Apart from having a diverse religious heritage, India also have diverse physical features which people have been enamored of. From the majestic snow-clad Himalayas in the north to the sun-kissed beaches in the south, the diverse geographical locales offer a treat to the eyes. The locales are interspersed with monuments, places of religious interest, museums, sanctuaries, palaces, forts and mausoleums. Every region is also identified with its handicrafts, fairs, folk dances, music and its people. India has emerged as an amalgamation of the diversities of the western and the eastern cultures, the former because of its colonial past. India offers a perfect paradise with its diversities to attract tourists. This inspired French novelist and dramatist Romaine Rolland to remark, "If there is one place on the face of earth, where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days, when man began the dream of existence, it is India."
Seeing the immense potential of India, the Department of Tourism was formed to promote international and domestic tourism in the country. In addition, the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology and the India Tourism Development Corporation (CITDC) were constituted. To promote tourism at the state level, each state and union territory has its own department of tourism. The Department of Tourism is assigned the task of providing infrastructure, carrying out publicity campaigns and disseminating information aimed at promotion of tourist sites in the world market. Further, it formulates policies and programs and works in coordination with the other departments of the industry, like hotels, tour operators and travel agencies. With its offices in India and abroad, the Department promotes Indian tourism to facilitate tourist inflow into the country. The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management has been constituted to provide professionally trained personnel to the industry.
In order to consider and recommend measures necessary for promotion of tourist traffic in India, both domestic and foreign, a Tourism Advisory Board has been constituted. The Board reviews the tourist trends and suggests appropriate measures. The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology prepares professionally trained personnel for the hotel industry. The hotel industry generates high income opportunities and foreign exchange. To boost the hotel industry, the Government offers certain tax benefits and other incentives. The tourists get to experience the exotic lifestyles of the kings and the elite in the heritage hotels. This has been made possible by converting palaces and castles into functional hotels. Such hotels are extremely popular with the tourists because they reflect the rich lifestyle and ambience of a bygone era which they eagerly look forward to. The ITDC, which was established in 1966, is responsible for the construction, management and marketing of hotels, restaurants and lodges for tourists. It looks into the publicity campaigns. It provides transport facilities, organizes entertainment programs like folk dances and songs and manages shopping facilities including duty-free shops.
The State Department of Tourism in Goa has set up National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) which promotes water sports like sailing, rafting and scuba diving. The Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) in Kashmir offers the pleasure of winter sports like skiing and mountaineering to both domestic and foreign tourists. Kerala introduced the concept of houseboats in its lagoons. Himachal Pradesh has developed winter sports in the state.
Even though the country has vast potential in this sector, India's share in the world tourist market during 2001 was 0.37% only. As a result of tourist promotion without adequate planning, the rich cultural heritage and the beautiful locales of India have become sullied. Traffic congestion, unplanned urbanization, callousness of the civic authorities and indifference of the citizens has caused severe harm to the tourism industry.
It has been noticed that authentic information about the tourist destinations is not available to the foreign tourists. Every year newspapers report various incidents, in which foreign tourists are beguiled by taxi-drivers and tout who pretend to be friendly with them. The Government-owned tourism department is manned by unconcerned officials, who are not motivated to influence and encourage tourism.
In India, most of the tourist destinations have become ecologically fragile. The effluents emitted by the Mathura Refinery have led to the fading of color of the Taj Mahal at Agra. Sun-kissed beaches have now become the dumping grounds of trash and waste, left by the tourists. To promote tourism through sports like golf, large areas under forest cover have been cleared. Hill stations become the most popular destinations in the summer months. But unplanned urbanization and large-scale felling of trees have led to the degradation of the regions. Virgin lands have been taken over by estate developers and converted into hotels and resorts for commercial uses. Garbage and filth also mar the beauty of the lands.
The ITDC has failed in its endeavor to promote tourism. The five-star hotels owned by ITDC are ill-managed and run into huge losses. Government-run hotels lack facilities, are managed by incompetent staff and are found to be more expensive than private ones. These hotels entertain politicians and bureaucrats thus incurring losses. They do not provide required information to the tourists who could aid their travel plan and this leads to their exploitation at the hands of touts and others. In hotels, the foreign tourists are expected to pay tips to the attendants. While they travel, they are accosted by beggars and local vendors, waiting to palm off their goods at exorbitant rates.
The growing violence in the international scene and increasing threat of terrorism affects the flow of tourists. The Indian tourism was adversely affected following the terrorist attacks in USA on 11 September 2001, registering a decline of 4.2% in the year 2001 against growth of 6.7% achieved in 2000. Terrorist's activities and other violent acts in India had enormous detrimental effects on tourism. However, things have started looking bright for the Indian tourism industry especially in 2003.
To promote safe tourism while ensuring that it remains a profitable industry, it is imperative to understand the factors that hamper its growth and check them effectively. The tourist infrastructure in India should be strengthened. Tourists should be provided with clean hotels, reliable transport system and affordable shopping centers. All airports and railway stations should provide information to the tourists and facilitate their travel plans. Customs clearance procedures at airports should be simplified. Government-owned hotels could be privatized so that they run efficiently and are properly managed. The maintenance of the tourist destinations should be taken up efficiently and their sanctity and beauty must be restored. Himachal Pradesh banned the use of plastics in the state after monitoring its ill effects. Other states could follow suit and restore the ecological balance. Many of the tombs and mausoleums in the country are in a state of decadence and neglect. Attempts should be made to restore their ancient splendor.
Tourism undeniably is a major source of income-national as well as individual-and its potential to encourage development in various regions should be seriously put to use. Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades. Sincere efforts could help to further develop India's tourism industry.
