TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING BTTM 602 BLOCK 1: TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK After India became independence in 1947, Tourism did not receive much attention. But slowly and steadily, it was realized that it was an important area to capitalize on. This is evident from the current tourism policy, India is adopting and the type of impetus it has received over the years. In this block, the emphasis has been given on tourism planning and policy highlighting its attributes, the course of evolution it has undergone apart from its constraints and achievements. This block comprises the following units: Unit 1 focuses review of tourism planning progress in International and Indian context. Unit 2 focuses on Tourism policy highlighting its meaning, characteristics and relevance. Unit 3 focuses on Tourism planning, constraints & grey areas. Unit 4 focuses on levels and types of Tourism Planning Unit 5 focuses on Tourism Development and its components Unit 6 focuses on concept of destination Life cycle and its relevance in context of Destination Planning. OBJECTIVES After studying the block ,you will be able to know – Tourism planning – meaning & significance. Tourism policy in India The key attributes in a tourism policy. The constraints and grey areas in tourism planning The correlation between Tourism policy and tourism destination & further its effect on tourism life cycle. Uttarakhand Open University 1 TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING BTTM 602 UNIT 1: REVIEW OF TOURISM PLANNING PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL AND INDIAN CONTEXT STRUCTURE: 1.1 Objectives 1.2 Introduction 1.3 Review of Tourism Planning Progress in Indian Context 1.4 Historical sites 1.5 Check Your Progress 1.6 Summary 1.7 Clues to Answer 1.8 Glossary 1.9 Suggested Sources for Future Reference 1.1 OBJECTIVES After going through the Unit 1 on Review of Tourism Planning Progress in International and Indian Context, you would be able to: Comprehend the term Tourism Planning. Be acquainted with Tourism planning evolution over the years in India and Abroad. Understand its role and important aspects associated it. Understand the various perspectives associated with Tourism planning. Uttarakhand Open University 2 TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING BTTM 602 1.2 INTRODUCTION Unit 1 gives detailed information on tourism development and then correlating it in Indian and International perspective. Planning is the dynamic process of determining and shaping the goals, methodically selecting alternative courses of actions to realize those goals, then executing the chosen alternatives, evaluating the alternative and ultimately, concluding if it will become successful. The planning process regards the environment which includes political, physical, social and economic elements as interrelated and interdependent components which should be taken into account in considering the future of a destination. Do you know that? Like any planning progression, tourism planning has to be goal- oriented, involve your utmost efforts to achieve the preset objectives by matching available resources by keeping in mind, the needs and wants of the people. Comprehensive & all- inclusive planning requires a orderly approach, usually involving a series of steps. Gunn（1992）pointed out that tourism industry originated from tourists’ desire to travel and finished with the contentment level of the desires. Hence, while planning for tourism, though some emphasis has to be given to the demand, but more than that emphasis should be given to the aspirations & desires of the tourists, but keeping in mind the sustainable attributes of the local place. This requires careful & inventive planning which recognizes the desires of tourist, at the same time also gives importance to the locality and locals. This prospective action, hence call for constructive tourism planning keeping in mind the goals and formulation of the policies. Planning is about setting and meeting objectives. But in case of tourism, not much attention was given on planning until 1990’s (Gunn, 1994; WTO, 1994; Wilkinson, 1997; Timothy, 1999; Tosun and Jenkins, 1998). Tourism planning was restricted to just impact studies. In 1979, Gunn was one of the pioneer researchers, who defined tourism planning as an instrument for destination area development. Spanoudis in 1982 proposed that tourism planning should occur within the skeleton of the overall plan depending on the local circumstances & resources of an area sustainably. Planning is an important activity to realize the Uttarakhand Open University 3 TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING BTTM 602 objectives of tourism development. According to Murphy (1985), planning helps in organized development in tourism, by enhancing the social, economic and environmental advantages of the development progression. But, Are the goals same for all countries? The goals of tourism planning is surely to achieve the positives for both locals and hosts, but the type of planning greatly differs in developed, developing countries and least developed nations. For example in country like India, emphasis on tourism is given to create more livelihood opportunities for people in the varied environment conditions in the different states present in the country, especially the lagging or least developed areas. Tourism creates new avenues for people by enhancing the employment opportunities and entrepreneurship pursuits, at the same time to enhance the affirmatives and negate the harmful effects. And this can only be possible through sound tourism planning covering the entire scope of the tourism activity and focusing on the key aspects which are vital for its nourishment and development. Tourism is one of many anthropological activities in a region, but involves both private and public sector activity. Though the responsibility of government is very important as it influences the private activity. And plays an important role in Tourism planning, policy and co-ordination. Tourism influences the bricolage of an area, in economic, physical, environmental and social aspects. Hence, it should be considered as part of many activities in an area that must be considered as part of economic, physical, environmental, and social planning. As, all these aspects can help tourism to prosper & extend in a good way. At the same time to consider these perspectives in a unique way to develop comprehensive tourism planning in a community or as a region as a whole. Tourism planning primarily involves economic development planning which is directed towards tourism-related objectives but differs between the public and the private sector. In the public sector, the majority of planning is done by different levels of government. It gives consideration to economic and social factors, land use policies and zoning controls, environmental concerns, infrastructure development, employment concerns, and the provision of public Uttarakhand Open University 4 TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING BTTM 602 services. Private sector tourism planning is usually apprehensive with investment objectives involving various aspects of product development, building and design, financial feasibility, marketing, management and operations. 1.3 REVIEW OF TOURISM PLANNING PROGRESS IN INDIAN CONTEXT In India, planning gears for the country including tourism was initiated by setting up the constitution which came into force on 26th January 1950, in which the directive principles of state policy indicated that “the state shall endeavor towards the interests of the masses by protecting & securing as successfully as it may, a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life”. As a result the planning commission in 1950 and National Development Council in 1952 were constituted. The former was formed to make the assessment of resources (material, financial & human); formulate a map for their effective & balanced utilization, characterize the periods, apportion the resources, conclude the nature & mechanism for each stage of planning, review the growth and specify the issues which are limiting fiscal growth. While, the role of latter was to was a consultative and assessment organization to reinforce and organize the efforts and assets of the nation. The first plan of tourism (1951-1956) made no major contribution in tourism, though the tourist division was formed in 1949 & placed under the transport. Emphasis was also given to attract tourists outside domestic boundaries, print tourist material, participate in exhibitions & promotional activities and opening of tourists offices within India & world. In the second plan (1956-1961), provision was made to develop tourism as a central & state sector. In the third plan (1961-1966), importance was given on developing & building accommodation facilities, transport and improvement of accessibility. In the fourth plan (1969-1974), tourism was recognized as important means of earning foreign exchange, improving tourist facilities, creation of ITDC (1966) and provision of loans to hospitality and transport sector. In the fifth plan (1974-79), the role of tourism industry was recognized within the country, many resorts built Uttarakhand Open University 5 TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING BTTM 602 on Kovalam, Goa and Gulmarg, development of selected archaeological sites & sanctuaries and construction of youth hostels & tourist bungalows recognized for middle income groups. The sixth plan (1980-85) was major signpost in the history of tourism in which lot of effort was done to promote and develop tourism.