TYPES OF TOURISM (detailed version) Introduction of tourism; Types- Nature, Culture, Pilgrimage, Medical; positive and negative Impacts of tourism; Major policies related to tourism; Case studies; Challenges faced by tourism sector; steps taken by government

1. GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT-1
(TYPES OF TOURISM)
- Introduction - Vaishnavi Chauhan and Ruksar
- Definitions and components- Vaishnavi Chauhan
- Policies- Rukhsar
- Impacts of Tourism- Vaishnavi Chauhan
- Tabular representation of Impacts- Shreya Pandey
Types of tourism
1. Nature - Shreya pandey
2. Cultural - Arti Barhela
3. Pilgrimage - Srishti Kaushik
4. Medical - Vaishnavi Mahendra
Summary, Challenges and Conclusion - Prabhanjanee Sharma (1028)
INTRODUCTION-

2. The word "tour" is derived from the Latin word 'tornare' and the Greek word 'tornos,' meaning 'a
lathe or circle; the movement around a central point or axis.' This meaning changed in modern
English to represent 'one's turn.'
Travel and tourism are one of the
oldest activities known to
humankind. During the
prehistoric Times, men used to
travel in search of food and
shelter. But nowadays with the
passage of time travel has become
a leisure activity largely
undertaken to break away from
ordinary daily routine. The
concept of paid holidays during the time of industrial revolution played a crucial role in popular
rising ledger tourism and weekend getaways leading to development of mass tourism destinations.
In developing countries like India tourism has
become one of the major sectors of the economy,
contributing to a large proportion of the National
Income and generating huge employment
opportunities. It has become the fastest growing
service industry in the country with great potential
for its further expansion and diversification.
DEFINITIONS-
Wahab, 1977- A human intentional activity that serves as a means of communication and as a link
of interaction between the peoples, inside a country or even beyond its geographical demarcations.
It involves the temporary displacement of people from one reason to another, country or even
continent, with the objective of satisfying necessity and not to realize renewed activity. For the
visited country, tourism is an industry whose products are consumed in loco, producing invisible
exports.
Jafari, 1995- Tourism is the study of man (the tourist) away from his usual habitat, of the touristic
apparatus and networks, and of the ordinary and non ordinary (non-tourism) worlds and their
dialectic relationship.

3. Jafari gave the most complete definition but it also excludes remunerated displacement. He also
received some criticism of his definition.
UNWTO defines tourism as- It comprises the activities of persons
traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not
more than one consecutive year for leisure business and other purposes not
related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place
visited.
COMPONENTS OF TOURISM-
Attraction- Tourism activity starts with the
attractions. It is believed to be a great influencer. At a
place or destination there has to be some attraction
only then people or tourists will visit that area.
Attractions are believed to be the greatest of all the
components. They can make or break a destination.
Attractions are the preconditions of travel. It attracts
more and more people and offers pleasure. Attractions
also attract and connect people to enjoy and involve in
various tourism activities. Attractions are the first step
of tourism.
There are two types of Attraction-

4. ● Natural Attraction- these are the places made by nature itself. For ex- Beaches, Wild life,
Safari, Water resources, Lakes, Caves, etc.
● Man-Made Attraction- these are those attractions which are made or developed by humans.
For ex- Temples, DisneyLand, Museums, Casinos, Leisure parks, etc.
Accessibility- Accessibility or otherwise said as
transportation is an essential component of the tourism
system as it creates linkage between market source and
destination. It is an important factor which also has a huge
impact on the growth and development of the tourism
industry. Without accessibility, tourists can not reach a
destination from his origin or place of being. Transportation
is not a target usually but a mandate for the conduct of tours.
But in some cases, transport can also become an attraction.
For example, tourist trains run by IRCTC like Maharajas’
Express, Royal Rajasthan on wheels, etc. There are various
modes of transportation available like roadways, airways,
waterways and railways.
There are mainly three modes of transportation-
● Surface transportation which includes both roadways and railways.
● Air transportation is generally used to travel long distance routes.
● Water transportation is the oldest and convenient mode to travel.
Accommodation- It is one of the most crucial aspects of a
destination. Any traveler choosing to visit any destination
would firstly look for accommodation suited to his/her
needs. It should provide him/her food and beverage
services, resting facilities, etc. up to his satisfaction level.
Accommodation units themselves act as tourist attractions
for a large number of people. Accommodation to any
tourist should be comfortable and of good quality. It also
includes food as well as the lodging facilities to the guests.
There are two types of accommodation-
● Serviced accommodation- these are the
accommodations provided by the hotel, heritage hotels, resorts, etc.

5. ● Supplementary accommodation- these are the premises which provide accommodation but
not the service of hotels.
There are few places, which are being visited by tourists only for their hotels. Palace Hotel
Chail, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur are some examples of hotels, where tourists have
to pay just for visiting the hotel property.
Amenities- Amenities refers to various extra
services and facilities required to the guest while
traveling to different destinations. Tourists
expect the top class facilities while they travel.
High quality facilities are an important aid to
every tourist destination or center.
For a coastal resort, services like swimming,
boating, yachting, surf-riding and other
amenities like recreation, dancing and other
entertainment and amusement services are very
essential for each and every tourist destination.
Beaches, sheltered from sunshine with palm and
coconut trees make a good tourist center.
Amenities also include facilities like providing visa, flight ticket, train ticket etc.
Some other amenities include Fishing, trekking, sea bath, dance, swimming pool, festival
celebration, sightseeing, etc.
TYPES OF TOURISM-

