rambabu wrote:

Even if some one knows the names of the Tourism  Minister's name, it cannot improve the Tourist facilities.. Our Tourism departments need to realize the importance of tourism and the revenue it generates. In this respect Kerala tourism is doing good job. . It's Medical tourism is well known all over the world.

India has the potential to attract the greatest number of tourists in the world, but we are at the bottom rung of the ladder. The government must give priority to this sector as it is a money spinner.

 

MG Singh wrote:

rambabu wrote:

Even if some one knows the names of the Tourism  Minister's name, it cannot improve the Tourist facilities.. Our Tourism departments need to realize the importance of tourism and the revenue it generates. In this respect Kerala tourism is doing good job. . It's Medical tourism is well known all over the world.

India has the potential to attract the greatest number of tourists in the world, but we are at the bottom rung of the ladder. The government must give priority to this sector as it is a money spinner.

India is a Tourist Haven.. Every year innumerable number of Tourists from allover the world come to visit, which naturally boosts the revenue of the Country and Foreign exchange. Goa, Himachal Pradesh are just two examples . Governments of the respective State Governments and the Central Tourism Ministry should realize the Potentialities of India and capitalize this huge source of income.

 

 

usha manohar wrote:

anil wrote:

usha manohar wrote:

anil wrote:

usha manohar wrote:

The youngsters these days are a very smart lot much more intelligent and knowledgeable than most people give them credit for and it is untrue to say that they don't travel nor do they know about our heritage.They are far more adventurous and travel whenever they can in groups and by themselves unlike the old timers who just spit out book knowledge ,refusing to travel for one reason or the other and get first hand experience.Even from smaller towns , we get to see groups of young people exploring places which is something very few people did a few generations ago ! I come across a lot of youngsters in my college and school and at other social groups and majority of them are very independent in their thinking and if you strike the right balance, they too respond positively !

I am agree with you, no doubt present generation is much smart that our generation. But I am not agree with you that old timers just spit out book knowledge. In old time travelling was not so easy like present time. At that time books are major source of information.

 

True ! Youngsters certainly have an added advantage these days so all the more reason not to underestimate them and their talents , they may not fit the perception of older generations but that is how it is ..

No I am not under estimating new generation, it is much smart and intelligent than our generation, but accept we are also smart and intelligent in our time. books are still useful source of information.

 

Of course each generation had its share of intelligent and adventurous people who explored the world and book knowledge is all important even now since it gives an insight as to what is in store when you plan to visit other places and other relevant information. But with information technology becoming so widespread and available at the click of a finger , things have opened up far more opportunities for the youngsters and others as well ..

no doubt with development of information technology it is easy to get information, but in ref. of India where large number of population is not well educated to use information technology, other source of information is still relevant.

MG Singh wrote:

India is a land of wonders. Thanks to my work and being member of Air Staff team, I visited the length and breadth of India from the game parks in Assam and MP ( Kaziranga and Kanha) to the historical monuments. But sadly  the infrastructure of hotels and access roads is very poor and that deters tourism.  I go to Ujjain that has history behind it, but it is so dirty and my American friend wanted to run away.

Why should Indians wait for the government to do something? Why can't Indians who stay nearby beautify and clean the place.  Even our temples so lovely and artistic need a clean up. One has to see the temples in Thailand and China to realise this. Just see the mosques in UAE, so clean, and lovely

It is my opinion most of the Hindus temples have not proper system of cleaning. Gurdawara of Sikhs in India is neat & clean than temples.

anil wrote:

MG Singh wrote:

India is a land of wonders. Thanks to my work and being member of Air Staff team, I visited the length and breadth of India from the game parks in Assam and MP ( Kaziranga and Kanha) to the historical monuments. But sadly  the infrastructure of hotels and access roads is very poor and that deters tourism.  I go to Ujjain that has history behind it, but it is so dirty and my American friend wanted to run away.

Why should Indians wait for the government to do something? Why can't Indians who stay nearby beautify and clean the place.  Even our temples so lovely and artistic need a clean up. One has to see the temples in Thailand and China to realise this. Just see the mosques in UAE, so clean, and lovely

It is my opinion most of the Hindus temples have not proper system of cleaning. Gurdawara of Sikhs in India is neat & clean than temples.

 

What you said is true. But there are some exceptions. Arya Samaj Mandir in Delhi, Konark temple in Odisha which I have seen are well maintained. Though Tirupati Venkateswara temple gets quite a good amount of Revenue, it's maintenance is not up to the mark.

 

Tourism does not only mean visiting temples and forts. It has to encompass  many more things.  Firstly there has to be proper infrastructure and secondly some avenues for other entertainment. One must remember that Las Vegas has more tourists coming in a month than entire tourist traffic in India for 2 years. Same thing with Reno and Monte carlo. I have been to Monte Carlo, which survives only on the tourist industry.  We cant get more tourists when we enforce prohibition like in Gujarat. 

These are just my thoughts, but see Japan, it is an ancient civilization, but there  are so many avenues of recreation like golf, an water sports, not forgetting song and dance. I am very clear , how many times will a tourist come to see Taj Mahal, unless there is something more to it. More tourists only come when there is repeat value like Goa and its beaches.

One other aspect that deters a tourist is poverty. No body wants to come to any place and be accosted by beggars. This is sad and unless we remove poverty , how will we attract more tourists?  One of my friends  from the US army who did the staff course with me came to visit some temples in South India and he was accosted by beggars and all sorts of people. He told me later he was not interested in a holiday in India.

Besides a strong infrastructure, naturally endowed things like Caves, lakes dense forests are to be exploited to the fullest extent. For example AP tourism development corporation arranges trekking, Safari and Boat trips. Besides, for Safari and Trekking , night shelters are arranged.

Tourism departments should be managed and maintained by experts in different spheres, Not just by Beaurocrates..

Many of the issues raised by @MGSingh are relevent if tourism in India has to grow. The temples are generally surrounded   with dirty habitations and leech like shopkeepers who are pestering you to buy from them. The sanctity with which one goes is violated by the dirt and rank commercialism that one comes across. temples are used as revenue generating profit centers for their owners. Very few temples are clean and well maintained inside and outside. We tolerate all this because we are happy to have a 5 second darshan, rest we do not bother.In Rajasthan I have seen lovely havelis and forts not maintained properly, full of dirt. The staff are not at all proud of these heritages which give them bread and butter  same is trueof other monuments all over the country. I have seen a ASI staff member openly urinate in Red Fort near the main structure, when all tourists including foreigners could see him. when I accosted him he grinned and said this is usual.  

Tourism requires travelling and certainly then we need means of travel. Are our buses and trains maintained properly? Low fare buses are ill maintained and even the ordinary trains are not rightly maintained. This also weakens the tourism sector.