david123 asked:


Should guilty seek asylum here,

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.

Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.

In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator’s glory.

Those are transliteration of the lines on The Taj Mahal uttered by their creator, the great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Inspiring poets and painters through the ages, this mausoleum is considered the best showcase of Mughal architecture, a style that fuses elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. It has given rise to a thousand myths and legends, most of them, of course, are unsubstantiated by evidence.

Some of the main myths about the Taj Mahal, Agra are:

* Myth behind the Name of Taj Mahal

* Black Taj Mahal Myth

* Sinking Taj Mahal Myth

* Asymmetrical Taj Mahal Myth

* Taj Mahal a Rajput Palace Myth

* Taj Mahal a Shiva Temple Myth

* Demolition of the Taj Mahal Myth

* Theft in Taj Mahal Myth

* Mutilations in Taj Mahal Myth

* Third Graves Set In Taj Mahal Myth

* Beating the silhouette of the finial Myth

Among these some of the myths are so universal that they deserve a mention in some details. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal originated the enduring myth that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built for him in black marble across the Yamuna River. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built.

The appalling details of deaths, dismemberments and mutilations allegedly inflicted by Shah Jahan on various architects and craftsmen connected with the tomb are unsupported by evidence. Some stories allege that those engaged in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design but such claims are made for many illustrious buildings.

Another myth claims that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth; some believe it to this day and officials often get broken bangles around the silhouette.

All these legends of the Taj Mahal of India have added to its curiosity factor, attracting more and more tourists to this fascinating monument, aptly described by Rabindranath Tagore as

“a tear-drop…upon the cheek of time”.

Tourists coming to experience this monument to Love have a mind boggling number of options to stay at. Hotels in Agra come in every shape size and economic category, from the ultra luxurious Oberoi Amarvilas and ITC Mughal to the very homely yet comfortable Amar Yatri Niwas.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


Phuket is an incredible tourist destination, located in the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea, on the south-west coast of Thailand. Acknowledged as the ‘Pearl of the South’ and the ‘Jewel of the Andaman Sea,’ Phuket is only an hour flying from Bangkok.

Phuket is also the largest island in Thailand, and is credited to be the only island in the country with status of a province. Formerly known as Talang, Phuket boasts of a rich as well as long history dating back to more than 500 years. Phuket once served as an important trade route between India and China.

The island also flourished as a center for tin manufacturing processes, which in turn attracted many Europeans including the Dutch and the British. Perhaps, the most important segment of Phuket’s history is the Battle of Thalang, during which Burmese invaders were defeated. Phuket still retain its old world charm, and provides gamut of attractions, covering impressive palm-fringed beaches, beautiful coves and bays, lush green mountains, cascading waterfalls, and ancient mansions reflecting Indo-Portuguese architecture.

The prime draw of Phuket is undoubtedly its gorgeous coastline, which is a fine blend of amazing white sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, and spectacular limestone cliffs. Many of the top beaches in the area are clustered around the western coastline, such as Patong Beach, Kamala Beach, and Karon Beach. Kata Beach, Surin Beach, Bang Tao Beach, Laem Sing Beach, Chalong Bay, Panwa Beach, Nai Ham Beach, Nai Yang Beach, Mai Khao Beach.

Rawai Beach are the other popular beaches in Phuket. With these scores of beaches, Phuket is truly a haven for water sport lovers. Just think of any of the water sport activities, it would be easily available in Phuket.

A range of tour operators and dive shops operate here to provide you excellent choices to enjoy a variety of water sport activities such as fishing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, rafting, sailing, scuba diving, and more. Many of them even provide services of an expert guide in order to assist you in enjoying water sport activities. Phuket is not only a destination to enjoy water sport activities but also to enjoy a range of other activities such as golfing, trekking, and nature walks.

No visit to Phuket would be complete without touring its historical and cultural sites such as Old China Town, dotted with elegant Sino-Portuguese mansions. Also, take a tour to the elegant temples in the region, like, Wat Chalong - one of the biggest shrines in the region; Wat Phra Thong, whose highlight is a huge half buried image of the Buddha; and Wat Phranangsang, dedicated to two heroines who defeated the Burmese invaders in the Battle of Thalang. Equally worth mentioning are the interesting museums of the region, including, Phuket Sea Shell Museum and Thalang National Museum.