6. NATURE TOURISM-
Nature tourism, also called nature-based tourism, is based on an area’s natural attractions. It
consists of responsible travel to experience natural areas and their landscape, flora and fauna,
protecting the environment and improving locals’ quality of life.
The geography of India
is diverse and can be
divided into three main
regions. The first is the
rugged, mountainous
Himalayan region in
the northern part of the
country, while the
second is called the
Indo-Gangetic Plain.
The third geographic
region in India is the plateau region in the southern and central portions of the country. To the west
of the Indo-Gangetic plain lies the Thar Desert. The coastline of India is sufficiently long, making
the climatic conditions favorable throughout the year and making it a good tourist spot. India has
two major groups of islands- Andaman and Nicobar island and Lakshadweep island both attract
huge human traffic for their scenic beauty.
Importance of nature tourism-
● Nature tourism is important as it allows people to see and appreciate the beauty of our
natural environment. Through this kind of tourism, we are able to escape the pollution and
pressures of city life.
● Nature tourism gives landowners, local communities and local governments more reasons
to preserve and take care of natural areas. If they know people will come to visit, it is in
their best interest to look after these places and is a great incentive for developing provision.
● It boosts employment and financial opportunities for local people. This economic boost
trickles down through a whole community.
● It builds cultural and environmental awareness.

7. Case study of Kerala-
Nature tourism in Kerala has taken off in a
big way because Kerala has many
destinations known for their natural beauty
and exquisite landscape. As Kerala is one of
the greenest destinations in India, the state is
a perfect hub for promoting eco-tourism in a
big way. The landscape is covered with
coconut palms in the coastal areas. The
paddy fields shimmer with the emerald green
of new shoots. The banana plantations are
filled with the whisper of waving green
banana leaves. The tea plantations are a green blanket that covers the hill ranges as far as the eye
can see, and the backwaters are fringed with Pandanus plants that trail the tips of their long
leaves in the rippling
water, as you float
by. The verdant
beauty of Kerala is
richly highlighted
through the different
eco-tourism
destinations. The hill
stations, Western
Ghats, silent valley,
wildlife sanctuaries,
jungles and parks are all splendid ecotourism destinations.
Major nature tourist destinations-

8. 1. Thenmala
This range of “honey hills” , so called due
to the medicinal honey obtained from
there, lies at an altitude of 1650 ft
extending over acres of dense forests. The
area houses various zones to cater to the
different tastes of the visitors. The terrain
is rough and Eco-fragile; so zones for
activities are demarcated.
2. Konni
Konni village lies on the banks of Achankovil
River. The forests around Konni were one of the
first reserve forests in Kerala. There is an
abundance of rivers and streams in the area and
diverse flora that includes many medicinal herbs
which are fast disappearing from the face of the
earth. Aboriginals lived here once; their simple
lives had never upset Man-Nature equilibrium.
3. Parambikulam
It is one of the best Eco-tourism spots in
Kerala. This Wildlife Sanctuary is spread
across 277 sq km between ranges of hills.
The Teak plantation here is scientifically
managed.
4. Rhode Valley
As the name implies, rhododendrons flower profusely in this high-altitude locale in Munnar. This
“Silent Valley” plateau, covered with grass, is home to many endangered species of animals. To
enjoy the scenic beauty, trek along some of the many trails that start from Silent Valley Tea Estate.

9. 5. Thommankuthu
The topography of the place is as
strange as its name. It consists of a
seven-step waterfall from 1500 m to
500 m spread over a distance of 5 km.
At each step, there is a cascade and a
pool beneath. There are dark
mysterious caves in between.
Government initiatives-
In tourism ventures, small and medium enterprises dominate today. The importance of tourism
from a development perspective is realized by local self-government and local communities.
A perfect synergy between the public and private sectors is created in tourism and the need of the
hour is to promote quality on all fronts to provide a world-class experience to tourists without
deteriorating tourist society, and the environment while strengthening the economy.
The cabinet committee on a tourism task force on infrastructure development ‘Kerala waste free
development’(KWFD), manages tourism resources, develops local leisure destinations, and
enhances local-level destinations.

10. CULTURAL TOURISM-
Cultural tourism is the act of travelers visiting particular destinations in order to experience and
learn about a particular culture. This can involve a variety of things, like going to events and
festivals, touring museums, and trying the local cuisine and beverages.
Cultural immersion (with the locals, their language, customs, cuisine, etc.) is an unavoidable aspect
of a person's vacation, although cultural tourism can also be an inadvertent feature of the tourism
experience.
Cultural Tourism in India-
India has a wide range of tourist
destinations that highlight its rich
cultural past. India draws travelers from
all over the world thanks to its wealth of
magnificent heritage sites.
As a result of cultural tourism People
have traveled to India, to see majestic
palaces, beautiful beaches, and
picturesque hills.
Present scenario of the tourism sector in India-
India will likely have 1.52 million foreign visitors in 2021, making it one of the world's top tourist
destinations. As a result, India's foreign exchange earnings rose by about $8.8 billion. Moreover,
there were roughly 680 million domestic travelers.
Due in major part to its unique culture, history, and status as one of the oldest civilizations in the
world, as well as its abundance of breathtaking natural beauties, India is a popular tourist
destination. There are 40 UNESCO world heritage sites as a result (32 cultural, 7 natural & 1
mixed). India has a lot to offer tourists, including towns, forts, tombs, caves, rock shelters, and
cathedrals.
Various sites of cultural tourism centers in India-

