8. Tourism and History 8.1 Tourism in the Past Do you know ? 8.2 Types of Tourism 8.3 Development of Tourism Benjamin of Tudela is known as 8.4 Conservation and Preservation of the first European traveller/discoverer. Historical Places He was born in Spain. During the 8.5 Professional Opportunities in the period of 1159-1173 C.E. he travelled Tourism and Hospitality Industry to France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Persia, India and China. He maintained 8.1 Tourism in the Past diaries of the accounts of his travels. The tradition of travelling is quite old His diaries are viewed as important in India. People used to travel for various historical documents. reasons like pilgrimage, going to local Marco Polo, the Italian traveller fairs and festivals, in search of a renowned of the 13th century introduced Asia, teacher and good education, for trade, etc. especially China to Europe. He stayed In brief, from ancient times people took to in china for 17 years. He wrote about travelling for various reasons. the flora and fauna, social life, culture and trade systems of Asia. Do you know ? Ibn Batuta, the traveller of the 14th century took the world on a The Buddhist literature tells us virtual travel of the Islamic world that Gautam Buddha travelled to with his travel accounts. He was several cities in ancient India for travelling for 30 years. He had preaching. Buddhist monks were resolved not to travel twice on the ordained not to stay at one place but same route. His accounts are helpful keep travelling continuously to various in understanding the medieval history places. Jain monks, sadhus also used and social life. to travel constantly. Gerardus Mercator, of 16th Yuan Shwang, the Chinese monk century was a cartographer. He is travelled to India in 630 C.E. In the known for creating a world map and medieval period Saint Namdev, Saint globe of the earth. His work proved Eknath, Guru Nanak, Ramdas Swami to be very useful for navigation travelled extensively in India. around the world. Tourism : Tourism can be defined as noteworthy in the context of tourism travelling to visit places in distant regions history. He organised a trip by railway for a specific purpose. from Leicester to Loughborough for about In the latter half of the 19th century 600 people. Later he was successful in C.E. the name of Thomas Cook is Organising a round trip of Europe. 52 Eventually he established a travel agency locations of tourist interests. Mass media selling tourist tickets. This early venture began to make special audio-visual of Thomas cook opened doors for the presentations highlighting places of tourist development of modern tourism. interest. Tourism can be broadly typified into local tourism, interstate tourism, international tourism, religious tourism, Do you know ? historical tourism, health tourism, science tourism, agro-tourism, sports tourism, The tradition of travelling from tourism based on special events, etc. corner to corner was prevalent in India from ancient times. Vishnubhat Godase Local and Interstate Tourism : This kind of tourism is not very overwhelming wrote down the accounts of his journey because it is within one’s own country. It from Maharashtra to Ayodhya and does not cause difficulties of language, back to Maharashtra. It is published procuring currency and documents. More as a book entitled, ‘Maza Pravas’. so, we can plan it at the time suitable Vishnubhat travelled during times of to us. the Indian war of independence in International Tourism : Nowadays, it 1857. He was the eye witness for has become easier to travel because of the many events related to this historical easy availability of a number of options event. His accounts are full of detailed of railway, marine and air transport. descriptions about various incidences Marine transport has linked the coastal during this period, especially those regions. There is a trans-European railway about the life of Lakshmibai, the route. Aviation has brought the entire queen of Jhansi. We also get to know world closer. Because of the economic the nature of Marathi language of the liberalisation policy of the Indian 18th century. This book is one of the government the number of people travelling important sources of history of that back and forth from India has increased period. considerably. They include people travelling for studies, relaxation, sightseeing, and 8.2 Types of Tourism professional assignments (meetings, agreements, etc.), also for shooting of These days tourism has become an films, etc. One needs to procure various independent field of local, interstate, official documents for travelling abroad. national and international business. The Historical Tourism : This type of desire to visit national and international tourism is popular all over the world. Tours monuments, places of historical importance to historical places are arranged to satisfy and natural beauty, ancient centres known people’s interest in history. It can be noted for handicrafts, pilgrim centres, industrial in this context that Gopal Neelkanth centres and sites of various developmental