Covered with forested hills, the island is also home to such attractions as Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, which comes with dazzling waterfalls and unique as well as rich flora and fauna, apart from an eight-kilometer hiking path. Phuket’s attractions also include Butterfly Garden and Insectarium - a large open-air enclosure housing thousands of varied butterflies amid lush greenery; Marine Biological Research Centre - an aquarium featuring a variety of saltwater and freshwater fish; Promthep Cape - providing enchanting views of the sunsets; and Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre.

A specialty of Phuket is its fresh, authentic sea food cuisines, which is famed across the world. Likewise, after a day of adventure sports or sightseeing in Phuket, don’t forget to take a rejuvenating spa massage. A plethora of spa therapy centers and spa resorts are available across the island, providing relaxing spa treatments and massages. Along with other activities, Phuket provides superb options for shopping in the form of a multitude of stores and bazaars and night markets.

If you are looking for something different during your stay at Phuket, then head to Phuket Town to view Muay Thai, a kind of Thai boxing. There are even training centers to master this traditional discipline. Above all, a great attraction of the island is its exciting as well as vibrant nightlife, with a variety of pubs, bars, nightclubs, go go bars, and restaurants to choose from.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


The administrative, commercial, and industrial center of the Central Wales, Dubbo is an enchanting town located in the central west region of the New South Wales in Australia. Set on the magnificent Macquarie River and located at the intersection of Golden, Mitchell, and Newell Highways, Dubbo is within easy reach of some of the prominent destinations.

Dubbo is only five hour drive from Canberra and Newcastle, six hours drive from Sydney, and roughly nine hours drive from Melbourne. Further, via commercial aircraft, Dubbo is less than an hour’s travel from Sydney.

Sometimes, Dubbo is regarded as the New South Wale’s crossroads, from where you can drive to any direction including east, west, north, and south. About 40000 years ago, the area was believed to have been inhabited by the Australian aboriginals. From 1818, the destination came to be known as Dubbo. For Dubbo’s development from a typical city to a modern settlement, the credit goes to John Oxley - the first European to tour the city.

With transport and storage industry as its prime source of growth, Dubbo is credited to be the only city in the Orana region that has been developed over the years as a prominent service center. Many such important towns as Cobar, Warren, Wellington, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, lean on Dubbo for several goods and services.

Since Dubbo as well as the Orana region has a wealth of potentials, the destination provide great base for secured economic growth and investment. A couple of significant developments have been completed in recent times, such as Dubbo City Airport Terminal, Western Plains Cultural Center, Apex Oval Grandstand, John Gilbert Water Treatment Plant, and Dubbo City Council - Civic Administration Building.

As a significant tourist destination of the New South Wales (NSW), Dubbo provides a feast of attractions. The prime draw of Dubbo is undoubtedly the world famous Western Plains Zoo, which is the largest open range zoo in the country. This extraordinary, 300 hectare zoo is home to more than 800 animals from different parts of the world such as Asia, Australia, Africa, and North America.

Among which many are endangered species such as white rhinoceros, the Bengal tiger, and Galapagos turtle. Animals in the zoo also include African specialties such as giraffes, hippos, zebras, lions, cheetahs, and elephants. The zoo’s other popular highlights are ring tailed lemurs, antelopes, and echidnas.

A part of the Dubbo City Tourist Park - Dubbo Military Museum is another popular attraction in Dubbo. This is a unique museum artifacts dating back to the period of the Second World War. On display are an array of tanks, planes, guns, uniforms, documents, and a number of other accessories that were used during the world war.

Also, don’t miss attractions such as Old Dubbo Goal, where one can spectacle programs related to the history of punishment, crime, law, and order. For fun and recreation, take a tour to Big M Tourist Park with an 18-hole golf course and a number of science-related attractions.

If you are a nature lover, your tour to Dubbo would not be complete without taking a tour to Jinchilla Gardens, a tranquil garden set amid a tall timbered forest. To have a breathtaking view of Dubbo’s spectacular night sky, a visit to the observatory would be a great experience. Other not to miss attractions in Dubbo are Wellington Caves & Phosphorous mine, the Clay Pan Galleries, Dubbo Museum & History Centre, Red Earth Galleries, Dubbo Golf Club, Dubbo Turf Club, and Reading’s Cinema Complex.

Above all, taking a Heritage Walk would be great to explore some of the historical building in the city, including the Courthouse and a range of old churches.

