Growth and Patterns of Tourism in India MODULE – 4
Natural Diversity as
Tourist Attraction
13
GROWTH AND PATTERNS OF Notes
TOURISM IN INDIA
Travel and tourism are a part of Indian tradition and culture. Tourism industry
occupies a unique place as it is one of the major emerging segments of our
economy. It brings huge foreign exchange and generates employment. This leads
to infrastructure development. In the era of globalisation, the travel and tourism
activities have increased significantly. United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation
has forecasted that international tourism would continue to grow at an average
annual rate of 4%. India has made a unique place on world tourism map because
of its rich natural and cultural diversity. In India, tourism is the third largest
industry in which about ten million people are employed directly or indirectly.
The present chapter is an attempt to describe the growth and patterns of
domestic as well as international tourism in India.
OBJECTIVES
After studying this lesson, you will be able to:
z differentiate between domestic and international tourists;
z describe the meaning and factors affecting the growth of tourism;
z identify the role of tourist attractions in tourism promotion;
z explain the growth of foreign tourist arrivals in India;
z illustrate the trend of foreign tourist arrivals in India;
z describe the growth and pattern of domestic tourism;
z discuss the earnings from the tourism industry and
z highlight the government initiatives for tourism promotion.
TOURISM 91
,MODULE – 4 Growth and Patterns of Tourism in India
Natural Diversity as
Tourist Attraction
13.1 TOURIST
We have studied that there is a clear cut difference between visitors and tourists.
A person is not considered as an international tourist when he/ she goes and
gets any job in the destination country. For example, like diplomats or armed
forces do not qualify as international tourists. So, a tourist visits for various
purposes which include recreation, holiday, leisure, health, study, religious faith,
business, meeting with friends and relatives without any remunerative job.
Notes
There are two levels of tourists - Domestic and International Tourist:
International Tourist - A person visiting India on a foreign passport, stays at
least 24 hours in India. The purpose of journey may be leisure, recreation,
holiday, health, study, religious belief, sport, business, family, mission and
meeting. But that person is not taking any remunerative assignment is called
an international tourist.
Domestic Tourist - A person who travels within the country to a place other
than his/her usual place of residence or work and stays in any accommodation
for not less than 24 hours is known as a domestic tourist. The purpose should
be holiday, leisure, sports, pilgrimage, religious belief, study, health and social
functions. But, persons visiting their home town or native place on leave or a
short visit for meeting relatives and friends, attending social and religious
functions are not considered as tourist.
13.2 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Tourism has been an integral part of our culture and tradition. India is a country
known for its friendly treatment to all visitors, no matter where they come from.
Its visitor-friendly traditions, varied life styles, cultural heritage, colourful fairs
and festivals are attractions for the tourists. From ancient time, the rulers, in
different parts of India, built luxurious palaces, wonderful temples, evergreen
gardens, high forts and tombs. The other attractions include beautiful beaches,
wildlife, national parks, sanctuaries, snow cover, rivers, mountain peaks,
technological parks, science museums and centres of pilgrimage. Heritage trains,
yoga, ayurveda, siddha and natural health resorts also attract tourists in great
numbers.
The Indian handicrafts, particularly jewellery, carpets, leather goods, ivory and
brass work are the main shopping items for foreign tourists. They spend nearly
40% of their money on shopping of such items. The beauty of the cultural
heritage and natural sites makes India a tourist paradise. We always give high
respect to our guests. That is why, we developed a cultural tradition where Atithi
Devo Bhava (Guest is God) are bywords of our social behaviour. The first Prime
92 TOURISM
, Growth and Patterns of Tourism in India MODULE – 4
Natural Diversity as
Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, “Welcome as a Tourist and send Tourist Attraction
them back as a Friend”.
India is very rich in natural and cultural landscape for tourism. Tourism in India
can be divided into two major categories - Natural and Cultural.
Natural Landscapes Include
Mountain tourism, Island tourism, Desert tourism, Coastal tourism, Lacustrine Notes
tourism, Wildlife tourism, Adventure tourism.
Cultural tourism Includes
Religious tourism, Historical tourism, Traditional tourism, Health tourism,
Sports tourism, Rural tourism.
All these types of tourism attract more and more domestic and international
tourists from different corners.
13.3 EMERGING DIMENSIONS IN TOURISM
Apart from traditional tourism, new type of tourism activities are being created.
Emerging dimensions in Indian tourism are :
z Health tourism
z Spiritual tourism
z Adventure tourism
z Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism
z Rural tourism
z Sustainable tourism
Health tourism in India provides world class treatment at low cost. It includes
the Indian system of medicine like ayurveda, naturopathy, unani, sidha and
allopathy. Indian medical tourism attracts many tourists from the developed
world like US, Europe and Middle East regions where medical treatment
remains very costly.
