Thursday 17 November 2011

World Tourism Day focuses on Tourism & Biodiversity

On the occasion of World Tourism Day on 27th September, 2010, the Union Minister of Tourism,
Kumari Selja administered a pledge to various stakeholders of the tourism, travel and hospitality industries
to abide by the Code of Conduct for Safe and Honourable Tourism and to promote sustainable tourism.
The Pledge is a follow-up of the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism to take these two initiatives forward. The theme of World Tourism Day, 2010 was Tourism and Bio-diversity. 

With an increasing number of people travelling every year, the need is to focus on the preservation of human rights and sustainability of the Earth’s finite resources. In such a scenario, the oath-taking ceremony on the World Tourism Day, 2010 assumes even more significance. The Code of Conduct for Safe and Honourable Tourism aims to strengthen the critical pillar of “Suraksha” which is one of the seven pillars outlined in the National Tourism Policy 2002.

The Code is a collaborative initiative of the Union Ministry of Tourism, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), India Chapter of Pacific Asia Travel Association and Save the Children India. The endeavour of the Ministry of Tourism is also to promote responsible tourism by following the principles of sustainable tourism. A two-day National Workshop was held by the Ministry of Tourism to develop the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India. 
 
It will be developed taking into account the best practices followed across the world. A Steering Committee has been formed with representatives from various stakeholders from the tourism, travel and hospitality industries to evolve the criteria. The Hon`ble Minister of Tourism remarked that by taking the oath “we are, in effect, highlighting to the world, our sense of responsibility towards our guests and to Mother Earth. Read More India Tourism

Tuesday 1 November 2011

India Heritage and Culture Tourism


            The year 2006 has been a highly successful year for India. For the fourth successive year, India witnessed a positive growth in foreign tourist arrivals, reaching a level of 4.43 million against 2.38 million during 2002. The growth rate of 13.04 % during 2006 was achieved over 2005 and the share of India in world tourism is expected to be around 0.52%. Foreign exchange earnings has reached US$ 6569.34 in 2006 and marked an increase of 14.63 % over 2005 (US $ 5730.86). In absolute rupee terms, the increase in foreign exchange earnings during the year 2006 was Rs 4431.31 crores over 2005. Tourism is the third largest net earner of foreign exchange next to garments, gem and jewellery industry, recording earnings of US $6569.34million in 2006 (Rs 29603.56crores). India’s share in the total global tourist arrivals and earnings remained quite insignificant at 0.52 % of the world arrivals and the percentage of share of tourism receipts for 2006 was 0.90 %.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals to India (In million).

Year
Arrivals
%    Change
2002
2.38
(-) 6.0
2003
2.73
(+) 14.3
2004
3.46
(+) 26.8
2005
3.92
(+) 13.2
2006*
4.43
(+) 13.0
Growth in 5 years i.e., 2006 over 2001: 86%





 

                                     Source: Ministry of Tourism.
The Tourism Satellite Account for India has brought out that Tourism’s contribution to GDP of the country has been 5.9% in 2003-04, while employment in tourism sector both direct and indirect, has been 41.8 million in the same year, which accounts for 8.78% of total employment in the country. Though the growth in tourism in India has been impressive, India’s share in global tourist arrivals is quite insignificant. However, earning per tourist is highest for India compared to neighbouring countries. It is universally acknowledged that the tourism resources of India have the potential to generate significantly higher levels of demand from the domestic and international markets, and, if exploited intelligently in a sustainable manner, can prove to be the engine of growth for the economy.
Another important feature of the tourism industry, which is of particular significance to India, is its contribution to national integration, preservation of natural as well as cultural environments and enrichment of the social and cultural lives of people. Tourism also encourages preservation of monuments and heritage properties and helps the survival of arts forms, crafts and culture. Over 382 million domestic tourists visiting different parts of the country every year return with a better appreciation of the cultural diversity and understanding of the people living in different regions of the country.

Domestic Tourist Visits In India (In Million)

Year
Domestic Tourist Visits
%
Change
2002
269.6
14.0
2003
309.0
14.6
2004
366.2
18.5
2005
382.1
4.3
2006*
432.0
13.0
Growth in 5 years i.e., 2006 over 2001: 82.9% (end of9thPlan to end of 10th Plan)  *: Predicted.    
                          Source: Ministry of Tourism.


 Heritage and Culture Tourism

Heritage and Culture tourism began to be recognized as a distinct tourism product category in the late 1970s, with the realization that a large number of people travel specifically to gain a better understanding of the culture or heritage of a destination.  Nearly 40% of international travelers are now considered cultural tourists, who visit destinations based on cultural heritage of a place – rural, ethnic and spiritual, factors.  There is a growing need to recognize culture and heritage tourism as a specialized sector of tourism to develop this product for improving tourist traffic both indigenously and internationally.
In evolving a culture tourism policy, the following basic considerations should be taken into account:
  • Tourism interests must develop an awareness of cultural heritage management, concepts, ideals and practices.  Likewise cultural heritage stakeholders must also develop an understanding of what tourism is and how it works.
  • Tourism industry professionals value cultural assets as raw material for their products to generate tourism activity and wealth.  Cultural heritage management professionals value the same for their intrinsic merits.
  • Tourism is driven by attractions.  Attractions are the demand generators that give a customer a reason to visit a destination.  Cultural heritage assets therefore must be transferred into tourism cultural heritage products.  The transformation process is integral to the successful development and sustainable management of the cultural tourism product.
  • There is need for a balance between tourism and cultural heritage management, with the need for strong partnership.
  • The recognition that tourism is essentially a commercial activity, cultural values should not be sacrificed for commercial considerations.
  • More Details Visit http://www.indiatourisme.org/