In order to make your stay in the city memorable as well as enjoyable, a good number of hotels and other accommodation options are available in Dubbo. Many of them offer superb rooms attached with high-end amenities and comforts. Some even provide opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of the city and that staying within the comforts of your own rooms or suites.

Further, they make available almost all facilities in order to enjoy your vacation in Dubbo. Browsing through the internet or leaning on such sources as travel magazines and reviews written by real users can help you find an accommodation in Dubbo that go with your budget and unique requirements.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Nancy Eben asked:


Singapore, a dynamic city, is rich in color and contrast with a blend of art, architecture, cuisines and culture. The people of Singapore are descendants of immigrants from China, Malay, Srilanka and India. Though all these have acquired the identity of Singaporeans, but they follow the customs, festival and practices of modern and traditional mix.

Singapore is the epitome of fusion of the East and the West, from serene gardens to sleek skyscrapers and from exotic ethnic enclave to efficient business centre. It is counted as one of the best holiday destinations with friendly and welcoming people and state of art infrastructures. Passport and visa are must for the foreigners visiting Singapore, whether it is for tourists’ purpose or for some business purpose.

Some of the popular places of interest in Singapore are mentioned below

Jurong Bird Park

It is the largest bird park of South east Asia, providing habitat to more than 8000 birds of 600 species form different parts of the world. It is the world’s largest collection of South American Toucans and Southeast Asian Hornbills and the world’s second largest penguin exhibit. It also organizes daily shows of birds of prey, Jurong Bird Park All Star Bird Show, Breakfast with birds and Penguin feeding time.

Night Safari

It is one of the well known attractions of Singapore, where you can come across one eyed rhinoceros or hear the howls of a pack of striped hyenas. It is a habitat for 1200 animals with more than 100 exotic species. It is a wild adventure for the tourist to explore.

National Museum of Singapore

It is one of the architectural gems with each of its two levels representing Greek Classical architecture and reconstruction of historical scenes and events displaying development of Singapore from sleepy fishing villages to the present day metropolis. Another exhibition shows the world of Chinese family with elaborate Peranankan finery and furnishing. One of the other famous attractions in it is Children’s discovery gallery, which manifest Singapore’s cultural heritage and performing arts. Beside it, Singapore offer number of museums to entertain tourists.

Singapore Zoological Gardens

Singapore zoo is haven for both visitors and animals. There are more than 2000 creatures in landscaped enclosures, thus replacing cages. Some of the special attractions included in it are interaction of kids with animals, thus enjoying excellent playgrounds, penguin gallery; air conditioned polar bear, miniature railway and six island primate garden.

Beside it, there are many attractions in Singapore, which attract lot of tourists towards itself. Book you hotel in advance and enjoy the trip to the fullest extent.



Entertainment Center

mickle asked:


The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in South East Asia with a population of more than fifteen million people. The kingdom’s capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. Cambodia is the successor state of the once powerful Hindu and Buddhist Khmer Empire, which ruled most of the Indochinese Peninsula between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries. A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as "Cambodian" or "Khmer," though the latter strictly refers to ethnic Khmers. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists of Khmer extraction, but the country also has a substantial number of predominantly Muslim Cham, as well as ethnic Chinese, Vietnamese and small animist hill tribes. The country borders Thailand to its west and northwest, Laos to its northeast, and Vietnam to its east and southeast. In the south it faces the Gulf of Thailand. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong river (colloquial Khmer: Tonle Thom or "the great river") and the Tonlé Sap ("the fresh water lake"), an important source of fish.

Cambodia’s main industries are garments, tourism, and construction. In 2007, foreign visitors to Angkor Wat numbered more than 4 million. Any list of Cambodia’s tourist attractions should have the following in them:

The Virachey National Park in Cambodia - It lies along the boundaries of Vietnam and Laos. This national park was set up to counter the avoidable abuse and ruin of natural biodiversity.

Yeak Laom Volcanic Lake - One of the well -known Cambodia tourist attractions, it was formed due to volcanic eruption. This lake and its forested surroundings is one of the most scenic spots in the Cambodian region of Ratanakiri.

Bokor National Park - Another one of the well-known tourist destinations in Cambodia, this national park is the last refuge to many rare species like the tiger and the elephant. The breathtaking beauty of Vietnamese and Cambodian coastal line can be admired from its lofty heights.