11. India’s diversity is a result of the country’s mixture of religious and cultural traditions. The nation
is home to a large number of world historic monuments that have an enticing influence and have
long drawn visitors from around the world. We would be delighted to familiarize ourselves with
the many customs and civilizations that make up India’s cultural heritage.
A few of the fairs and festivals that tourists can attend in India are the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan,
the Taj Mahotsav in Uttar Pradesh, and the Suraj Kund Mela (Haryana). landmarks include the Taj
Mahal (Uttar Pradesh), the Hawa Mahal (Uttar Pradesh), Hampi (Karnataka), the Ajanta & Ellora
caves (Maharashtra), and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu).
Many folk songs and musical genres
showcase Rajasthan's rich cultural
heritage. The Camel Festival, the
Marwar Festival, and the Pushkar
Festival are just a few of the various
events that take place in Rajasthan.
Since they all give visitors the chance to
experience Rajasthan's vibrant culture,
many people are drawn there.
Because it showcases Dravidian
customs and culture, Tamil Nadu is
renowned for cultural tourism in India.
India's extensive cultural past is reflected in its countless temples. The nation's rich cultural past is
attested to by the numerous tourist sites in Uttar Pradesh. The Taj Mahal in Agra is the most well-
known structure. Many tourists also go to Uttar Pradesh places like Varanasi, Allahabad,
Vrindavan, and Ayodhya because they catch magnificent scenes from India.
Uttaranchal, India, is well-known for its cultural
tourist business. This state is home to the Himalayas,
also referred to as the "abode of the Gods." Many
ancient temples can be found in the Kumaon and
Garhwal regions of the state.
Government initiatives to boost India’s
cultural tourism

12. HRIDAY scheme
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the National Heritage Cities Development
and Augmentation Yojana, an HRIDAY programme, on January 21, 2015.
This program's objective is to save and promote the rich cultural legacy of the country. The
HRIDAY initiative promotes urban planning and the economic growth of historic cities while also
preserving cultural treasures.
The National Heritage Cities Development and Augmentation Yojana lays a lot of attention on the
heritage cities' accessibility, security, safety, way of life, cleanliness, and speedy service delivery.
Buddhist Tourism Circuit
• The Buddhist circuit is a journey that traces the steps of the Buddha from Lumbini, Nepal, where
he was born, to Bihar, India, where he attained enlightenment, to Sarnath and Kushinagar, Uttar
Pradesh, India, where he delivered his first teachings and was laid to rest.
• Kushinagar serves as the hub of the Buddhist circuit, which also includes the holy cities of
Lumbini, Sarnath, and Gaya.
Palace on Wheels
The Palace on Wheels is an opulent passenger train. To promote tourism in Rajasthan, it was
started by the Indian Railways in collaboration with the Rajasthan Tourism Development
Corporation. The name has since changed to Heritage Palace on Wheels.
• In August 2009, the train service underwent renovations and reopened with new decor, schedules,
and meals.
• The idea for the Palace on Wheels stemmed from the historical royal significance of the coaches,
which were meant to serve as the private trains for the previous monarchs of Rajputana, Baroda,
the Nizam of Hyderabad, and primarily the Viceroy of British India.
• With the use of furnishings, handicrafts, paintings, and other decorations, each saloon highlights
the cultural characteristics of the state. An architect from Jaipur named Rashmi Gupta created the
interior of the train.

13. What is being done to promote cultural tourism in India?
• The Indian hospitality industry is a major contributor to this expansion. The public and private
hospitality industries have created sufficient resorts and hotels that provide outstanding traditional
and delicious options for travelers to stay in and eat at.
• Indian Council for Cultural Relations
(ICCR) and MCT (Ministry of Culture &
Tourism) have worked jointly to promote
Indian culture throughout the world.
Many Indian Culture Centers on both a
national and worldwide scale organized a
range of programmes and activities to
achieve this, including yoga coaching,
music, dance, and Hindi and Sanskrit
language training.
• A range of events, including festival
celebrations and art exhibitions, are held
to highlight the culture and diversity of
the country. The Ministry of Culture also promotes Indian culture abroad through a Global
Engagement Plan. This programme helps promote Hindu festivals while providing financial and
physical support to a number of international cultural organizations.
• The introduction of the Swadesh Darshan programme by the Indian Tourism Ministry. It
contributed to the development of theme-based circuits that serve both the general visitor and
specialist markets.
• To promote Indian culture and heritage, this programme has created cutting-edge infrastructure.
Since 2015, 21 states and Union Territories have authorized 27 projects worth a total of 2261.50
crores.

14. PILGRIMAGE TOURISM-
Visiting pilgrimage sites is the essence of pilgrimage tourism. They are predominantly religious
sites, and it's even possible to say that they contributed to the development of early tourism.
Pilgrimage often refers to a series of extended trips made for religious reasons lasting days, weeks,
or even months. People of faith embark on them as a collective in order to deepen their ties to their
own religions. However, pilgrimage tourism might involve going to churches, mosques, or other
religious sites while you're on vacation.
S. Vijayanand clarifies this notion of
pilgrimage tourism as follows in his
article “The Issues and Prospects of
Pilgrimage Tourism Development in
Thanjavur”:
Pilgrimage tourism is the type of
tourism that entirely or powerfully
motivates tourists for the achievement of
religious attitude and practices. One of
the oldest types of visiting the
attractions and a global experience in
the olden times of spiritual growth, it
can be differentiated into different
forms. The temporary religious
sightseeing is well-known by excursions
close to pilgrimage centers or religious
conferences. The duration implies visits
of quite a few days or weeks to
nationwide and worldwide pilgrimage
sites or conferences.
This definition of pilgrimage suggests a
ritualized, hyper-meaningful trip - both
inside and outside of oneself - to a
person's or group's holy core, separated
aside from daily life and based on a wealth of mythical representations and symbolic markers.

