Tourism and Economy tourism such as souvenir manufacturers, gift centres and handicrafts
industry. Tourism can create employment opportunities even for the
The economic potential of tourism development is almost unlimited and
tourism is becoming an increasingly important industry on a worldwide
scale. The World Tourism Organisation statistics indicate that the tourism
industry will only continue to grow from strength to strength.
Tourism has major economic significance for a country. The receipts from
international tourism can provide a valuable source of earnings for many
countries both developed as well as developing. Tourism provides more
fixed earnings than primary products. The earnings from tourism is an
important source of income, especially foreign exchange for several
countries. The earnings assume a great significance in the balance of
payment calculations.
Tourism development leads to infrastructure investments, justified
primarily for tourism such as airports, roads, water supply and other
public utilities which may be shared by the other sectors of the economy.
Tourist facilities such as hotels, restaurants, museums, clubs, sport
complexes, public transport and national parks are also used by domestic
tourists and visitors, businessmen and residents. Yet a significant portion
of the costs may be borne by international tourists. Tourists also
contribute to tax by directly or indirectly employing a large number of
people. There can be direct employment as in the case of the hotel
industry and the transport industry or indirect employment as in the case
of services provided such as food and beverage. Growing tourism leads to
increased demand for accommodation. Jobs like hotel managers,
attendants, accountants, clerks, gardeners, cooks and cleaners therefore
increases. Several types of business begin flourishing as a result of
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unskilled sector. Various secondary business ventures like suppliers of
food and beverages, taxi services, photographers, hair dressers,
construction workers and even doctors gain employment.
Tourism leads to regional development. It is a means of economic
advancement of less advanced areas with high aesthetic beauty. For
example, Khajuraho. The people of this region have definitely prospered
in the past two to three years as a result of tourism development.
Tourism also has a significant influence on the country’s balance of
payment. International tourists buy tourist services in another country.
These payments are noted in a country’s accounts as ‘invisible’.
Impact of Globalisation and Liberalisation on Tourism
Positive Impacts
1. International Travel: Globalisation leads to growth of
international travel and tourism. Due to globalisation tourists
become more aware of new and not ventured places which
inspire them to travel more.
2. Formalities: VISA, passport and travel insurances are mandatory
for foreign travel. Due to globalisation and liberalisation, VISA and
passport facilities have become easy to access.
3. Travel: Due to globalisation, varieties have come in, in the modes
of transportation. Airline industry has boomed and is growing
rapidly day by day.
4. Quality Standard: Because of globalisation, tourism industry has
to maintain a certain standard to sustain itself in a competing
 globalised world. This has assured that the tourists will get the
best of quality products within their limit.
5. Introduction of Technology: The adoption of technology has
brought in a revolution in tourism industry. The introduction of
technology has taken place due to globalisation and liberalisation.
Negative Impacts
1. Environmental Pollution: Excessive tourist inflow spoils the
aesthetic beauty of the tourist destination when it puts pressure
on resources.
2. Degradation of Cultural Tourism Resources: Excessive tourism
growth may lead to over exploitation and over exposure of
tourism resources. It may degrade cultural tourism significance of
the place.
3. Rise of Anti-Social Activities: Because of excess of contact with
other cultures and their social elements, which infiltrate the host
country, tourism gets affected. For example, terrorism, sexual
abuses, murders, smuggling, etc. degrade the beauty of the
destination.
Emerging Concepts
Tourism is a dynamic industry. It is an industry which will continue to
evolve with the changing needs of the travellers. Over the years, new
motivators for travel have given rise to some trends in tourism.
1. Bookstore Tourism: This tourism is done to bookstore where
people can explore the books as well as the surrounding
areas of the place. An important place where this happens is
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the M.G. Road area. In one block, there are nine bookstores,
each special in its own way.
2. Virtual Tourism: It is where the tourists visit the place
through a virtual tour without actually going there. The
museum of natural history in Chennai is one such place which
has its virtual tour, where sitting at home the person can see
the museum exhibits. Some are of the opinion that it is not
tourism at all as it is not an authentic experience and there is
no travel involved.
3. Mystical Tourism: This tourism is where the tourists visit
mystical places in order to experience the people mystical
elements. It also involves journeys to some spiritual places.
4. Agritourism: It is farm based tourism which helps to support
the local agricultural economy. Tourists visit farms and fields
with the aim of improving the agriculture.
5. Ancestry Tourism: It is the travel with the aim of tracing one’s
ancestry, visiting the birth places of these ancestors (their
cemeteries) and also includes getting to know distant family.
During Tipu Sultan’s time, many French soldiers had died and
he buried them near Srirangapatna. Nowadays, their
descendants visit Srirangapatna to see their graves and
through that find their ancestry and connect with their
family’s past.
6. Audio Tourism: it includes audio walking tours and other
audio guide forms of tourism including museum audio guides
and audio travel books. This does not require a guide as the
audio track provides all necessary information to the tourist.
These audio tracks are now available at many places including
the Bangalore Palace and the Mysore Palace.
