What is Tourism and Its Types
On a holiday trip with family we choose the place, pick the route, pack things and pay for stay and food there. This is the beginning of tourism.
Going to distant places away from home for joy, recreation, trade or stay is tourism.
Key idea 1 : Why places become famous — Natural beauty, pleasant weather, scenic views, hot springs, sea coasts, historic buildings, religious places and forests attract tourists.
Key idea 2 : Domestic and international — Travelling within the country’s border is domestic tourism; e.g. going from Nagpur to see Ellora. Going to another country is international tourism; e.g. an Indian going to Switzerland.
Key idea 3 : Foreign trip preparation and GPS — For foreign travel a passport, visa, travel insurance and currency exchange are needed. GPS in a smartphone and apps like Google Maps tell route, distance, time and amenities on the way.
- Easy : Going from Pune to Kanyakumari? — Domestic tourism.
- Medium : An American coming to India? — International tourism.
- Exam-type : First document to go abroad? — Passport.
In the figure: Types of tourism by border.
Inside border = domestic; outside = international.
Tourism is not only going abroad; travel within our country is also tourism.
Memory clue: Passport, visa, insurance, currency. Memory clue: "Pa-Vi-In-Cu".
Spot the difference
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Travel within the country | Nagpur to Ellora |
| International | Travel to another country | India to Switzerland |
Practice questions
- 1What is tourism?
- 2State why places become famous for tourism.
- 3State the difference between domestic and international tourism.
- 4Which documents are needed for foreign travel?
- 5How is GPS useful for tourism?
- 6What will you consider while planning a trip?
- 7List fifteen favourite places in Maharashtra and classify them.
- 8Work out an approximate cost of a trip (per person).
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Going to a distant place for joy, recreation, trade or stay.
- 2Beauty, weather, buildings, religious places, beaches.
- 3Domestic = within border; international = to another country.
- 4Passport, visa, travel insurance.
- 5It shows route, distance, time and amenities.
- 6Route, duration, means, luggage, cost.
- 7The student groups into sea, forts, sanctuaries, hill and religious.
- 8Add travel, stay, food and entry fees.
New Forms of Tourism
City children on a holiday like to stay on a farm and enjoy bhakri, hurda and a bullock cart ride. New forms of tourism arose to offer such new experiences.
Nature-friendly tourism is ecotourism, giving farm experience is agro-tourism and visiting film locations is film tourism.
Key idea 1 : Ecotourism — This idea came up when it was seen that environment is degrading due to rising population, pollution and urbanisation. Tourists do not litter, do not make noise and do not hurt trees, birds and animals.
Key idea 2 : Agro and film tourism — In agro-tourism city people stay on farms, enjoy farmers’ hospitality and see farm life. As per the textbook, Pune and Kolhapur districts have many such centres. In film tourism people visit places where films are shot; e.g. Film City Mumbai and Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
Key idea 3 : Adventure, health and water tourism — Adventure sports, sea trips, snorkelling and scuba diving are new attractions. As per the textbook, Tarkarli in Konkan offers these thanks to its seabed and biodiversity, and MTDC has a scuba training centre there. In health tourism people come for Ayurveda, yoga and treatment.
- Easy : Seeing a forest without littering? — Ecotourism.
- Medium : Hurda party on a farm stay? — Agro-tourism.
- Exam-type : Going to Kerala for treatment? — Health tourism.
In the figure: New forms of tourism.
Eco-Agro-Film-Adventure.
Ecotourism does not mean stopping tourism; it means doing it without harming nature.
Memory clue: Four new types. Memory clue: "Eco, Agro, Film, Adventure = the new four".
Spot the difference
| Type | What is done | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ecotourism | No harm to nature | Forest safari |
| Agro-tourism | Experience farm life | Pune, Kolhapur |
| Adventure | Scuba, snorkelling | Tarkarli |
Practice questions
- 1What is ecotourism?
- 2Why did this concept emerge?
- 3Describe agro-tourism.
- 4What is film tourism? Give examples.
- 5For what is Tarkarli famous?
- 6What is health tourism?
- 7Why do new forms of tourism arise?
- 8Write the possibility of agro-tourism in your area.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Tourism done without harming the environment.
- 2Because pollution and urbanisation degraded the environment.
- 3City people stay on farms and see farm life.
- 4Tourists visit shooting sites; Film City Mumbai, Ramoji.
- 5Seabed, biodiversity, scuba, snorkelling.
- 6Travel for Ayurveda, yoga and treatment.
- 7Because people want new experiences.
- 8The student writes chances such as farm, orchard, bullock cart.
Tourism and Development
When tourists come to a village hotels, shops, rickshaws and guides get work and roads and cleanliness improve. So tourism helps a village develop.