15. IMPORTANCE OF PILGRIMAGE TOURISM-
We might divide the topic of the significance of pilgrimage tourism into two parts. How significant
is pilgrimage tourism for both the pilgrims' own experience and the journey as a whole?
1. For the Pilgrims - Traditional pilgrimages are important for a variety of reasons, such as
showing commitment to one's religion, learning more about it, and making crucial life decisions.
They also provide people with the opportunity to consider their losses and heal after a loss, and
can help strengthen their bond with their religion. Pilgrimages can also echo the footsteps of
prominent figures from different religions, or end at a significant place. Finally, praying here has
a better possibility of being heard by the deity they serve, so it can be an opportunity to ask for
mercy or a favor from the god or goddess you worship.
2. For the destination- Given its significance for various religions, pilgrims favor the tourist
practice known as pilgrimage. It has a significant economic influence on the neighborhood,
bringing in more people to hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments. Employment is developed
for photographers, tour guides, and other professions.
NBC News says: Religious travel generates at least $8 billion a year for shrine-centered economies
and provides employment for thousands, according to academics — and being able to measure the
celestial and spiritual elements of pilgrimage in monetary terms is far from a modern phenomenon;
it’s as ancient as the act of spiritual travel itself.
Pilgrimage sites offer opportunities for individuals to spread their religious beliefs and draw day-
visitors who have not made a lengthy journey but nevertheless wish to go. More money is invested
in the sector as a result.
Pilgrimages that aren't religious
It should be noted that the word "pilgrimage" is not necessarily associated with travel to holy
places. The phrase might simply refer to someone traveling somewhere that holds a very
significant meaning for them for one particular reason. This is more of a solitary journey.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PILGRIMAGE TOURISM-
1. To perform pilgrimage as an act of worship

16. 2. To express gratitude, confess sin and to perform a vow: To express their thanks and make
fresh commitments for a more blessed life, believers look to supernatural assistance during a
pilgrimage to a holy place.
3. To achieve social and spiritual salvation: Nearly all religions view religious travel as a sign
of devotion, especially among Hindus and Buddhists. Elderly believers in all religions go on
pilgrimages to commemorate their departure from this world and to retire from social life.
4. To commemorate and celebrate certain religious events: Religions often correlate important
occasions with stories and rituals, such as when Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya, Lord Krishna
was born, or Prophet Muhammad died.
5. To be in communication with co-religionists
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES-
1. The Prasad scheme: The Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) provies central
financial assistance to strengthen religious tourism
infrastructure in 15 states. PRASAD provides funds for road,
rail and water transport, last mile-connectivity, information
centers, currency exchanges, transportation, parking, potable
water, restrooms, waiting rooms, first-aid,
telecommunication facilities and power.
2. The Hriday program: Twelve cities—Ajmer, Amaravati,
Amritsar, Dwarka, Gaya, Kamakhya, Kanchipuram, Kedarnath, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, and
Vellankani—have been chosen for development and beautification under the Heritage City
Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) programme in order to preserve and revitalize
their rich socio-cultural heritage.
3. The Swadesh Darshan Yojana: The programme aims to
develop theme-based tourist circuits. The 15 circuits include
the Himalayan Circuit, Northeast Circuit, Krishna Circuit,
Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal
Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual
Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar
Circuit and Sufi Circuit.

17. The Ministry of Railways has taken the lead in recent years to become more tourism-focused. This
is a source of revenue as well as promotes new infrastructure. Some New trains on special circuits
are given below:
- The Ramayana Express (forms the Ramayana Circuit)
- Vaishno Devi (Jammu-Udhampur-Katra rail line)
- Solapur-Tuljapur-Osmanabad New Line
- The Buddhist Circuit (IRCTC’s Buddhist Circuit train)
CASE STUDY OF VARANASI
Varanasi, a popular pilgrimage site,
has the potential to rank among
popular tourism destinations. The
study clearly shows that while
developing tourist policy, the
sustainability component of travel
has not always been adequately taken
into account. In order to compete
with the current competition among
locations, Varanasi tourism has to
concentrate more on environmental
problems. In order to draw a sizable
number of tourists and encourage the
potential visitors to choose Varanasi
as a pilgrimage tourism site, it is also
required to take the necessary efficient steps. So, the concerned authority needs to give the
destination priority and visit it. If we take into account the advice provided above, it will
undoubtedly turn into a paradise for the general growth of the area.
Major Pilgrimage Destinations
1. Kedarnath and Badrinath, India