7. Dark Tourism: It is travel to sites associated with death and
suffering. The first tourist agency to specialize in this kind of
tourism started with trips to Lake Hurst, New Jersey, the
scene of the Hindenburg Airship Disaster.
8. Film Tourism: this is the recent trend where tourists visit sites
where films were shot, film sets and the area where actors
live and also sometimes follow the film’s team to locations.
Hollywood, in the USA is famous for this. Also, Kodambakkam
in Chennai attracts many tourists.
Role of Monuments and Museums in Tourism
India is a large and populous country with great past and rich
traditions. It can boast of some 4000 years of civilized past. It is
moreover a living civilization whose traditions arise directly from
the past. For these reasons, cultural and heritage tourism have
gained importance in Indian tourism plans.
Cultural tourism encompasses many things. However, showcasing
our heritage through live monuments and preserved artefacts in
museums are perhaps the most important attractions of it.
Monuments are created to commemorate a person or important
event which can have historical or architectural value.
Monuments can be of various types like buildings, memorials,
religious constructions, tombs, palaces, statues, war memorials,
etc.
Monuments have been created since the last thousands of years.
All the prehistoric, ancient, medieval and modern age
monuments have made a huge impact on our culture. The historic
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monuments speak about the grandeur of our past. They speak
about society, polity and economy of their contemporary era.
Similarly, modern monuments create awe in the visitors. Thus,
monuments remain one of the most attractive pillars for tourism
in any country. Monuments are the destinations which have
remained perhaps the most attractive part for any tourist visiting
a new land. Monuments, if properly maintained and managed can
generate huge income for both the localities and the
governments.
Museums are those places where our past is preserved. It is an
institution that conserves the collection of artefacts and other
objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific importance and
exhibits them for public views.
The earliest and the largest museum in India was established in
1814 by the Asiatic Society in Kolkata. It has collections of
archaeological, anthropological, geological and botanical
interests. Other important museums are Prince of Wales Museum
in Mumbai, National Museum in New Delhi, Government
Museum of National History in Chennai, etc.
Other than museums, the All India Fine Arts and Crafts in New
Delhi encourages Indian art in India and abroad. The Indian
Council for Cultural Relations in New Delhi promotes cultural
exchange between India and other countries.
Monuments and museums thus hold important positions as
tourist destinations and they have promoted the prospects of
tourism to a great extent.
 Adventure Tourism in Karnataka
Adventure tourism caters to humans’ recreational joy, a sense of
danger or adventure and satisfaction of achievement. This gives
some people relaxation and the joy of something exciting being
achieved. Adventure tourism is a part of the endeavour towards
sustainable tourism or ecotourism.
Karnataka is made for the adventure seekers, nature lovers. The
state of Karnataka offers a wide range of activities for the
adventure tourists.
Adventure and sports have tremendous potential for tourism.
There are three types of adventure activities, terrestrial, aerial
and aquatic adventure activities.
1) Terrestrial Adventure Activities: Trekking, rock-climbing, skiing,
motor rallying, wildlife photography, bird watching and wildlife safaris
are some of the terrestrial activities. Karnataka with its tropical lush
green forests, hills, caves, rivers, streams and flora and fauna is a
trekkers’ paradise. Trekking trails are located in the Ghats regions of
Uttara and Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassan and
Kodagu. There is a golden trek from Karwar to Gokarna. Mysore is
known as the Mecca of rock-climbers. Apart from Ramanagara, there
are places around Bangalore like Savandurga, Kabbaldurga, Tumkur,
Turahalli and Kanakapura meant for rock-climbing.
2) Aerial Adventure Activities: Parachuting, sky-diving, bungee jumping,
hang-gliding are some of the aerial adventure activities popular in
Karnataka. Nandi Hills has all the facilities for hang-gliding. Hebbal
Lake is the venue foe aero-sports like parasailing and micro like flying.
3) Aquatic Adventure Activities:
i) White Water Rafting: The Kali River at Dandeli is popular for
this. Kempahole, Sitanadi near Agumbe and Netravati are also
favourite white water rafting places.
ii) Kayaking: In this sport, a person uses a kayak. Honnemaradu
and Sharavati are examples.
iii) Canoeing: It is open and a paddle executes the strokes on
only one side. Honnemaradu and Sharavati backwaters near
Sagara are noted for canoeing, kayaking and wind-gliding.
iv) Water Surfing: The stretch of Gokarna and Karwar is suitable
for water surfing. Maravanthe Beach is a popular spot.
Devbagh is a popular scuba diving spot.
v) Angling: it is a fishing sport which became popular in the mid-
19th century. The Mahseer fish which is Asia’s premiere
sporting fish is found in the Kaveri River. Four different kinds
of fishes – silver, gold, black and pink are found in the
Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp located at a distance of 100kms
from Bangalore. Catch and release has become a necessary
practice. The Galibore Fishing and Nature Camp and
Doddamakali Nature Resort are also notable for fishing.