Club Mahindra - Tourism in India

Tourism plays a vital role in the economic development of a country. Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in India. The tourism industry employs a large number of people, both skilled and unskilled. It promotes national integration and international brotherhood.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries of the world. It plays vital role in the economic development of a country. India is one of the popular tourist destination in Asia. Bounded by the Himalayan ranges in the north and surrounded, on three sides by water (Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean), India offers a wide array of places to see and things to do. The enchanting backwaters, hill stations and landscapes make India a beautiful country. Historical monuments, forts etc. add to the grandeur of the country. They attract tourists from all over the world.

Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in India.,  Industries like transport including airlines benefit a lot from this industry. India has a composite culture. There is a harmonious blend of art, religion and philosophy. Thought India has been subjected to a serious of invasions, she has retained her originality even after absorbing the best of external influences. has co-existed in India. India has fascinated people from all over the world with her secularism and her culture.

The diverse geographical locales of India delight the tourists. The monuments, museums, forts, sanctuaries, places of religious interest, palaces, etc. offer a treat to the eyes. Every region is identified with its handicrafts, fairs, folk dances, music and its people. Some of the places that attract a huge number of tourists are Agr, Jaipur, Jhansi, Hyderabad, Nalanda, Mysore, Delhi, Mahabaleshwar, Aurangabad etc. Hardwar, Ujjain, Shirdi, Varanasi, Allahabad, Puri, Ajmer, Amritsar, Vaishno Devi, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Rameshwaram etc. are places of religious importance. Srinagar, Kullu, Manali, Dehradun, Nainital, Darjeeling, Ooty etc. are famous hill resorts.

The Department of Tourism was formed to promote international and domestic tourism in the country. It provides infrastructure and carries out publicity campaigns. It provides information aimed at promotion of tourist sites in the world market. IOt formulates policies and programmes for the promotion of tourism in India. It has officers in India and abroad. The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, The National Council for Hotel management and Catering technology etc. provide professionally trained personnel to the industry.

The Tourism Advisory Board recommends measures for promotion of tourist traffic in India. It reviews the tourist trends and suggests appropriate measures. Some of the places, havelis and castles have been converted into heritage hotels. In these hotels, the tourists get the experience the exotic lifestyle of the bygone era. The exotic train 'palace on wheel's which travels through Rajasthan attracts a lot of foreign tourists. The Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) organizes entertainment programmes like folk dances and songs and provides shopping facilities. today many private companies like Sita Travels, Club Mahindra etc. arrange domestic as well as foreign tours.

With the growth of urban professional middle class, the tourism in India is flourishing, Many states have taken necessary steps to promote tourism. Goa promotes water sports like sailing, scuba diving and rafting. Kashmir offers the pleasure of winter sports like skiing and mountaineering. Kerala has introduced the concept of houseboats in its lagoons. Himachal Pradesh has developed winter sports in the state. Travellling to India can be an enriching experience.