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Topics to be Learn :
- Tourism in the Past
- Types of Tourism
- Development of Tourism
- Conservation and Preservation of
- Historical Places
- Professional Opportunities in the
- Tourism and Hospitality Industry
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Tourism in the Past :
Tradition :
- Travelling is an old tradition in India.
- To go for local fairs, festivals, pilgrimages was common in olden days.
- People travel long distances for good education and trade.
- To look for new regions, trade and to propagate religion were some of the reasons for which people travelled far and wide.
Tourism : Visiting places in distant regions for a specific purpose is known as Tourism.
European Travellers :
European Travellers :
Benjamin of Tudela : He is known as the first European traveller/discoverer.
- Born in Spain.
- He travelled during the period of 1159-1173 C.E. to France, Germany, Italy, Greece,
- Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Persia, India and China.
- He maintained diaries of the accounts of his travels.
- His diaries are viewed as important historical documents.
Marco Polo: Italian traveler of the 13th century
- Introduced Asia, especially China to Europe.
- He stayed in china for 17 years.
- He wrote about the flora and fauna, social life, culture and trade systems of Asia.
Ibn Batuta : The traveller of the 14th century
- He travelled for 30 years and made a resolution never to take the same route twice.
- His travel accounts took people on a virtual travel of the Islamic world.
- His accounts helped researchers to understand medieval history and social life.
Gerardus Mercator: Traveller of 16th century.
- He was a cartographer from Netherlands.
- He made a world map and the globe of the earth.
- His maps proved to be useful and gave momentum to navigation.
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Thomas Cook :
- Thomas Cook started group tours on commercial basis in the latter half of the 19th century.
- He took 600 people from Leicester to Loughborough by railway.
- Later, he successfully organised a round trip of Europe.
- He opened a travel agency and sold tourists tickets.
- He organised affordable tours and easy travel.
- Thus, his ventures opened the doors for the development of modern tourism.
Purpose of tourism :
Purpose of tourism:
Tourism has several purposes and inspiration behind it. Purpose of tourism differs from person to person. It is explored as per individual interest.
- To see historical monuments forts and cities discovered during excavations. To visit centres promoting ancient art and craft, museums.
- To visit different pilgrim centres, sea beaches, mountain ranges, valleys, snow-capped peaks, pristine jungles.
- To visit special plateaus like Kas plateau, museums, lakes formed because of meteoric impact and valleys of flowers, places of natural beauty gives us enjoyment and experiences which connects us to nature. To visit different industrial sites.
- To see medicinal plants and avail of ayurvedic therapies.
- To visit places to see agricultural projects, visit to see agricultural research centres and making of compost pits.
- To travel to watch sports events which comes under sports tourism. To be part of dance-music festival or watch as audience, which is cultural tourism.
- People also visit places to attend film festivals, witness the making of movies, science seminars, international conferences, book exhibitions and literary events.
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Types of Tourism :
Types of Tourism based on places
- Local Tourism
- Interstate Tourism
- International Tourism
- Geographic Tourism
Activity-Purpose Based Tourism :
Activity-Purpose Based Tourism :
- Religious Tourism
- Historical Tourism
- Cultural Tourism
- Educational Tourism
- Health Tourism
- Scientific Tourism
- Agro-Tourism
- Sports Tourism
- Eco-Tourism
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International Tourism :
- International tourism is on the rise in modern times because of availability of transport facility.
- International tourism is on the rise because people travel for various reasons like international literary conferences, world summits, meetings, business deals, site seeing and visit to religious places.
- International seminars and conferences are held. Film festivals are arranged. Such events promote international tourism.
Distinguish between Local tourism and International tourism :
Distinguish between Local tourism and International tourism :
| Local tourism |
International tourism |
| Travelling within our country is local tourism. |
Crossing border and going overseas means international tourism. |
| There is no need to seek government's permission or paper work. |
Visa is required to travel to a foreign country. Visa is not granted unless we complete all paper work. It is essential to keep documents with us. |
| Local tourism is hassle free as the land is known to us. |
Having no acquaintances with the people or land can create challenges.
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| No need for currency exchange |
Currency exchange is required. |
| We can make changes in the itinerary to suit our convenience. |
Fixed itinerary has to be followed. We cannot make any changes in it |
| Language, mostly, is not an obstacle. We can communicate in our mother tongue or in the national language.