Kompong Luong - Among the other Cambodia tourist attractions, this floating village is worth viewing. Popular for its scenic setup with its vivid shops, restaurants, and petrol stations- all floating on the Great Lake, Kompong Luong is indeed a great experience in itself. The Tonle Sap Lake, the gigantic dumbbell shaped fresh water lake forms a picturesque background to it.

Kampong Cham - One of the top tourist destinations in Cambodia, it is one of those sites, which reflects the real charm of this nation’s cultural heritage along with Preah Vihear, Cambodia ‘s ancient temple site.

Angkor Archaeological Park - The jewel in the crown of all tourist attractions in Cambodia is this international landmark. Placed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, this archeological spot has immense historical and archeological significance. The Angkor Wat Temple, the Bayon Temple and the Angkor Thom are the main attractions of Angkor Archeological Park.

Cambodia offers not only such breathtaking sights but also ultra comfortable accommodation to the all that flock to it to behold its majestic beauty. Although the price range of the hotels in Cambodia is pretty large yet the comfort found even in the budget hotels are quite endearing. Some of the luxury hotels known for their services and amenities are Borei Bokor Hotel Kampot, Prince D’Angkor hotel Siem Reap, Cambodiana hotel Phnom Penh. While Steung Siem Reap hotel and Goldiana hotel Phnom Penh are for those who are more budget conscious.

 



Entertainment Center

Ann Knapp asked:


Toronto has long been known as a multicultural city, making it an ideal place for student group travel. Its unique neighborhoods and marketplaces provide visitors with a variety of sights, sounds, and experiences. Let’s take a look at what Toronto has to offer.

Three of the city’s most distinctive areas are Chinatown, Kensington Market and Casa Loma.

Chinatown in Toronto

Chinatown has a population of more than a quarter of a million people, making it one of the largest Asian communities in North America. There are at least five different Chinatowns located in Toronto, but the best known remains downtown at the intersections of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street.

People in this neighborhood come from places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, to name a few. Toronto’s original Chinatown had been located around the corner of Queen Street West and Bay Street, but when that area was cleared to build the New City Hall in the early 1960s, the Chinese population moved west into the streets around Dundas and Spadina.

Chinatown continues to grow and prosper, offering a number of authentic indoor and outdoor food markets, clothing stores, herb and medicinal shops, and restaurants.

Toronto’s Kensington Market

Just a few blocks from Chinatown is Kensington Market. It was started by British immigrants in the 1790s. It did not become a prominent cultural neighborhood until the 1920s. That’s when more than 80% of Toronto’s Jewish population settled here.

Today, Kensington Market contains an eclectic mix of outdoor food stands and produce shops, unique restaurants and cafes, vintage clothing boutiques, and much more.

Portuguese, West Indian, and Caribbean immigrants have settled here, making Kensington Market one of Toronto’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods.

Casa Loma in Toronto

Sitting high on a hill, overlooking downtown Toronto, stands Casa Loma. This majestic castle was built in the style of European medieval castles. In addition to the 98-room castle, the grounds of Casa Loma include stables, connected to the castle by an 800-foot underground tunnel, and six acres of estate gardens.

Built in the early 1900s, the castle was constructed by Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto businessman and industrialist. Pellatt’s travels to Europe inspired him to build his “house on the hill.”

Work on the castle began in 1911 and the new home was completed three years later. More than 300 men worked on the home and it cost a total of 3.5 million dollars to complete.

Unfortunately, financial difficulties forced him to move from his elegant home less than ten years after its construction. The abandoned castle was left to deteriorate. Toronto took over possession of the property in 1933 and Casa Loma was almost demolished.

Thanks to the efforts of the Kiwanis Club of West Toronto, Casa Loma was saved. The Kiwanis Club spearheaded an extensive restoration of the castle, and in 1937, it opened to the public as a tourist attraction.

Visitors can walk through the decorated rooms, climb the towers, and walk through the gardens.

Toronto’s Chinatown, Kensington Market and Casa Loma are all worthy of a visit when planning student group travel in this region.



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Daniel Jowssey asked:


Singapore, This child-friendly island has almost everything to offer to everyone in the family. Over the years, the government has poured in millions of dollars to tourism projects and continuing to do so in it’s effort to make Singapore a perfect family vacation destination in Asia.So if you have never been to Singapore before, let consider visiting this small island in Asia.

