59 CHAPTER III GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM Greece and Rome In the 400’s BC, the Greek historian Herodotus toured around extensively, visiting Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Southern Russia and the northern fringe of Africa. The ancient Romans invented many characteristics of today’s modern tourism. Their holy days—100 or more work free days during the year devoted to religious feasts these were the basis of the holidays of today. The Roman world also had its souvenirs and seaside resorts. The Romans escaped the stresses of city life by visiting Naples and the Italian Riviera. The Romans also travelled to other parts of the Roman Empire. Those who could afford it took trips to Egypt and Greece in order to visit temples and see the local culture. In the A.D.100’s the world’s first tourist guide book was produced by the Greek geographer Pausanias for Roman visitors who traveled to Greece. In the Middle Ages, trade and pilgrimage were the main reasons for travel. Christians travelled to cathedral towns and religious centres, such as Rome, Canterbury in England and the sites of the Holy Land. Hostels and inns were developed along the pilgrimage routes. Souvenirs were regarded as an
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CHAPTER III
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM
Greece and Rome
In the 400’s BC, the Greek historian Herodotus toured around
extensively, visiting Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Southern Russia and the
northern fringe of Africa. The ancient Romans invented many characteristics of
today’s modern tourism. Their holy days—100 or more work free days during
the year devoted to religious feasts these were the basis of the holidays of
today. The Roman world also had its souvenirs and seaside resorts. The
Romans escaped the stresses of city life by visiting Naples and the Italian
Riviera.
The Romans also travelled to other parts of the Roman Empire. Those
who could afford it took trips to Egypt and Greece in order to visit temples and
see the local culture. In the A.D.100’s the world’s first tourist guide book was
produced by the Greek geographer Pausanias for Roman visitors who traveled
to Greece.
In the Middle Ages, trade and pilgrimage were the main reasons for
travel. Christians travelled to cathedral towns and religious centres, such as
Rome, Canterbury in England and the sites of the Holy Land. Hostels and inns
were developed along the pilgrimage routes. Souvenirs were regarded as an
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essential part of the pilgrimage, so that people might prove where they had
been in search for salvation. Many pilgrimage routes and sites remain tourist
attractions even today.
In the later middle ages, people travelled more for pleasure than religion.
In the 1500’s Paracelsus, the father of modern medicine, argued that mineral
springs were beneficial to health. The spa resorts of Austria, Germany,
Hungary and Italy became well established destinations for pleasure travellers.
The Grand Tour
The Renaissance saw the start of the so-called Grand Tour, in which
young aristocratic men travelled through Europe to become both educated and
highly cultivated. It was considered important, especially for young educated
Englishmen, to see the European world. Sightseeing became an essential part
of tourism—cathedrals and churches, palaces and the sites of ancient Rome
were all regarded as important tourists spots.
The Renaissance, with its emphasis on the education of the complete
man, also saw the first wave of student travel to the European continent. This
continued through the 1600’s. The students usually made their grand tours at
the age of 16 just after graduation from university and each trip took between 1
and 5 years. The Grand Tourists were accompanied by chaperons (people who
looked after their welfare). There were letters from a tourist’s bank allowing
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the tourist to draw money up to a certain amount while abroad. They were the
equivalent of modern traveller’s cheques.
The 1800s
The Industrial Revolution led to a massive change in travel patterns and
their behaviour. The development of the railway and the steamship made
inexpensive and rapid travel possible for the new middle and working classes.
These developments also led to the establishment of mass tourism resorts in the
United Kingdom (UK) such as Southend, Margate and Blackpool.
Modern mass tourism commenced on July 5, 1841, when the first
conducted excursion train arranged by Thomas Cook left the railway station in
Leicester, England. Cook became the world’s first tour operator when he
obtained a reduced group rate on one shilling per head for a rail journey from
Leicester to Loughborough.
In the 1920s U.S. film stars visited the French and Italian Riveras
and made them popular. The fashion of sunbath also began. Despite the health
hazard caused by too much exposure to sun, it remains popular today. This
fashion helps to explain the popularity of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean
as tourist destinations.
Following the end of World War II (1939-1945) pleasure travel became
even more accessible through increases in car ownership, spare time and
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spending money. The development of commercial jet aircraft in the 1950’s and
1960’s allowed more people to travel longer distances more quickly and more
cheaply than earlier days. Mass air travel required larger airports to meet the
increasing number of travellers. The same period saw the building of large
hotel resorts in coastal areas.
In the early 1980’s tourism received a setback as the price of aviation
fuel increased at times of political crisis in the Middle East. However, tourism
has grown steadily, even during economic recession. Between 1970 and 1990
world tourism grew by more than 260 per cent.
Tourism today
The 1980s and 1990s have seen the development of new forms of travel.
Although package holidays are still a major part of the tourism industry by
increasing numbers of tourists who keep travelling to experience culture,
heritage and the environment. In response to changes in lifestyles, short-break
and weekend holidays were increasingly popular.
In the 1990s, global tourism grew at an average of about 4 per cent
annually. Today’s international tourists are choosing different destinations
from those selected by their predecessors. Because of the rapid economic
growth of China, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, the Asia Pacific
region are all becoming major centres for international tourism. Newly
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developing tourist locations such as Bali in Indonesia, the Great Barrie Reef in
Australia and centres in Thailand and Singapore are expected to maintain their
growth for the years to come.
