Xth UNIT - II Introduction to Tourism-II (English)
Tourism (Definition)
Tourism refers to that activity which is conducted for a short period of time, more than 24 hours and less than 1 year, for a non-remunerative purpose (no earning at the destination).
Types of Tourism (UNWTO Based)
1. Domestic Tourism
Domestic tourism involves trips made by residents within their own country.
Example: An American living in New York travels to Los Angeles.
2. International Tourism
International tourism involves trips between two countries.
It is divided into:
Inbound Tourism: When foreign residents visit a country.
Example: Japanese visiting Hong Kong (for Hong Kong, it is inbound tourism).Outbound Tourism: When residents of a country travel to another country.
Example: Hong Kong residents visiting Japan (for Hong Kong, it is outbound tourism).
International Tourist
An international tourist is a person who travels to a country other than the one in which they normally live.
Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors and is closely linked to development and socio-economic progress.
It generates high business volume, sometimes even more than oil, food products, or automobiles, and is a major source of income for developing countries.
Tourism creates employment and benefits many sectors like construction, agriculture, and telecommunications.
It also promotes diversification of destinations and increases competition, leading to overall growth of the economy.
General Impacts of Tourism
1. Generating Income and Employment
Tourism in India has emerged as an instrument of income and employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development.
It contributes 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India.
Almost 20 million people are working in India’s tourism industry.
2. Source of Foreign Exchange Earnings
Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange earnings in India.
It has a favourable impact on the balance of payments of the country.
The tourism industry generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018.
3. Preservation of National Heritage and Environment
Tourism helps preserve places of historical importance by declaring them as heritage sites.
Examples include Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, Ajanta and Ellora temples.
It also helps in conserving natural habitats of endangered species.
4. Developing Infrastructure
Tourism encourages development of infrastructure like transport, healthcare, sports centres, hotels and restaurants.
It benefits both tourists and local people.
It also leads to development of other productive activities.
5. Promoting Peace and Stability
Tourism helps promote peace and stability by generating income and employment.
It supports environmental protection and cross-cultural awareness.
However, challenges like crime, corruption and need for proper regulations must be addressed.
Typology of Tourism Impacts
Tourism impacts are categorized into six general categories requiring cooperative planning between officials, industry, and residents to maximize benefits and minimize disruptions.
1. Economic Impact
Positive: Increases employment (low-wage to professional), raises living standards, diversifies rural economies, creates investment opportunities, improves public utilities (water, sewer, roads, airports), boosts retail competition, increases tax revenues (sales, lodging, income taxes).
Negative: Low-paying/seasonal jobs, imported labor, business failures, higher living costs, profit leakage, increased taxes for infrastructure maintenance.
2. Environmental Impact
Positive: Preserves natural resources (oceans, mountains, wildlife), generates income for conservation, restores historic sites, improves area appearance (cleanup, public art), considered a "clean" industry vs. factories.
Negative: Attracts in-migrants pressuring ecosystems.
3. Social & Cultural Impact
Positive: Improves quality of life (more attractions, recreation), cultural exchange, revives traditions/heritage, broadens perspectives, increases psychological satisfaction.
Negative: Changes family behaviors, moral shifts (drugs, crime), safety issues, loss of traditional ceremonies, community divisiveness.
4. Services Impact
Positive: Develops recreation facilities, upgrades shops/restaurants/hotels, improves fire/police/medical services.
Negative: Traditional services displaced, supply shortages (water, power).
5. Taxes Impact
Positive: Higher sales/lodging taxes from tourist spending.
Negative: Property tax hikes for infrastructure expansion.
6. Community Attitude Impact
Positive: Boosts local pride, appreciation of resources, more facilities/choices, exciting community life.
Negative: Resident-tourist tensions, cultural commercialization ("phony" traits), loss of control to outsiders, aesthetic disruptions.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Define Tourism?
Tourism refers to that activity which is conducted for a short period of time, more than 24 hours and less than 1 year, for a non-remunerative purpose.
2. How much proportion does Tourism contribute to India’s GDP?
Tourism contributes 6.23% to India's national GDP.
3. Which industry has surpassed the business volume of oil exports, food products and automobiles?
The tourism industry.
4. What sources are helping the government with the funds to manage natural resources?
Tourist income and revenues from tourism activities.
5. Name the various impacts which have laid down the need of Tourism industry?
Economic (income, employment), Environmental (heritage preservation), Social & Cultural, Services, Taxes, Community Attitude impacts.
Sources of Tourism Information
Current, accurate and relevant tourism information is essential for travel and tourism industry professionals. It underpins most industry activities including itinerary development, product creation and successful sales.
Key Sources of Destination Information
1. Industry People
Sales Representatives: Industry principals, tour wholesalers, operators and NTOs employ reps to visit travel agents with latest destination/product info.
Product Launches: Tour wholesalers hold launches introducing new destinations/products (usually early year with new brochures).
Seminars & Workshops: Firms organize these to update destination knowledge.
Famils & Site Inspections: Educational visits provided by principals/wholesalers/operators.