Here are the top 10 most popular places not to be missed:

1) Tour of the Singapore River: Take the bumboat and cruise down to the beautiful Singapore river. You will get to catch a glimpse of Singapore’s past and present. The boat ride will also take you round and show you some of Singapore’s significant architectural landmarks.

2) Ethnic Quarter Walk : To understand a nation, you will need to first understand it’s people and culture. The best way to do it is to take an ethnic walk to one of it’s ethnic quarters (Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam) To make the walk a fruitful one, hiring a guide is recommended as they can fill you in with lots of history, facts, cultural practices etc.. things that you will not be able to figure out by taking a DIY walk around suburbs.

3) The Science Centre : Visit the Science Centre, a new generation museum and science and technology centre showing various assortment of exhibits spanning various disciplines. A fun way to appreciate and acquire scientific knowledge through hands-on exploratory experience. Try the Omni-Theatre for a truly immersive cinematic experience!

4) Sentosa Island: Sentosa is Singapore’s most popular resort island Where both tourists and the locals love to go. Here, you can spend a whole day visiting the many attractions the islands has the offer. They have two museums, an Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon, 3 beaches, 3 major hotels (and counting), Musical fountains plus many others. Guarantee to give you and your family a fun filled day.

5) Asian Civilization Museum : The Asian Civilization Museum is the most dramatic museum in Singapore. Over three levels of artefacts and priceless pieces with 10 galleries featuring different regions with their own timelines and permanent displays. Great for people who appreciate arts, artefacts, history and cultures.

6) Jurong Bird Park: Another great place for the family. This park has one of the worlds’ largest bird collections in the conservation and display of birds in natural settings. Containing more than 8,000 birds from over 600 species of birds. The bird show is highly recommended.

7) Singapore Zoological Gardens attracts over a million visitors a year. It is one of the world’s few open zoos, where moats are preferred to cages. Hailed as one of the most beautiful zoos in the World with several tourism awards won in the past years. A place not to be missed if you are travelling with children.

Night Safari Singapore: The Night Safari is the world’s first wildlife park with a night view. 6 times winner of Singapore Tourism Award since it’s inauguration in 1994.

9) Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. The Quays come alive at night with numerous choices of pubs, clubs and restaurants along the beautiful Singapore river. Take a walk along the river and savour the ‘must try’ local dishes to make your trip to Singapore complete.

10) Singapore Botanic Gardens If you are a flower and nature lover, Singapore Botanic Garden is a great place to visit. This Gardens possesses an array of botanical and horticultural attractions with a rich history and a wonderful plant collection of worldwide significance.



Visit Singapore!

Priya Singh asked:


Malaysia is one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries to visit in Southeast Asia. Malaysia is divided into two major regions: Peninsular Malaysia, which lies just south of Thailand, and East Malaysia, which can be found north of Indonesia on the island of Borneo. The Southeast Asian nation experienced a financial boom and underwent quick development during the late 20th century. The travel packages wrap Malaysia’s famous and well-liked destination that includes cities, resorts, beaches, island and beautiful as well as themed packages such as diving, adventures, fishing, mountain climbing and cultural tours. Malaysia, after all, thrives on nature and on the archeological, cultural and historical attractions which react very sensitively to environmental influences. You plan to visit Malaysia related honeymoon.

You select a Malaysia honeymoon vacation package that fits your budget if price matters to you, and then you should know locate discount or special rate honeymoon package. You consult joy-travels. I suggest you book the vacation package this website. Kuala Lumpur, Klang Valley, Johor Bahru and Penang to famous tourist’s designations. Malaysia is a shopping Mecca for garments, electronics, computer goods and much more, with very aggressive prices. The cheapest place to easily buy national souvenirs is in Kuching, East Malaysia, and the most expensive place is in the major, posh KL shopping centers. While trying to attract the flow of tourism,’ citing cases of new eco- resorts such as Datai Bay Resort in Langkawi and the Karumbunai Resort in Sabah. Malaysia’s tourism sector expects to benefit from this boom Sabbaruddin puts the situation in proper perspective, saying that there is, generally, lack of information in Europe about the Southeast Asian region. He says one of the most attractive features about Malaysia for tourists are prices have declined further for foreign tourists. `Malaysia is the only country in the region where prices are quoted in the local currency and not in US dollars.