Allocation for Tourism in 11th
Five Year Plan
Tourism is an important component of demand in the services sector
which has shown considerable dynamism in recent years and is poised for even
more rapid growth. It is difficult to estimate the full contribution of tourism to
the economy since much of it shows up indirectly in sectors such as hotels and
restaurants, transport, handicrafts etc but there is a general agreement that the
sector has great potential and needs to be well encouraged, cultural, business,
leisure, spiritual, religious, ecological, adventure, and medical trips all come
under tourism. The 11th
Plan should focus on creation of adequate tourism
infrastructure like modernization and expansion of airports, increase in
accommodation facilities under star and budget category and improved road
connectivity to tourist destinations. At the same time it is important to ensure
the upkeep and preservation of historical sites, lakes and rivers – all of which
attract tourists. Measures need to be devised to enhance India’s
competitiveness as a tourist destination by inter alia reducing luxury tax and
sales tax on ATF and by providing hassle-free inter-state movement of
passenger vehicles. Hotel management and catering education programmes
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need to be widened and hitherto undeveloped archaeological sites opened up
for development and maintenance through public private partnerships.
It is also vital to ensure that tourists particularly women, feel safe in the
country. Print media (31 per cent), Live entertainment (2 per cent) and
Advertising (3 per cent). It is a sector in which the demand grows faster than
income. We can thus expect continued high and great growth. The various
forms of media are all converting to a common digital form. This along with
technological breakthrough, provides scope for all kinds of new application,
leading to even higher growth. A facilitating policy environment needs to be
created as the sector offers large scope for employment.
Flow of Foreign Tourists to India
The arrivals of foreign tourists to India during the years 1964 to 2010 are
provided in table 3.1.
TABLE 3.1
FLOW OF FOREIGN TOURISTS TO INDIA Year Tourists (Millions)
1964 0.02
1968 0.03
1978 0.15
1988 0.47
1998 0.84
2003 1.34
2008 2.12
2010 2.21
Trend 2015 1.92
2016 1.96
Source: Report of Tourist Development Corporation
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It is observed from table 3.1 that flow of foreign tourist to India during
1964 is 0.02 million. It has increased to 2.21 million during 2010. Using linear
trend line, it is estimated that the flow of foreign tourists to India during the
year 2015 will be 1.92 million and 1.96 million during the year 2016.
Foreign Exchange earnings of India
India earns a sizeable foreign exchange due to the flow of foreign
tourists to India. The actual foreign exchange earning (1990 to 2010) is
provided in table 3.2.
TABLE 3.2
FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS Year Foreign exchange earnings Rs. in crores
1990 32.50
1991 189.60
1992 1166.30
1993 1663.90
1994 1130.60
1995 1225.00
1996 1300.00
1997 1189.10
1998 1606.60
1999 1866.10
2000 2054.00
2001 1386.00
2002 2612.50
2003 4892.00
2004 6060.00
2005 6070.00
2006 7423.60
2007 9185.90
2008 10417.60
2009 11540.30
2010 12495.60
Source: Economic Survey 2011
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From the table 3.2 it is inferred that foreign exchange earnings during
the year 1990 is Rs.32.50 crores. It has increased to Rs.1663.90 crores during
the year 1993. It has decreased to Rs.1130.60 crores during the year 1994;
again it has increased to Rs.12495.60 crores during the year 2010. This shows
that foreign exchange earnings has fluctuated from 1990 to 2010.
Rupee Dollar Exchange Rate
Rupee Dollar exchange rate is shown in table 3.3.
TABLE 3.3
RUPEE DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE
Year Rupees Percentage change over
previous year
1997-98 16.65 --
1998-99 17.94 7.7
1999-2000 24.47 36
2000-2001 30.65 25
2001-2002 31.36 2.3
2002-2003 31.40 0.1
2003-2004 33.45 0.5
2004-2005 33.45 0
2005-2006 35.50 6.1
2006-2007 37.16 4.6
2007-2008 42.07 13.2
43.33 2.9
Source: Economic Survey 2000-2008
From table 3.3, it is inferred that Rupees Dollar exchange rate has
increased from Rs.16.65 during the year 1997-98 to Rs.43.33 during the year
2007-2008.
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TOURISM IN TAMILNADU
Major Tourist Spots in Tamilnadu
A list of the major tourist spots in different districts of Tamilnadu is
furnished in Table 3.4. Also the important tourist spots in Tamilnadu and the
corresponding distance from Tiruchirapalli by road are shown in Figure.
TABLE 3.4
MAJOR TOURIST SPOTS IN TAMILNADU
SNo. Distrrict Important Tourist Spots
1 Chennai Fort St.George, Marina Beach, Kiskintha, Golden
beach, Vandalur Zoo, Mahabaliburam etc.
2 Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, Thiruthani
3 Chengalpattu Vedanthangal, Chengalpattu
4 Vellore Vellore, Vellamalai, Elagiri Hills
5 Thiruvannamalai Thiruvanamalai Temple, Sathanur Dam