18. Kedarnath and Shree Badrinath temples are two of the most revered pilgrimage places in
Uttarakhand. Kedarnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is closed during the winter months
due to extreme cold weather. Lord Vishnu is the presiding deity and the surroundings are scenic
with natural wonders like hot springs. Hindus believe that a trip to the four holy places (Char Dham
Yatra) opens the gates of salvation.
2. Lumbini, Nepal
Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is one of the most revered Buddhist sites. It is the
location of the Maya Devi Temple, the Ashokan Pillar, and the stone slab on which Buddha was
born. Via domestic aircraft, it is 250 kilometers from Kathmandu.
3. Varanasi ,India
Varanasi is one of the holiest pilgrimage places in India, located on the banks of the holy river
Ganga. Hindus believe that taking a dip in Ganga can wash away sins, and many people visit the
city for its temples and 'ghats'. Evening prayers at the Dashashwamedh Ghat are a soulful
experience, and the Manikarnika Ghat is a cremation ghat where people who get cremated attain
salvation.
4. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mecca is the most holy place in the world, with Masjid al-Haram being the world's largest mosque
and the Kaaba being the holiest site in Islam. Every year millions of Muslims visit Mecca to
perform Hajj, one of the 5 pillars of Islam and compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim at least
once in their lifetime. Other holy places in Mecca include Abraj Al-Bait Towers, Jabal al-Nour,
Masjid Taneem and Mount Arafat.
5. Vatican city, Europe

19. Vatican City is a famous pilgrimage destination, home to the Pope and other holy places such as
St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. It is one of the largest churches in the world and is
known for its wall paintings. It is also the smallest country in the world that comes under the list
of most visited holy places in the world.
The act of pilgrimage aids in recognising the innate characteristics of inheritance that include the
spirit of mother Earth or nature. The true (Satyam), the good (Shivam), and the beautiful
(Sundaram) become inseparable and the one via pilgrimage tourism. Given the abundance of
religious tourist destinations around the nation, the pilgrimage industry has a tremendous amount
of potential for growth.

20. MEDICAL TOURISM-
Medical Tourism refers to “visits by overseas patients for medical treatment and relaxation.”
It is basically an amalgamation of two services: tourism & healthcare.
This medical intervention may be broadly divided into following categories:
1: Medical Treatment: This includes organ transplants, cardiac surgeries, etc.
2: Wellness and Rejuvenation: This mainly focuses on cosmetic surgery, stress relief, spas , etc.
3: Alternative Cures: Includes alternative systems of medicine such as AYUSH offered by India.
AYUSH is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
Often Medical Tourism is referred as “Medical Value Travel” as it captures a patient's healthcare
seeking behavior and the wider impact of such travel on nations hosting them. Top medical tourism
procedures include cosmetic surgery, orthopedic Surgery, cardiac surgery and dental procedures.
Healthcare and Tourism are the fastest growing industries in the world and a fusion product of
these industries is- Medical Value Travel. The key factors that drive the growth of this are:
affordability and accessibility of good healthcare services, facilitation around hospitality services,
lesser waiting time and availability of latest medical technologies and accreditations.
The global medical tourism market size is around 60-80 Billion USD. The United States, Germany,
China, France, Japan, Austria and India are the leading countries in the market.
India: A Major Destination for Medical Tourism-
India is one of the major players in this industry. It has hosted around 1.27 Million medical tourists
from industrialized countries like the UK, USA and Canada. Medical tourism in India is poised to
be the next big success story in India after the IT software sector. According to the CII- McKinsey
report 2000, Indian Medical Tourism is growing very fast.
According to the Indian Medical Association, the growth of Medical and Health Tourism in India
is higher because of the following advantages:
1- State of the art Medical Facilities: Top-of-the-line medical and diagnostic equipment from
global international conglomerates are available at many Indian hospitals.
2- Reputed healthcare Professionals: Most of the medical practitioners and surgeons at Indian
hospitals have high quality medical training and have worked at leading medical institutions of the
world. Most medical practitioners are fluent in English.

21. 3- Financial Savings: The cost of quality of medical procedures and services is low in India when
compared to other competitors in the field.
4- Fast track Appointments: There is no waiting time and the patients can get immediate treatment.
5- Traditional Healthcare Therapies- AYUSH
India has a unique advantage of offering Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy and other traditional
systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments and enhancing the well-being of the
medical value traveler. With the recent focus of the Government, India has built tremendous
capacity in AYUSH.
India has one of the world's oldest medical systems. It is known as Ayurvedic medicine
(Ayurveda). Ayur in Sanskrit means “life” and veda means “science” or “knowledge”; thus
ayurveda is the science of life. It has evolved in India over thousands of years. In modern times,
ayurveda is considered Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM): Herbs and specialized diets.
6- Accreditation of Hospitals: India has a good number of JCI (Joint Commission International)
accredited hospitals and compares well with other countries in Asia. In addition, there are a large
number of NABH accredited hospitals. These set of approved hospitals in India provide care at
par or above global standards.
7- Diversity of India offers a range of tourism opportunities to Medical Value Travellers to
combine the treatment with a visit to tourist destinations.
products and experiences:
Availability of high quality healthcare professionals and nurses, medical staff, choice of luxury
hospital rooms, high success rates, popularity of Indian traditional wellness systems, diversity of
tourist destinations and strength in IT are attractive aspects of Indian Medical Tourism.
Southern and Western States of India have a greater concentration of MVT service providers as is
evident from the number of JCI accredited hospitals:
1: Delhi (JCI accredited hospitals:9)
2: Mumbai (6)
3:Bangalore (3)
4: Chennai (2)
5: Hyderabad (2)
6: Ahmedabad (2)
7: Kolkata (1)
8: Nagpur (1)