This makes Malaysia a low-priced destination for foreign tourists whose currencies have appreciated considerably against the ringgit. Sabah is basically an agricultural state. He says Sabah’s unique location right in the heart of Southeast Asia makes it an attractive designation for foreign visitors on a jaunt to any of the Southeast Asian countries. `Sabah has two major attractions. We have first of all Mount Kinabalu and second, the Danum Valley which is a huge rain forest reserve bigger than Singapore.’ The Sabah government is promoting three aspects of tourism - the western coast with a cluster of hotels, resorts and other tourism facilities, the eastern coast noted for eco-tourism, and the interior of the state with Mount Kinabalu as a major attraction. The region is generating considerable interest in a number of European countries as a tourist destination, according to Mohamed Idros, the director of the Frankfurt-based Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board. We provide customized and regular tour packages. German tourists prefer jungle tracking, scuba diving and such things while Asian tourists prefer comfort and well-arranged facilities for them,’ she says. Our services are nature and culture oriented.

We have been marketing public relationship which has proven to be popular with the worldwide that come and stay with local hosts with whom they establish a long-term relationship. Accustomed to taking even two vacations a year and considered a major contributor to the country’s flourishing tourism industry; he has now become tight-fisted and even denomination aware when it comes to travel. While financial constraints will prove to be a major stumbling block, foreign tourism promoters will have to resort to imaginative ways of attracting tourism. Singaporeans, for instance, have embarked quietly on what is described as `dental tourism’ - tourists from developed countries, unwilling to pay the high costs of dental treatment and prosthesis fixtures at home, are being lured to Singapore where they are also offered dental treatment services plus a holiday in a good hotel as part of an attractive airfare- cum-hotel package.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Dr. Umakanta Dash asked:


Introduction: The early history of tourism says people traveled from one place to another mainly because of food , shelter or just for curiosity. But in due course large scale mobility of people were caused by the natural elements of human pressure, entertainment or forced man to move to other location. Due to the absence of roads and other transport facilities, travel and tourism was a hard way to think of. This led to the emergence of  land routes , river or sea navigation.

 Now with dismantling of national boundaries, the tourism scenario is also changing. There is a steady growth in the number of tourist arrivals and more satisfactorily the average spending of foreign tourist has gone up.

Tourism Product:   In the earth today any thing can be promoted as the tourism product anywhere.. It is not location specific as the agriculture and manufacturing sector do. India in particular has a 5000-year –old heritage and thousands of monuments and archeological sites for the tourists to enjoy. The country abounds in attractive and well preserves historical sites and ancient monuments of architectural grandeur. India offers enormous diversity in topography, natural resources and climate. There are land- rocked mountainous regions, lush valleys and plains, arid desert regions, white sandy beaches and islands. Central India has numerous wildlife sanctuaries with countless varieties of flora and fauna. The country has unparallel cultural diversity, languages, religions, customs and traditions.

  The major adventure tourism activities are trekking, and skiing in the Himalayas, river running in the Gangas, water sports in Goa, trout fishing in the Himachal Pradesh and many more. We have some of the best beaches of the world, many of which are still unexplored in Andaman and Lakshadweep islands.

Tourism Contribution: The impact of tourism in our country is multi dimensional. It is reflected on the economic, social, cultural, political and environmental issues and aspects of the country. In a more generic sense it develops understanding among the people, create jobs both directly and indirectly, augments foreign exchange reserves and helps in the overall economic wellbeing of the people.

Earnings from foreign tourist arrivals had grown strongly in the nineties and contributed to over Rs21,828 crores a year in the recent past.  According to the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) the industry provides direct employment to 262 million people who constitute 10.5% of the global workforce. These numbers are expected to grow to 383 million by the year 2007. Tourism also accounts for 8% of the world exports making it the largest internationally traded products or services.

Tourism in Global View:  Tourism is the largest industry in the world next to the oil industry. In terms of earnings it has left automobiles and information technology industry behind. Tourism is the largest employer.

Table-1

Growth of International Tourists from 1948 to 2004

Sl No

Year

No. of Tourists

(in million)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1948

1964

1990

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

14.0

144.0

458.5

591.9

687.3

684.1

702.6

694.0

760.0

Source: 1. WTO Statistics- Published in Tourism and Travel Management, p. 64.