Tourism can bring economic, environmental, health and social development. Tourism is a tertiary occupation and an invisible trade.
Key idea 1 : Economic development — Restaurants, shops, transport and recreation centres grow, a direct benefit. Better basic facilities and jobs are indirect benefits. Foreign tourists bring foreign currency. So tourism is called invisible trade.
Key idea 2 : Environment and health — Government invests to develop sanctuaries and national parks. Eco-friendly stays, thrifty use of electricity and water and reuse are practised. Patients coming for Ayurveda, yoga and low-cost treatment grow medical tourism.
Key idea 3 : Social development — If rural life and tribal culture are included in tourism, neglected groups also join development. The textbook gives Melghat tribal life, Baba Amte’s Anandwan project, Ralegan Siddhi and Hiware Bazar as examples.
- Easy : Hotel business growing due to tourists? — Direct economic benefit.
- Medium : Roads improving due to tourism? — Indirect benefit.
- Exam-type : Money from foreign tourists? — Foreign currency.
In the figure: Chain of development due to tourism.
Economic-Environmental-Health-Social: four developments.
Tourism does not give only money; it can help environment and society, but responsibly.
Memory clue: Four developments: economic, environmental, health, social. Memory clue: "E-E-H-S".
Spot the difference
| Development | How | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Economic | Jobs and currency | Hotels, shops |
| Social | Including rural life | Hiware Bazar |
| Health | Travel for treatment and yoga | Ayurveda centre |
Practice questions
- 1How does tourism bring economic development?
- 2Why is tourism called invisible trade?
- 3Explain the effects of tourism on the environment.
- 4What is medical tourism?
- 5How does tourism help social development?
- 6Write with reasons how locals get jobs due to tourism.
- 7State problems at tourist places and suggest measures.
- 8Explain how ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ relates to tourism.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Hotels, shops, transport grow and jobs and currency come.
- 2Because it is trade in services.
- 3Funds for conservation; but risk of litter and crowding.
- 4Tourism that grows from people coming for treatment.
- 5By including rural and tribal life.
- 6Through guides, hotels, transport, handicrafts.
- 7Litter, crowding; measures: cleanliness, rules, limited entry.
- 8Respect and good service to guests is a value of tourism.
Tourism in Maharashtra and Safety Rules
At a beach it can be dangerous if you do not know the tide timings. So while enjoying tourism, following safety rules is most important.
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) runs facilities and schemes to promote tourism in the state. Tourists must protect their own safety and keep the place clean.
Key idea 1 : Work of MTDC — MTDC has provided guest houses, water sports and tourist homes near coasts. ‘Deccan Odyssey’ is a special tourism train run with MTDC, Indian Railways and the Ministry of Tourism; it goes from Mumbai to Nashik, Ellora, Ajanta, Kolhapur, Goa and Ratnagiri.
Key idea 2 : Other tourism trains — ‘Palace on Wheels’ runs Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi. On the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul route a vistadome coach with a glass roof shows the Araku valley.
Key idea 3 : Rules tourists must follow — Know the tide timings before visiting a beach. Do not go near beaches, hilltops, jungles and unknown caves without a local guide. Do not take selfies on cliffs or with wild animals, do not enter deep water, keep the place clean and follow the signboards.
- Easy : What info is needed before going to a beach? — Tide timings.
- Medium : Selfie at a cliff? — Dangerous, avoid.
- Exam-type : A special tourism train? — Deccan Odyssey.
In the figure: Rules for safe tourism.
Deccan Odyssey began in 2004; Palace on Wheels began on 26 January 1982; the vistadome coach on the Visakhapatnam–Araku route began in April 2017. (Check with the book)
Info-Guide-Selfie-Clean: four rules.
Safety rules do not reduce joy; they keep the joy safe.
Memory clue: Info, guide, selfie, clean. Memory clue: "Know, guide, no risky selfie, keep clean".
Spot the difference
| Place | Care | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | Check tide timings | Risk of drowning |
| Hill edge | Avoid selfies | Risk of slipping |
| Forest | Go with a guide | Animals and getting lost |
Practice questions
- 1State the work of MTDC.
- 2What is Deccan Odyssey?
- 3Where does Palace on Wheels run?
- 4State the feature of a vistadome coach.
- 5What care will you take at a beach?
- 6Write problems at tourist places and measures.
- 7Make a notice board of instructions for tourists.
- 8Make an advertisement for a tourist place in your district.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Stay, water sports and schemes to promote tourism.
- 2A special train for tourism.
- 3Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi.
- 4Glass roof and big windows.
- 5Check tides, do not go in deep water.
- 6Litter, crowding; measure: cleanliness and rules.
- 7The board lists cleanliness, safety, not hurting animals.
- 8The student writes attractions, facilities and a message.