22. 9:Cochin (1)
10: Pune
11: Nashik
As per estimates by Global Wellness Tourism, India ranked 7th position in 2017 with 56 million
trips in wellness tourism and total revenue of USD 16.3 Billion.
The Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to promote India as a Medical
and Health Tourism Destination, which are as follows:
1. The Confederation of Indian Industry, on advice by the Government, has prepared a guide on
selecting Indian hospitals of the country for health tourism purposes. It has been placed on the
Website of the Ministry of Tourism for wider publicity.
2. Indian Healthcare Federation, a Non-Governmental organization affiliated to Medical and health
tourism has been specifically promoted at various international platforms such as World Travel
Mart, London, ITP Berlin. Also, Websites on tourism have been produced by the Ministry of
Tourism and have been widely circulated for publicity in target markets.
3. A new category of 'Medical Visa' has been introduced, which can be given for specific purposes
to foreign tourists coming to India for medical treatment.
The government of India issues medical visas to every medical tourist and this visa can also be
extended for over a year. This extended time of

23. visas enable the patients to visit three times in a year and these patients can also be accompanied
by a relative or friend at the time of a medical tour to India.
4. Guidelines for accreditation of Ayurvedic and Panchkarma Centres have been circulated to all
State Governments for implementation.
5. Yoga/Ayurveda/Wellness has been promoted over the last two years in the print, electronic,
internet and outdoor medium under the Ministry of Tourism's "Incredible India Campaign''.
6. Brochures & CDs on Body, Mind and Soul covering the traditional system of medicine have
been produced and circulated extensively by the Ministry of Tourism.
7. Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme in the Sector: The Ministry of Tourism has
included the promotion of Medical Tourism as new initiatives. The Marketing Development
Assistance Scheme (MDA), administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India,
provides financial support to approved tourism service providers.
The Heal in India Initiative
Under the “Heel in India” initiative, which aims to promote Medical Value Travel in the country,
India has developed the Medical Value Travel Digital Portal for ease of foreign patients coming
to India for treatment. Medical Value Travel may be defined as activities related to travel and
hosting a foreign tourist who stays at least one night at the destination region for the purpose of
maintaining, improving or restoring health through medical intervention.
The initiative involves both central and the state governments and will offer modern medicine as
well as traditional medicine.
The initiative is based on the foundation of Indian philosophy of Seva (service) and Athithi
Devobhava (guest is like God).
The plan also intends to standardize processes and treatment packages for foreign nationals as
currently there is a wide range of prices being quoted for the same procedure in different hospitals

24. across the country. Standardization of treatment cost so that patients are not overcharged is one of
the highlights of this initiative.
“It is in a way rebranding, as with medical care, the word tourism somehow does not sound right.
Also, the initiative is aimed at looking at ways with which we can make the overall experience
better for patients coming from various countries to India, which is why the campaign has been
thought of as the Heal in India campaign,” a central government official said, requesting
anonymity.
As part of the initiative, there is also going to be a certified central grievance redressal mechanism
for international patients, which has been largely missing in the country.
National AYUSH Mission:
Government of India is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH
Mission (NAM) through States/UTs for development and promotion of AYUSH system of
medicine including Homoeopathy.
Under NAM, Grant-in-aid is being provided to State/UT Governments for development and
promotion of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) as
per their proposed State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).
Healthcare treatments unique to India:
- Yoga: is an ancient form of attaining good health through mental, spiritual, and physical
practices. It stands as one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. Moreover,
Yoga has been one such practice which has seeped in results for people who have religiously
followed it.
If we come to think of the possible benefits of Yoga then positivity, pain relief, sound sleep,
younger looking DNA come to mind. Along with that, Yoga also helps in having healthy joints,
controlling blood pressure, and boosting immunity.
Locations: Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar
Pradesh.
-Meditation: is basically a program where when you focus your attention from inside you attain a
deeper relaxation.
Through meditation, one can fight anxiety, pain, and depression, and bring ultimate peace to mind.
And that’s not all, as this form also helps in intuition and creativity. Vipassana meditation is one

25. of the most practiced forms in India, a 10-day course which focuses on seeing things as they are.
Top Locations in India involved in Medical Tourism:
1.Chennai
One of the most popular destinations for medical treatment in India. A Confederation of Indian
Industries study found around 40% of the people chose to get treated in Chennai for its high-quality
treatment.
Known as the health capital of India, Chennai receives nearly 200 international patients for a bone
marrow transplant, cardiac bypass, eye surgery, hip replacement and alternative medicine
treatments.
2.Mumbai
The fastest growing medical tourism destination in India, Mumbai has several super specialty
hospitals, Research and Diagnostic center for orthopedic, and weight loss surgeries. Mumbai is
famous for its cosmetic surgery and Ayurveda treatments.
3.Goa
Foreign tourists frequently travel to Goa for leisure and it is now becoming a hub for medical
tourism too. Goa’s natural environment, its popularity among visitors and Government’s support
to promote health and wellness have helped it become a medical hub too.
4.New Delhi
The national capital is home to several fantastic private hospitals that offer special facilities to
foreign patients including packages for General surgery, Eye Surgery, Heart Care, and Neuro
Surgeries.
5.Ahmedabad
Another city that is quickly becoming a medical tourism destination in India is Ahmedabad. Owing
to the hospitals with world-class amenities, a lot of non-residents prefer getting treatment in
Ahmedabad.