             2. India : Tourism and heritage Challenge, Communiqué: a Journal of Confederation of Indian Institutes, November 2001,p.3

The table shows that the 760 million international tourist arrivals during 2004 is the biggest increase since 1984 which shows the best growth in the past 20 years. There is an increase of 69 million of tourists during 2004 compared to 2003 with an increase of 10% growth. This is mainly attributed to the countries like China and USSR those who recognized the importance of  tourism in their national economy. A study shows the leading advanced countries particularly the fourteen countries namely, USA, Germany, the UK, France, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Spain accounted for 78 percent of the world visitor arrivals.

Market Position of Tourism in India: For centuries India has been the centre of attraction for different people for different reasons. Ancient invaders viewed it as a gold mine with unlimited wealth to plunder. Where as others attracted to it because of its mystic spiritualism, sheer beauty of its natural manifestations and amazing variety of flora and fauna. These inherent advantages could have made India as an ideal destination. But various constraints have hampered the growth of tourism in India at the expected levels.

Table-2

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India

S.No

Year

Arrivals

Changes

1

1991

1677508

——

2

1992

1867651

10.1%

3

1993

1764830

-05.8%

4

1994

1886433

6.4%

5

1995

2123683

11.1%

6

1996

2287860

7.1%

7

1997

2374094

3.6%

8

1998

2358629

-6.5%

9

1999

2481928

4.9%

10

2000

2641157

6.4%

11

2001

2536978

-4.0%

12

2002

2384384

-6.0%

13

2003

2726214

14.3%

14

2004

3367980

23.5%

 Source: 1. Ministry of Tourism Annual report 1994-95

              2. Dept . of Tourism Annual report up to 1999.

              3. Economic Time  6.1.2002 Page 13

              4. Business Line, New Delhi-09.01.2005

The travel and tourism business in India constitutes a pathetic 0.40 percent of the trillion-dollar world tourism industry and it remains stagnant over the past two decades. The above table shows since the beginning of the nineties the growth rate in the foreign tourist arrivals in India has recorded a highly fluctuated and erratic trend. The trend is mainly attributed to the terrorists attacks in USA  and its subsequent apprehension on the security of the tourists. But surprisingly in 2004 , the foreign tourist arrivals crossed 3 million with an increase of 23.5% in India.

In contrast our neighboring countries are able to attract more foreign tourists. The Asian countries have increased their foreign tourist arrivals drastically in the last three years; Singapore 7 million, Thailand 11 million, Malaysia 14 million and above all China 36 million foreign tourists.

  

Contribution of Tourism to the Foreign Exchange Earnings:  Tourism industry in India is thriving due to increase of foreign tourists arrivals during 2003-2004. This has significantly added to the foreign exchange reserves of the state.

Table-3

Foreign exchange earnings through tourism  from 1998 to 2004 by India.

Sl No

Year

Amount (in US $)

Change over the previous year.

1

1998

2948

—-

2

1999

3009

2.1

3

2000

3168

5.3

4

2001

3042

4.0

5

2002

2923

3.9

6

2003

3533

20.8%

7

2004

4810

36.0%

 Source:  1) Incredible India Figure-2003

               2) Business Line New Delhi- 09.01.2005

 During 2003  and 2004 the foreign exchange earnings from tourism was recorded US$ 3533, ( Rs 16,429 crore) and US $ 4810 (Rs 21828 crores) respectively. It was 20.8% and 36.0% increase over the previous respective periods. The tourism department anticipates a further hike in foreign tourists arrivals in the successive years.

Reasons for the growth of tourism:  There are several reasons responsible for the growth of tourism in India. Among them the first one is our dramatic achievement in IT industry to make it as one of the major global IT hub. The second reason is attributed to the government effort. The nation wide publicity campaign “ The Incredible India”  strategy during 2002 to 2004 proved successful of attracting more tourists. The advertising campaigns on the prominent TV channels and in magazines is a further step towards it. The initiative of public-private-participation for the development of tourist infrastructure is another reason. The intense competition in the airline industry between private and government airline companies in the form of cutting air tariffs and expanding their network increase the flow of tourist to India. In addition to the above the task force set up by the government to promote India as a prominent health tourist destination also attracted approximately 1,50,000 patients during 2004.