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Language can be an obstacle. One should know the language of that country it one wants to interact with
locals or at least be Well versed in English
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| We can extend our stay if we desire to. |
Our stay in a foreign country cannot be extended. It has fixed time duration as long as permission is granted. |
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Historical Tourism :
Historical Tourism :
- Tourism and history are inseparable.
- The number of people visiting historical places are increasing day by day.
- Tours are arranged to see forts, battlefields which narrate stories of valour of our ancestors and monuments made by them.
- Tourists visit memorials of freedom fighters, forts built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, palaces built by kings, important places related to the Indian war of independence in 1857, and ashrams of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave.
- This type of historical tourism is popular all around the World.
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Geographic Tourism :
Geographic Tourism :
- Sea beaches, mountain ranges, valleys, snow-capped peaks, pristine jungles, sanctuaries, lakes formed because of meteor impact, waterfalls, form wealth of a nation.
- People enjoy nature and feel a natural attraction towards it.
- People around the World visit such places out of curiosity or for leisure.
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Religious Tourism :
Religious Tourism :
- When people travel individually or in groups on a pilgrimage, it is known as Religious Tourism. Religious seminars, pilgrimages, religious festivals and travel on occasions to bathe in holy rivers come under religious tourism.
- Gautam Buddha and Buddhist monks travelled to preach Buddhism and give discourses on Dharma. In the same way, Shankarachaya had travelled to spread Hinduism. St. Francis Xavier along with his followers travelled all over India to preach Christianity.
- People in Maharashtra walk on foot to reach Pandharpur, Shirdi and many holy places to pay their obeisance.
- Guru Nanak, Saint Namdev, Samarth Ramdas, as well as Yuan Shwang who came from China in 630 CE to study Buddhism in India, travelled extensively in India.
Benefits of religious tourism?
The following are the benefits of religious tourism :
- People staying in different parts of the world come together.
- They develop ties as they share the same faith and also feeling of unity develops.
- Religious places get importance and many social welfare projects are undertaken.
- As these places develop, the local business develops leading to improvement in the standard of living of the local people.
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Cultural Tourism :
Cultural tourism :
- India has rich tradition of folk arts. Festivals are arranged to promote such art forms.
- Travelling to see such festivals comes under Cultural tourism.
- Visiting historical places to get a glimpse of local culture is also cultural tourism.
- It also involves visiting reputed educational institutions and understand their traditions as well as travelling to see festivals and celebrations in different parts of the country.
- Travelling to participate in various music-dance festivals as audience is also part of cultural tourism.
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Agro-Tourism :
Agro-Tourism :
Visit to agricultural centres and agricultural universities comes under agro-tourism.
- In recent times lot of research is conducted in the agricultural field. Many new agricultural universities and research centres are formed in India.
- Projects are undertaken to inform farmers about suitable soil for their crops, organic manures, earthworm compost, etc. Sikkim state is the first organic state of India.
- Though it receives less rainfall, Israel has made a lot of development in agricultural sector. To obtain information on novel techniques in farming and on projects started, students and city people travel to places.
- Agri-tourism, is rapidly developing, especially meant for the urban population, which has very little exposure to rural life and agriculture.
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Sports Tourism :
Sports Tourism :
- Sports tourism developed in the 20th century. It involves travelling either to participate in a sporting event or to Watch the event.
- Various sports events are organised at local and state level for different inter school competitions. National level Sports Competitions are also held. International cricket, hockey and football tournaments are held at regular intervals.
- Wimbledon, French Open, Australian Open and US Open lawn tennis tournaments are held. Every four years, Olympics and Asian Games are held in the country which is the host. Events like the Himalayan car rally at the national level and Maharashtra Kesari at the state level are held.
- Travelling to participate in these events as players, coaches, umpires, referees, organisers or to attend them as spectators come under sports tourism.
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Health Tourism :
Health Tourism :
- Affordable and qualitative health services are available in India which attracts many foreigners.
- Being a tropical country ample sunlight is available in India which is a major attraction to tourists from cold climatic regions.
- 3) Ayurveda therapies and yoga training have roots in India.
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Tourism based on special events :
- Many religious and literary conferences are held in the world.
- International seminars, book exhibitions and conferences are held. Film festivals are arranged. Such events promote tourism and travelling for these reasons is known as tourism based on special events.
Development of Tourism :
Facilities for tourists :
- Safe and secured transport facilities.
- Ensure safety of the tourists.
- Availability of good accommodation and hotel arrangements.
- Good washrooms on the travel routes and at tourists sites.
- Special attention towards the needs of the specially-challenged people.