26. MAIN POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN INDIA-
Swadesh Darshan Scheme-
It was launched in 2014-15 for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits like Buddhist
Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit etc.
It is 100% centrally funded and efforts are made to achieve convergence with other schemes of Central
and State Governments and also to leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and Corporate Sector.
Significance:
The scheme seeks to enhance the contribution of tourism to local
economies. It aims to create jobs including self-employment for
local communities, to enhance the skills of local youth in tourism
and hospitality, to increase private sector investment in tourism
and hospitality and to preserve and enhance local cultural and
natural resources.
With the mantra of ‘vocal for local’, the revamped scheme namely
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 seeks to attain “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” by
realizing India’s full potential as a tourism destination.
Aims as stated by the Central Govt’s guidelines:
● Promotion of tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and creation of jobs.

27. ● Developing India into a world-class
tourist destination.
● Developing theme-based circuits like
ecotourism with ecological and cultural
conservation.
● Developing professionalism and
modernism in tourism with a focus on
in-depth infrastructure development.
● Providing complete tourism by
enhancing tourist-attractiveness in a
sustainable manner.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)-
It aims at the integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a prioritized, planned, and
sustainable manner in order to provide a complete religious tourism experience.
The corresponding State/Union Territory Government shall carry out the projects outlined under this
scheme through the designated agencies.
Vision:
To identify religious destinations that have
potential to be show-cased as world-class
tourism products in consultation with the
stakeholders and ensure that the
development of these destinations adhere to
the sustainability and carrying capacities of
the destinations.
To create a framework for classifying
infrastructural gaps in the identified
destinations that have been major roadblocks
in unlocking the potential of these places and accordingly plan in an integrated manner the development
of these destinations in a specific time-frame ensuring full convergence of State and Central
Government schemes as well as private sector investments.
Aims as stated by the Programme guidelines:

28. ● Rejuvenation and spiritual augmentation
of important national/ global pilgrimage
and heritage sites.
● Follow community-based development
and create awareness among the local
communities.
● Integrated tourism development of
heritage city, local arts, culture,
handicrafts, cuisine, etc., to generate
livelihood.
● Strengthen the mechanism for bridging
the infrastructural gaps.
IMPACTS OF TOURISM-
Economic Impact-
● Tourism generates income for a variety of businesses and creates a wide range of
employment opportunities. Tourism continues to play an important role as a foreign
exchange earner for the country. In 2021, foreign exchange earnings from tourism were
US dollar 8.797 billion as compared to US dollar 6.958 billion in 2020 registering a positive
growth of 26.4%
● India ranks 6th in the world in terms of tourism sector's contribution to the GDP.

29. ● The Multiplier Effect: The multiplier effect refers to the flow of money generated by tourist
spending multiplied as it passes through various sections of the economy.
● Tourism tends to encourage the determinant of multiple-use "infrastructure" that benefits
the host community, including various means of transport, healthcare facilities and sports
centers in addition to the hotels and restaurants that cater to foreign visitors.
● Generate revenue for the government.

30. ● Modernization of agriculture and other rural activities.
● Local small businesses will be benefited.
Socio-cultural impact-
● Preserving local culture- Numerous places
have made a conserved effort to preserve
and protect the local cultures worldwide.
This often contributes to-
-The conservation and sustainable
management of natural resources.
-The protection of local heritage and
-The renaissance of indigenous cultures,
cultural art and craft.
● Preservation of national heritage- tourism helps to preserve several places which are of
historical importance by declaring them as heritage sites. For instance- Taj Mahal, Qutub
Minar, Ajanta and Ellora temples, etc.
● Commodification of culture- it refers to the use of cultural traditions and artifacts in order
to sell and profit for the local economy. It helps in the creation of business and jobs for
local craftsmen who are able to sell their goods to tourists. For the tourist, commodification
creates an interest for traditional arts and social practices.

31. ● Promoting Peace and Stability:
Tourism industry can also help
promote peace and stability in
developing countries like India by
providing jobs, generating income
& diversifying the economy.
● Preservation of traditional
customs such as music, dance and
theater. For ex- Garba in Gujarat.
● Tourists when visiting any new place often ask for local cuisines and food which create a
demand for the local food. For ex- Sarson da saag and makki di Roti in Punjab.
TABULAR REPRESENTATION OF IMPACTS- POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
Impacts types Positive impact Negative impact
Environmental The maximum incentive for
natural areas conservation.
Conservation with
development.
Educate locals and tourists
about environmental ethics.
Indirect vegetation damage.
Disturbance to wildlife
Pollution in the form of air,
waste, and noise.
Commercialization of natural
resources.
New species invasion.

32. Economic Foreign exchange means.
Proper income distribution
in local communities.
Infrastructure building in a
sustainable manner.
Local economy promotion.
Creation of job
opportunities.
Income leakage.
Inflation.
Unhealthy economic
competition. increases.
The economic gap rises
among locals.
Socio-Cultural Conservation and
promotion of local culture,
arts, tradition, music, and
other heritages.
Awareness about cultural
relevance.
Cultural exchange
Diversification of activities.
Cultural degradation from
foreign invasion.
Social problems arise.
Undesirable behavior of
visitors.
Undesired commercialization
of religious and cultural
assets.
SUMMARY
India is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations that attracts millions of tourists to
its natural beauty, cultural heritage and many historic as well as religious sites like the Golden
Temple, and many others. The country offers a variety of sights and sounds to enjoy, from the
vibrant cities to the peaceful countryside. From the snow-capped Himalayas to the tropical beaches
of Goa, from the wildlife of Assam to the largest tea field of Kerala, there is something new in
every corner of this country.
Moreover, with major cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, and Delhi being so well
connected by air, road, and rail networks from across the globe, it’s easy to get around and explore
some of the most iconic landmarks in India. For instance, The Gateway of India in Mumbai,
Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, Rock Garden in Chandigarh, Mysore Palace
in Mysore, Bangalore, Qutub Minar in Delhi, and so on.

