The concept of tourism has been developed in India for a long time. There are numerous examples of travel from ancient times for the purpose of trade, pilgrimage and education. We have a firm belief that traveling, visiting different places and people makes a person smarter. The journey that started as a pilgrimage is today becoming a tourism business and flourishing in various ways.
In modern times, under the rule of the British, the tourism industry was considered at the government and administrative level. Sir John Sargent made some observations regarding tourism in 1945. He was an educational consultant. He first tried to lay out some plans for the Indian tourism industry. After independence, serious thinking about this industry started. Work for this area was started in 1956 according to the well-planned policy. The National Tourism Policy was announced in 1982, and the work gained momentum. Departmental committees for the tourism industry were formed in 1988. He produced scholarly reports. Since 1992, the policies suggested by the Tourism Advisory Committees have been implemented. A National Action Plan was prepared. Due to this, in 1996, measures and plans for the growth of the tourism business were drawn up. New policies were determined. The role of central and state government in this industry is clear. An action plan was prepared to increase the tourism industry with the help of village panchayats, private organizations, cooperatives and public industry associations.
India ranks 40th among 141 tourist-friendly countries in the world. This observation was made in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report June 2023. The tourism industry created 1.6 million job opportunities in 2023. The year 2023 is yet to end but in the last nine months it has been recorded that around 45 lakh foreign tourists have visited India. G20 and those coming for other economic and political work are different!
At present, foreign tourists visit India in large numbers for medical tourism. Many people have experienced that physical ailments are cured by using Ayurveda, Yoga, Pranayama, natural herbs. The attraction of this ancient Indian medicine is increasing abroad. Similarly, heritage tourism is also very attractive to the whole world. Millions of people visit Egypt to see the pyramids in Egypt. Similarly, tourists come from all over the world to see different temples, caves, stupas in India. Every province in India has very beautiful natural tourist spots. The natural heritage that is reserved sanctuaries is a tourist attraction.
There is many job, business, earning and study opportunities available in the field of heritage tourism. Different types of ancient and historical structures are scattered across villages in India. Everyone is curious to understand the architecture, engineering and art of various types of structures like temples, caves, stupas, baravs, forts, palaces, lakes. Along with this, many types of traditional fabrics like Ikhat, Kalamkari, Irkal, Kantha, Kanjeevaram, Mangalgiri, Patola, Bandhni, Batik, Phulkari, Paithani are enticing.
The heritage of folk art that has been practiced for thousands of years is now being exposed to the world. The world of Indian folk art is rich and unique in every respect. The charm of the food traditions here is astounding. There are Indian food restaurants in various countries around the world. We have preserved the heritage of the architectural designs that have been going on since the time of Harappan civilization. The various festivals, festivals, yatras, fairs celebrated in the province are mind-blowing.
Everyone now feels the need to understand their own country and culture. Therefore, the need for trained manpower in the field of heritage tourism has increased. Keeping this in mind, a course on Heritage Tourism has been started in Shri Manilal Nanavati Vocational Training Institute of Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha. Increased participation of women in the tourism sector will increase safety. A new field of career will open for women. This will be an important step towards empowerment of women in rural and urban areas. Tourists will also have the need to visit various heritage sites and get information with scholarly references.
This course is not designed for the sole purpose of creating a guide to a tourist location. Students will be informed about the history, culture, folk art, architecture, regional characteristics of the entire India. Also, subjects such as accounting, management, marketing, organizing trips, communication and computer skills will also be taught. So, these students can get a job in any tourism company. Also, this training is useful for starting an independent business.
Many foreign companies have branches and associate companies in Maharashtra. Candidates trained in heritage tourism will be helpful in introducing Indian culture to foreign guests visiting them and star hotels. We also travel to see amazing temples, caves, stupas, museums in various provinces. At that time, with the help of such a trained, knowledgeable person, more information can be obtained in less time, saving costs. By completing this course, young women will become independent. Students who have passed 12th can do this one-year diploma course. This course is useful for providing new jobs and business opportunities for the new generation.