Informal Discussions: With well-travelled colleagues, customers (personal travel is best).
2. Brochures, Journals & Media
NTOs/Government: Distribute agent's manuals, maps, videos.
Trade Journals: Travel Trade, Travel Week feature destination updates.
General Media: Newspapers, TV travel shows, documentaries (world news impacts tourism).
3. Publications
Maps & Atlases: Essential for itineraries, distances, travel times.
Guide/Reference Books: World Travel Guide, Travel Trade Visa Guide, TIM (Timatic on CRS). Cover entry requirements, customs, health/safety.
Travel Literature: Narratives, memoirs providing unique destination insights.
4. Other Sources
Trade Shows: Open to industry/public.
Formal Study: Like current course work.
Internet/Email/Fax: Quick updates to large audiences.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Name the key sources of tourism information.
Industry People, Brochures/Journals/Media, Publications, Other Sources (Trade Shows, Internet, Formal Study).
2. Measures to expand and update the knowledge of industry personnel?
Seminars & workshops, educational/familiarisation visits (famils), site inspections, product launches.
3. Name two Travel-Trade Journals. Expand CRS.
Travel Trade, Travel Week. CRS = Computer Reservation System.
4. Name the source of Tourism Information which includes biographies and photographic records of specific places or journeys.
Travel Literature.
Tourism Organisations
Tourism organisations are institutes that show concern for the massive and ever-growing tourism industry.
Ministry of Tourism
Role: Nodal agency for formulation of national policies, programmes and coordination of activities between Central Government, State Governments/UTs and Private Sector for tourism development and promotion.
Headed by: Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge).
Administrative Head: Secretary (Tourism) who also acts as Director General (DG) Tourism.
Structure:
Office of DG Tourism (merged with Secretary office): Provides executive direction for policy implementation.
Field Offices: 20 offices in India + 14 offices abroad + 1 sub-ordinate office (Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering - IISM/Gulmarg Winter Sports Project).
Overseas Offices: Tourism promotion and marketing.
Indian Offices: Information service to tourists + monitor field projects.
Key Functions of Ministry of Tourism (16 Functions)
All Policy Matters: Development policies, incentives, external assistance, manpower development, promotion & marketing.
Investment Facilitation
Planning
Coordination: With other Ministries, State/UT Governments.
Regulation: Standards & guidelines.
Infrastructure & Product Development: Guidelines.
Human Resource Development: Institutions, standards & guidelines.
Publicity & Marketing: Policy, strategies, coordination.
Research, Analysis, Monitoring & Evaluation
International Cooperation: International bodies, bilateral agreements, external assistance, foreign technical collaboration.
Legislation & Parliamentary Work
Establishment Matters
Vigilance Matters
Official Language Policy Implementation
Budget Coordination
Plan Coordination & Monitoring
STDC (State Tourism Development Corporation)
Every state in India has an STDC tasked with development of tourism within the state.
Vision & Mission
Vision: To become one of the finest and leading service providers in the Hospitality Sector.
Mission: To expand quality tourism infrastructure in the State and outside, providing world class facilities to tourists.
Main Objectives of STDC
Establish, develop, promote, execute, operate projects including tourist vehicles for tourism development.
Construct, run, maintain Tourist Information Bureaux/Centres in and outside the State.
Publish and sell publicity materials for tourism promotion.
Construct, lease, run, maintain tourist bungalows, inns, youth hostels, hotels, cafeterias.
Role of STDC in Promotion of Tourism
Pioneer: Initiates tourism development process.
Dispersal of Tourism: Promotes expansion to new areas.
Prime Mover: Works often without commercial advantage (social mandate).
Generate Employment
Contribution to State Revenue
Facilitated Travel: Provides tourist transport.
Safe & Secure Stay: Manages accommodations.
Official Host: Represents State Government.
UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization)
UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
Key Roles
Leading international organization promoting tourism as driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability.
Provides leadership and support for advancing tourism knowledge/policies worldwide.
Promotes Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to maximize socio-economic benefits, minimize negative impacts.
Supports UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Core Activities
Market knowledge generation.
Competitive/sustainable tourism policies.
Tourism education and training.
Technical assistance in over 100 countries.
Membership & Headquarters
156 countries, 6 territories, 400+ affiliate members (private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations).
HQ: Madrid, Spain.
Organizational Aim
Promotes sustainable tourism for:
Economic development
International understanding
Peace & prosperity
Human rights (no discrimination by race, sex, language, religion)
Special focus: Developing countries' interests.
REVIEW QUESTIONS - Answers
1. Who is the head of the MOT?
Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge). Secretary (Tourism) acts as administrative head and Director General (DG) Tourism.
2. Give any two functions of MOT.
All Policy Matters (development policies, incentives, manpower development, promotion & marketing).
Coordination with other Ministries, State/UT Governments.
3. STDC majorly focuses which country?
India.
4. How many Tour Operators and Local Communities have joined STDC?
Information not specified in the text.
5. Where is the headquarter of UNWTO located?
Madrid, Spain.
6. How many countries are members of UNWTO?
156 countries.
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