33. Tourism has contributed a lot in the development of India. Tourism in India has been seen as a
major tool to bring about socio-economic development to the people of the country. The industry
provides employment opportunities to several people from all parts of the world, who continue to
work in ample numbers of hotels, resorts, food joints, and to its own people who work as local
tourist guides. Thus, it’s no surprise that tourism is one of the main sources of revenue for the
country! No wonder Tourism is an important foreign exchange earner for India.
The apex government bodies that support the development and promotion of Indian tourism
include – The Department of Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation and The Government of India.
The government has been implementing a number of campaigns and schemes – Incredible India
campaign along with a number of planned events such as the International Travel Mart, Destination
India Exhibitions worldwide and Indian Cultural Festivals Abroad to attract foreign tourists and
support and promote tourism be it cultural, religious (Kumbh Mela) or any other.
Challenges to the Growth of Tourism in India
● Safety and security of tourists, especially of the foreign tourists, is a major hurdle to
tourism development. The locals have sometimes refused to aid foreign nationals who have
experienced harassment because of communication problems.
In a survey conducted among 130 countries, India was placed at the 114th position in terms of
safety and security aspects in the WEF Index 2017.

34. ● The language barrier is one of the challenges that the tourism sector has to face. It is
challenging for tourists to communicate in a language they barely understand in foreign
countries and states. Learning English may also not be helpful in some circumstances.
Seasonality causes the fluctuation in tourists and visitor numbers to a destination. These
fluctuations result in various problems such as seasonal environmental congestion, low return on
investment for tourist- receiving destinations, overuse of facilities and off-season unemployment.
● There are many tourist destinations in the country, which are not accessible to the poor,
women and elderly because of the high cost of transportation, poor connectivity with cities
and around 2% of the tourists cannot access many of the tourist spots in the country.
● A limited number of multilingual trained guides, and the limited local awareness and
understanding of the benefits and responsibilities associated with the tourism industry act
as constraints on the sector’s growth.
In order to overcome these challenges, the government of India has taken various steps:
● The government introduced "Adopt a Heritage
Project" plans to entrust heritage sites/monuments
and other tourist sites to private sector companies,
public sector companies.
● The creation of Incredible India Website to
promote to and engage the international and
domestic tourist to showcase India as a holistic
destination, revolving around major experiences
such as spirituality, heritage, adventure, culture,
yoga , wellness and more.
● Online Learning Management System for creating
skilled manpower to work as tourist facilitators.

35. ● The introduction of PRASAD and Swadesh Darshan Scheme and many others schemes
as mentioned in earlier sections.
● Centre’s Campaigns like Incredible India
and states’, ‘God’s Own Country’ (Kerala)
blended India’s tourism potential with
awareness and allowed Indian
entrepreneurs, global entities, domestic and
foreign tourists, and the government
machinery to work together and accelerate
growth in the sector.
● The UDAN scheme has been a huge success,
and now the government can focus on the
earlier plans of launching 100 tourism-
oriented trains. Also, the ease of access can
be improved by the faster implementation of
Bharatmala and Sagarmala projects.
● Further, the Holistic Island Development plan which focuses on the Andaman & Nicobar
(A&N) and Lakshadweep Islands will automatically create jobs for the islanders and
enhance connectivity through key infrastructure projects.
The other way forward is that the government should promote other forms of Tourism like
Medical Tourism, Adventure Tourism etc.
● To solve the problem of seasonality. Off-season concession is another solution.

36. ● Moreover, Indian Residents should be motivated to treat tourists well, so that tourists don’t
face any type of fraud and an official guide system can be launched for tourists.
● There is a need to connect local communities to tourism by encouraging them to set up
small enterprises to supply the tourism industry (accommodation, food and material).
● Employment opportunities can be expanded by ensuring that investors and operators in the
organized sector are encouraged to hire staff locally.
Thus, summing it all up, The Indian tourism business is growing and has great potential to create
jobs, earn significant foreign exchange, and boost the nation's overall economic and social
growth. Yet there is still a lot to be done. In order to assist preserve and protect the richness of
India's natural and cultural settings, eco-tourism needs to be promoted. Tourism in India should
be developed in such a way that it accommodates and entertains visitors in a way that is
minimally intrusive or destructive to the environment and sustains & supports the native cultures
in the locations it is operating in. In addition, since tourism is a multidimensional activity and
primarily a service industry, it would be necessary for all branches of the Central and State
governments, the private sector, and non-profit organizations to actively collaborate in the effort
to achieve sustainable growth in the tourism sector if India is wants to become a world player in
the tourism industry.

37. BIBLIOGRAPHY-
● tourism.gov.in
● up.gov.in
● www.academia.edu
● Indian Medical Association Concept Note on Standard Operating Procedure for Medical
Tourism in India
● Heal in India Website
● PIB article on Government Initiatives for Medical Tourism
● www.niti.gov.in
● swarajyamag.com
● www.researchgate.com
● Tourismteacher.com
● www.slideshare.net
● www.ignou.ac.in
● www.clearias.com
● Kamra, K.K. and Chand, M. (2007) Basics Of Tourism
● Hwb.gov.wales
Thank You