Dandekar, a renowned Marathi writer used projects, etc. promotes tourism. Tourists to arrange hiking tours to forts in from all over the world wish to visit Maharashtra, to explore the sights closely natural and manmade sites, which offer linked to Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj and a delightful and awe inspiring experience. his achievements. Tours are also arranged The places like snow-capped peaks, to important historical sites in India such beaches, pristine jungles, which were as forts in Rajasthan, Ashrams of Mahatma neglected previously, became important Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave, 53 important places related to the Indian war to India to avail of the medical facilities of independence in 1857, etc. and health services. India is a tropical country, where ample sunlight is available throughout the year. This attracts tourist from countries with cold climate to India. Availability of facilities for Yoga training and therapies based on Ayurveda is one more reason to want to visit India. Agro-Tourism : Agro-tourism, which is also known as agri-tourism, is rapidly developing, especially meant for the urban population, which has very little exposure to rural life and agriculture. Now, Indian Valley of Flowers farmers are also visiting faraway places You would like to know this : like agricultural research centres, agricultural universities, and countries like People of various religious Israel where experimentation in advanced communities are dispersed globally. technology of agriculture is carried out. However, they feel united because of their mythological traditions and the Sports Tourism : Sports tourism was places associated with those traditions. developed in the 20th century. There are This creates a desire to travel to those various sports events organised on places and it gives rise to religious international level like Olympics, tourism. In this context the constructions, Wimbldon, World Chess Championship undertaken by Ahilyabai Holkar spending and international cricket tournaments, etc. from her personal funds are noteworthy. While there are events like Himalayan Car Ahalyabai wanted to provide good Rally on national level, events like amenities on the pilgrim routes like Maharashtra Kesari Wrestling competitions Chardham Yatras and Bara Jyotirlingas. are organised on state level. Travelling to attend such events comes under sports Geographic Tourism : This type of tourism. tourism involves visiting places to observe Tourism based on Special Events : special geographic features of a region. It People want to travel and they are often on includes various natural and animal the lookout for special reasons to do it. In sanctuaries, places like valley of flowers the 21st century it has become common to (Uttarakhand), various beaches, unique organise such events, which also help to geographical wonders like the crater lake Let us find out : at Lonar and ranjankhalage (naturally carved out cavities in rocks) at Nighoj in Apart from the types of tourism Maharashtra. Many tourists like to visit mentioned above, there are other types these places to satisfy their curiosity. like, science tourism, leisure and relaxation tourism also known as Health Tourism : People from the wellness tourism, cultural tourism and western countries find the health services group tourism, etc. Let us find more and facilities in India comparatively about it with the help of the teachers cheaper and yet of good standard. and internet. Hence, many foreigners preferred to come 54 promote tourism. Film festivals, various types of seminars and conferences, Can you tell ? international book exhibitions, etc. are examples of such special events. People What facilities should be made keep visiting several places to attend such available to the tourists? special events. Many literature enthusiasts How would you behave with the in Maharashtra travel every year to attend tourist if you are the local person at ‘Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan’ a tourist site? (Pan Indian Marathi Literary Convention). books about a tourist site be available in their own language. Hence, such literature 8.3 Development of Tourism should be made available in various The crucial issue in the development languages. It would be helpful if the taxi of tourism is providing proper guidance to drivers are trained to converse in more national and international tourists about than one languages. They may also be various aspects of the actual travel, proper trained as tourist guides. social conduct during the tour and during their stay at the destination places. Do this. Gather more information about the Swachh Bharat drive. Giving priority to ensure safe transport and security facilities for the tourists, amenities of reasonably good standard, availability of good accommodation, good washroom facilities on the travel routes is Gharapuri Caves of great significance in promoting tourism. Try this. It is also very important to pay special attention to the special needs of handicapped Collect pictures and photos of tourists.