Source: An article published in "Indian Journeys", a book by A.K. Hansel
Seeing the immense potential of India, the Department of Tourism was formed to promote international and domestic tourism in the country. In addition, the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology and the India Tourism Development Corporation (CITDC) were constituted. To promote tourism at the state level, each state and union territory has its own department of tourism. The Department of Tourism is assigned the task of providing infrastructure, carrying out publicity campaigns and disseminating information aimed at promotion of tourist sites in the world market. Further, it formulates policies and programs and works in coordination with the other departments of the industry, like hotels, tour operators and travel agencies. With its offices in India and abroad, the Department promotes Indian tourism to facilitate tourist inflow into the country. The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management has been constituted to provide professionally trained personnel to the industry.
In order to consider and recommend measures necessary for promotion of tourist traffic in India, both domestic and foreign, a Tourism Advisory Board has been constituted. The Board reviews the tourist trends and suggests appropriate measures. The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology prepares professionally trained personnel for the hotel industry. The hotel industry generates high income opportunities and foreign exchange. To boost the hotel industry, the Government offers certain tax benefits and other incentives. The tourists get to experience the exotic lifestyles of the kings and the elite in the heritage hotels. This has been made possible by converting palaces and castles into functional hotels. Such hotels are extremely popular with the tourists because they reflect the rich lifestyle and ambience of a bygone era which they eagerly look forward to. The ITDC, which was established in 1966, is responsible for the construction, management and marketing of hotels, restaurants and lodges for tourists. It looks into the publicity campaigns. It provides transport facilities, organizes entertainment programs like folk dances and songs and manages shopping facilities including duty-free shops.
The State Department of Tourism in Goa has set up National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) which promotes water sports like sailing, rafting and scuba diving. The Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) in Kashmir offers the pleasure of winter sports like skiing and mountaineering to both domestic and foreign tourists. Kerala introduced the concept of houseboats in its lagoons. Himachal Pradesh has developed winter sports in the state.
Even though the country has vast potential in this sector, India's share in the world tourist market during 2001 was 0.37% only. As a result of tourist promotion without adequate planning, the rich cultural heritage and the beautiful locales of India have become sullied. Traffic congestion, unplanned urbanization, callousness of the civic authorities and indifference of the citizens has caused severe harm to the tourism industry.
It has been noticed that authentic information about the tourist destinations is not available to the foreign tourists. Every year newspapers report various incidents, in which foreign tourists are beguiled by taxi-drivers and tout who pretend to be friendly with them. The Government-owned tourism department is manned by unconcerned officials, who are not motivated to influence and encourage tourism.
In India, most of the tourist destinations have become ecologically fragile. The effluents emitted by the Mathura Refinery have led to the fading of color of the Taj Mahal at Agra. Sun-kissed beaches have now become the dumping grounds of trash and waste, left by the tourists. To promote tourism through sports like golf, large areas under forest cover have been cleared. Hill stations become the most popular destinations in the summer months. But unplanned urbanization and large-scale felling of trees have led to the degradation of the regions. Virgin lands have been taken over by estate developers and converted into hotels and resorts for commercial uses. Garbage and filth also mar the beauty of the lands.
The ITDC has failed in its endeavor to promote tourism. The five-star hotels owned by ITDC are ill-managed and run into huge losses. Government-run hotels lack facilities, are managed by incompetent staff and are found to be more expensive than private ones. These hotels entertain politicians and bureaucrats thus incurring losses. They do not provide required information to the tourists who could aid their travel plan and this leads to their exploitation at the hands of touts and others. In hotels, the foreign tourists are expected to pay tips to the attendants. While they travel, they are accosted by beggars and local vendors, waiting to palm off their goods at exorbitant rates.
The growing violence in the international scene and increasing threat of terrorism affects the flow of tourists. The Indian tourism was adversely affected following the terrorist attacks in USA on 11 September 2001, registering a decline of 4.2% in the year 2001 against growth of 6.7% achieved in 2000. Terrorist's activities and other violent acts in India had enormous detrimental effects on tourism. However, things have started looking bright for the Indian tourism industry especially in 2003.
To promote safe tourism while ensuring that it remains a profitable industry, it is imperative to understand the factors that hamper its growth and check them effectively. The tourist infrastructure in India should be strengthened. Tourists should be provided with clean hotels, reliable transport system and affordable shopping centers. All airports and railway stations should provide information to the tourists and facilitate their travel plans. Customs clearance procedures at airports should be simplified. Government-owned hotels could be privatized so that they run efficiently and are properly managed. The maintenance of the tourist destinations should be taken up efficiently and their sanctity and beauty must be restored. Himachal Pradesh banned the use of plastics in the state after monitoring its ill effects. Other states could follow suit and restore the ecological balance. Many of the tombs and mausoleums in the country are in a state of decadence and neglect. Attempts should be made to restore their ancient splendor.
Tourism undeniably is a major source of income-national as well as individual-and its potential to encourage development in various regions should be seriously put to use. Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades. Sincere efforts could help to further develop India's tourism industry.
Source: An article published in "Indian Journeys", a book by A.K. Hansel
Kerala has many tourism attractions and so there tour management companies offer several tailor made Kerala tour packages. If you are looking for a nature blessed destinations with enigmatic tourism attractions and destinations, visit to Kerala the land where the charismatic charm and the awe-inspiring attraction of the backwaters, beaches and the exotic flora and fauna will leave you spell bound. It is also very popular for its rejuvenating therapy, exotic resorts, magnetizing charm of the inspiring temples, colorful fairs and festivals, exotic villages, sprawling tea gardens, fragmented spice gardens and many alike. Truly the state of Kerala is all about wonderments and so it is visited by tourists from every nook and corner of the world. So what are you waiting for, come to Kerala and enjoy your vacation amidst the scintillating beauty of the Mother Nature in their refreshing form and charm. 
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