Precautions to preserve the rich historical heritage sites :
Precautions to preserve the rich historical heritage sites:
- To avoid defacing or vandalising the monuments.
- Retraining from writing names on walls or carving on trees.
- Avoid painting ancient monuments in garish colours and making the precincts filthy.
- Heritage sites should have basic facilities in its precincts or around. It should be filth free.
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Factors required to boost tourism :
Factors required to boost tourism :
- Information on the tourist sites should be written in English and the local language.
- Pamphlets, guides, maps and history books should be made available to the tourists.
- A guide should be qualified in travel and tourism course, a proficient speaker, having good knowledge of the site.
- Bilingual guides should be available if required.
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Preservation and Conservation of Heritage :
Our heritage :
- India is bestowed with Cultural (man-made) and Natural Heritage.
- We have to preserve the ancient, medieval and modern heritage of the country.
- The Taj Mahal at Agra, Jantar Mantar observatory at Jaipur, forts in Maharashtra, caves, etc. enrich our heritage of historical monuments.
- Heritage sites in our country are visited by foreign tourists in large numbers.
Preservation of heritage :
For the preservation of heritage we have to make resolutions :
- I shall strive to maintain the cleanliness of heritage sites.
- I shall not do anything, which will damage any historical site.
Professional opportunities in the tourism and Hospitality Industry :
Tourism, an industry :
- Tourism is an industry which has potential to generate maximum employment.
- It is a stable industry and has a lot of scope for experimentation.
- If managed professionally, it is very profitable.
- In modern times, tourism has become a profession which is independent and active at local, national and international level.
Benefits of having foreign tourists :
Benefits of having foreign tourists :
- A country receives money on granting visa.
- Income is generated from hotel, transport, and food services.
- Guides and interpreters get income.
- Tourists buy newspapers, reference books and souvenirs.
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Business and job opportunities :
Business and job opportunities :
- Local markets, handicraft and cottage industry get a boost.
- Increase in demand for locally processed food.
- Production and sale of ethnic handicraft goods increase.
- It increases the income of local artisans, businessmen and wage earners.
- Employment opportunities in the hotel industry accommodation and in shops.
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Heritage Walk :
- To go on tour of historical places is 'Heritage Walk’.
- Heritage walk involves physical walking in the area and observing the historical sites. People go for heritage walks to see historical palaces, forts and old temples.
- Heritage Walk can give us a thrill to be a part of history.
- Efforts are made in India and in the world to increase the number of heritage walks.
- Projects are undertaken to preserve and conserve historical monuments, gather authentic information about it and publish the same.
- The first hand experience we get is inspirational in Joining an emotional connect and a long lasting impression.
- Many enthusiastic organisations held such heritage walks in city of Ahmadabad, Mumbai and Pune to enable the people to get glimpses of history.
Development of Tourism in Maharashtra :
- The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation was formed in 1975.
- Its main objective was to give a boost to tourism.
- The Corporation has built tourist hotels at 47 places which can accommodate more than 4000 tourists.
- Many private enterprises also render hospitality services.
Tourist Places in Maharashtra :
Tourist Places in Maharashtra :
- Caves : Ajanta and Ellora caves, Verul, Bhaje, Kanheri caves.
- Temples : Pandharpur, Shirdi, Shegaon, Tuljapur, Kolhapur, Nashik, Jejuri, Paithan, Dehu, Alandi, Haji Malang, Mount Mary's Church.
- Hill stations : Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Khandala, Lonavala, Matheran, Chikhaldara, etc
- Dams : Koyananagar, Jayakwadi, Bhatghar, Chandoli, etc.
- Sanctuaries : Dajipur, Sagareshwar, Tadoba.
- Historical places : Raigad, Sinhgad, Sindhudurg, Vijaydurg, Palace of Kolhapur, Janjeera, Memorials.
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An unusual Village of Books :
- A village named Bhilar is nestled in the scenic beauty near Mahabaleshwar the Land of Strawberries.
- A village came to be known as ‘Village of Books’ because of the scheme of
- Maharashtra Government.
- Each household in this village maintains a library, i.e. collection of books for the tourists to read.
- To inculcate ‘Reading Culture’ movement and also for the tourists to enjoy reading this scheme was implemented.
- Every alley has houses in a row. Small advertising boards are put up near the first house in the row. They show what kinds of books are kept in the houses in a particular row.
- In this collection, we find books of old and new authors and saints ranging in types from biographies, autobiographies, fiction, poetry, literature by women, on sports and children's literature.
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