INDIA
Central India is just a land of vibrant culture. With some of the greatest temples and wildlife sanctuaries in India, this zone fascinates a huge selection for tourists. This region is known for its ethnic culture which includes the states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for wildlife and historical monuments. Madhya Pradesh, also known as the heart of India, is rich with vivid flora and fauna and is among the few states in India known for the three world heritage sites.
HIMALAYAS
Himalayas is the ultimate adventure destinations which are over whelming and most exciting travels on India. The Himalaya word is the Sanskrit word which means “Abode of Snow”. Himalayas stretch over 2400 km long and wide from 250 to 400 km. The majestic beauty of the Himalayas will mesmerize us. Based on the heights of the mountains, the Himalayas are divided into three different regions namely The Greater Himalayas ( Himadris ), The middle Himalayas ( Lesser or Pir Panjal range ), The outer Himalayas (Shivaliks).
One Tamil song written by A. Maruthakasi reads…“What wealth is not in this land? Why we stretch our arms towards foreign land(s)” means “Enna Valam Illai Indha Thirunaattil, Yen Kaiyai Yendha Venum Velinaattil“
In the same way, why do we expect Foreign exchange through International Tourism? Instead if we concentrate on domestic tourism and through the revenue gained we achieve the status of Self-sufficient or self-reliant.
Divisional Tourism in India
Best way to attract local tourists is to promote Divisional tourism. I emphasis the coinage of the new term “Divisional Tourism”. What is Divisional tourism?
Here comes the answer. Four or Five neighborhood States in one region to be combined which formed a Division. In each Division a common federation for tourism is to be formed through which combo packs for tourists to be provided. The following 10 Divisions may be formed.
- Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
- Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat
- Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
- Punjab, Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh
- The Seven Sister states namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh & their only Brother Sikkim
- Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
- West Bengal, Odisha
- Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The states in one Division cooperate and coordinate the tours in their Division.
In certain states of India such as Haryana, elaborate details are drawn out for such kinds of tourism as farm tourism, rural tourism, religious, cultural and archaeological tourism. It can be very useful if a number of states work jointly to promote tourism in a region rather than singly in individual states. For this, conclaves of different contiguous states in a region should be held frequently to form innovative strategies to promote tourism in a particular circuit viz the Division. Areas of interest and tourist spots can be identified and developed jointly. Items like artificial lakes, waterfalls, forests, snow, rain, scenic beauty, etc. can be easily developed. Rural tourism can also help to clean the atmosphere, achieve socio-economic growth and generate employment.
On the other hand Indians must shed the admiration for foreign tours and instead must go for Indian tours. I wish to see India inch by Inch. Even Heaven is showed before me I do not choose it. Instead I choose my lovable country even though thousands of diversities, various inequalities, political strategies etc. prevailing, it is my mother nation, it is my INDIA. JAIHIND!
I always remember our poet Mahakavi Bharathi’s immortal words “parukkule nalla nadu engal Bharatha nadu” means “Good in world countries is our country the Bharath”.
The real India though – the India that inspires and humbles, the India that is artistic yet genuine, the India that is simultaneously incredible and heartbreaking – takes a little effort to find.
India is a book and who do not travel read only a page.
Be a responsible Traveler all time and find the true spirit of our INDIA!
On the negative side tourism it may damage environment. In order to accommodate large number of tourists, sprawling resorts are built. The indiscriminate construction destroys local architectural styles and ecological balance. Arrangements as desired by tourists are provided in order to satisfy them.
But proper environment-protection measures should also be taken to prevent degradation of natural resources and wealth of the country.
The Indian tourism industry has been hit by pollution. The effluents emitted by the Mathura Refinery has led to the color change of the Taj Mahal is Agra. The condition of many of our monuments is deteriorating due to the negligence of the authorities concerned.
The tourism infrastructure in India should be strengthened. Airports and railway stations should provide information to the tourists about the tourist destinations. Government owned hotels should be properly managed. The government should be taken to restore the ancient splendor of the monuments. Sincere efforts could help to further develop the Indian tourism industry.
Our embassies should supply to the people and governments of other countries all the important information regarding objects and places which can attract the tourists. The coming of the tourists to India and their stay here should be made easier, smoother and more comfortable as far as possible.
POST COVID SCENARIO in TOURISM
Travel, tourism and hospitality sector one of the largest employers in the country. A SECTOR which directly employs around 38 million people. The businesses will be now left with no alternative but to retrench people.
While existing efforts should continue, we must craft an obsolescence-proof strategy that leverages our strengths, has pan-India applicability, calls for low investments and training, and facilitates immediate job generation. Why not look at tourism more intensely?
UNESCO has a list of 29 World Heritage sites in India out of which four of them are in Tamil Nadu. Generally, they are categorized as two groups and totally four sites are there. First three are collectively known as Great Living Chola Temples and remaining one is “Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. And also Nilgiri Blue Mountain train is added in this list.
UNESCO 29 World Heritage sites in India
Tamil Nadu alone has as many temples, two of the best-known hill stations Kodaikanal and Ooty, with beaches such as Marina and Mahabalipuram thrown in. These, along with Delhi and Dilwara, Khajuraho and Kaziranga, Ayurveda and yoga, and the Taj Mahal form a small part of a formidable list of world-class attractions in India.
While five million Poles travel abroad, less than 50,000 are India-bound. And, while a million tourists come here, 25 million Indians travel abroad, never mind that many have not seen a good part of our country. What is really going on and what should be done?
Competent and courteous staff at immigration centers and consulates, protection for tourists from touts, basic hygiene and personal safety at tourist locations, and a well-oiled information system to guide tourists are fundamental requirements. Sites to be maintained well and to be operated punctually as per displayed timings and dates.
Wonderful. Well articulated and quite comprehensive article.