India is the centre of spiritualism. It is the confluence of different religions:
Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism. The followers
of religious belief have built many attractive temples, mosques, monasteries and
churches in different parts of the country. These religious places are attracting
a huge number of domestic and international tourists in India. Adventure tourism
TOURISM 93
Natural Diversity as
Tourist Attraction
13
GROWTH AND PATTERNS OF Notes
TOURISM IN INDIA
Travel and tourism are a part of Indian tradition and culture. Tourism industry
occupies a unique place as it is one of the major emerging segments of our
economy. It brings huge foreign exchange and generates employment. This leads
to infrastructure development. In the era of globalisation, the travel and tourism
activities have increased significantly. United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation
has forecasted that international tourism would continue to grow at an average
annual rate of 4%. India has made a unique place on world tourism map because
of its rich natural and cultural diversity. In India, tourism is the third largest
industry in which about ten million people are employed directly or indirectly.
The present chapter is an attempt to describe the growth and patterns of
domestic as well as international tourism in India.
OBJECTIVES
After studying this lesson, you will be able to:
z differentiate between domestic and international tourists;
z describe the meaning and factors affecting the growth of tourism;
z identify the role of tourist attractions in tourism promotion;
z explain the growth of foreign tourist arrivals in India;
z illustrate the trend of foreign tourist arrivals in India;
z describe the growth and pattern of domestic tourism;
z discuss the earnings from the tourism industry and
z highlight the government initiatives for tourism promotion.
TOURISM 91
,MODULE – 4 Growth and Patterns of Tourism in India
Natural Diversity as
Tourist Attraction
13.1 TOURIST
We have studied that there is a clear cut difference between visitors and tourists.
A person is not considered as an international tourist when he/ she goes and
gets any job in the destination country. For example, like diplomats or armed
forces do not qualify as international tourists. So, a tourist visits for various
purposes which include recreation, holiday, leisure, health, study, religious faith,
business, meeting with friends and relatives without any remunerative job.
Notes
There are two levels of tourists - Domestic and International Tourist:
International Tourist - A person visiting India on a foreign passport, stays at
least 24 hours in India. The purpose of journey may be leisure, recreation,
holiday, health, study, religious belief, sport, business, family, mission and
meeting. But that person is not taking any remunerative assignment is called
an international tourist.
Domestic Tourist - A person who travels within the country to a place other
than his/her usual place of residence or work and stays in any accommodation
for not less than 24 hours is known as a domestic tourist. The purpose should
be holiday, leisure, sports, pilgrimage, religious belief, study, health and social
functions. But, persons visiting their home town or native place on leave or a
short visit for meeting relatives and friends, attending social and religious
functions are not considered as tourist.
13.2 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Tourism has been an integral part of our culture and tradition. India is a country
known for its friendly treatment to all visitors, no matter where they come from.
Its visitor-friendly traditions, varied life styles, cultural heritage, colourful fairs
and festivals are attractions for the tourists. From ancient time, the rulers, in
different parts of India, built luxurious palaces, wonderful temples, evergreen
gardens, high forts and tombs. The other attractions include beautiful beaches,
wildlife, national parks, sanctuaries, snow cover, rivers, mountain peaks,
technological parks, science museums and centres of pilgrimage. Heritage trains,
yoga, ayurveda, siddha and natural health resorts also attract tourists in great
numbers.
The Indian handicrafts, particularly jewellery, carpets, leather goods, ivory and
brass work are the main shopping items for foreign tourists. They spend nearly
40% of their money on shopping of such items. The beauty of the cultural
heritage and natural sites makes India a tourist paradise. We always give high
respect to our guests. That is why, we developed a cultural tradition where Atithi
Devo Bhava (Guest is God) are bywords of our social behaviour. The first Prime
92 TOURISM
, Growth and Patterns of Tourism in India MODULE – 4
Natural Diversity as
Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, “Welcome as a Tourist and send Tourist Attraction
them back as a Friend”.
India is very rich in natural and cultural landscape for tourism. Tourism in India
can be divided into two major categories - Natural and Cultural.
Natural Landscapes Include
Mountain tourism, Island tourism, Desert tourism, Coastal tourism, Lacustrine Notes
tourism, Wildlife tourism, Adventure tourism.
Cultural tourism Includes
Religious tourism, Historical tourism, Traditional tourism, Health tourism,
Sports tourism, Rural tourism.
All these types of tourism attract more and more domestic and international
tourists from different corners.
13.3 EMERGING DIMENSIONS IN TOURISM
Apart from traditional tourism, new type of tourism activities are being created.
Emerging dimensions in Indian tourism are :
z Health tourism
z Spiritual tourism
z Adventure tourism
z Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism
z Rural tourism
z Sustainable tourism
Health tourism in India provides world class treatment at low cost. It includes
the Indian system of medicine like ayurveda, naturopathy, unani, sidha and
allopathy. Indian medical tourism attracts many tourists from the developed
world like US, Europe and Middle East regions where medical treatment
remains very costly.
India is the centre of spiritualism. It is the confluence of different religions:
Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism. The followers
of religious belief have built many attractive temples, mosques, monasteries and
churches in different parts of the country. These religious places are attracting
a huge number of domestic and international tourists in India. Adventure tourism
TOURISM 93