Problems: In spite of its growth rate during 2004, Indian tourism market constitutes around 0.4% of its world market share. India is unable to attract the expected number of foreign tourists despite extensive marketing efforts. The term India has not been sending the correct signals to travel enthusiasts across the glove. The image of India is portrayed to the world community is that of mysticism, political instability, grinding poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, unemployment, communal discord, lack of social services and corruptions.  This image plays a very crucial role for de-motivating tourist to visit India and to visit the neighboring Asian countries.

Table-4

Government Expenditure on Tourism and Travel in 2001

Sl No

Name of the Country

Amount incurred in percent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

India

Thailand

United Kingdom

Germany

China

USA

Sri Lanka

France

Malaysia

Honk Kong

Singapore

Spain

0.9

2.8

2.6

3.3

3.8

3.9

4.0

4.7

5.1

7.4

9.1

9.5

 Source: Economic Times, October 28,2001, p.7

The table shows the investment in travel and tourism, in terms of Indian government expenditure is 0.9 percent of the total budget allocation in 2001 and in subsequent years it is very low compared to other countries. Though India has much to offer in terms of tourist attractions, there are major constraints on the growth of tourism particularly in terms of lack of sufficient airports facilities, international and domestic air- seat capacity, surface transport facilities, accommodation, restaurants shopping and recreational facilities, trained labor force and other support services. The beggars, touts, and unhygienic waste in important tourist places are the other stumbling blocks for the free movement of the foreign tourists.

Table -5

Country wise Comparison of Rooms Available in Hotels in the Year 2002

Country

Rooms available in hotels

China

8,97,206

Thailand

3,20,565

Malaysia

1,30,757

India

85,481

Singapore

35,989

Source: World Tourism Organization

The country wise comparison shows that India has a sheer insufficiency of hotel rooms for the tourists.

Measures to be taken: After analyzing the above drawbacks we can say that India has the ability to capitalize  on its rich product composition to attract a higher proportion of the international tourists at least to 1% of the world market share. For this the above measures are suggested.



Significant improvement in transport network: Efforts have to be undertaken to improve the efficiency of Indian airline services along with the domestic air transport system. The airports , railway stations, bus stops and the roads have to be up graded to the global standard. Air connectivity has to be improved through public-private –partnerships.

Liberalize the Visa restrictions:  Another major inhibitor of growth of tourism is the difficulty of obtaining visas for India. Government must liberalize visa restrictions to ensure a larger flow of tourists to the country which do not pose any political or security problems. Visas should be issued easily on entry at the airport in respect of visitors from such countries.

Engage local communities to develop their cultural heritage: It is seen in India that the ancient tourist’s destinations are in the way to destructions. This is mainly because of non- involvement of the local communities. The economic benefits of tourism must be shared by the local people who are mainly the preserver of it. Therefore a kind of consciousness should be developed among the masses to preserve the flora and fauna, the ancient monuments, scriptures and other archeological beauties.

Need for a strong marketing approach: Increased competition from the neighboring countries and a poor perception of the Indian tourism product need a strong marketing approach. The Incredible India campaign should be strengthened  mainly targeting to the competitors of the overseas countries. The promotional expenditure of Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia far exceeds the promotional expenditure of India. India needs a vigorous effort to improve its image as an attractive tourist destination of global standard.

Develop tailor-made packages:  Many of out tour packages do not respond to the tourists requirements. This is mainly because of erroneous development of the tour packages. Instead of a mass production and mass consumption approach , the tour operators must have flexible packages to provide life time value to the visitors looking into their profile.



Conclusion: India is no doubt a fascinating destination with an outstanding mix of ancient monuments, delightful jungles, virgin beaches, scenic beauties, colorful folk and classical dances and above all hospitable people. What it requires a more vibrant approach of welcoming tourists and sends them back as friends with enormous happy and living memories. The thorough implementation of the concept “ Atithi devo Bhovo” in each level of tourism will definitely achieve our target of global tourism market of India.

 

References:



Anand, M.M., Tourism and Hotel Industry in India, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi.

Batra, G.S. Management of Tourism Corporation (A Case Study of Punjab), National Seminar on Tourism, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 1994.

Tourist arrival in India- FHRAI- Newsletter, July-August 2005

Incredible India Figure- 2003

Business Line, New Delhi-09.01.2005

Economic Times, October 28, 2001, p.7





Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Editor-123 asked:




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