TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY [Type the

MANAGEMENT document
subtitle]

Edited By,
ANUJITH S, Assistant Professor, Department
of Tourism and Hotel Management, AMala
College, Nilambur.
 Module I

Introduction to travel and tourism:- Important

phenomenon’s helped thedevelopment of evolution
of travel and tourism- the meaning of tourism-
purpose of travel(motivations)-travellers and visitors-
the industry-definitions followed in India-
international tourism-basic components of tourism-
elements of tourism-future of tourism
 INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Travel and tourism refer to the activities of people traveling to

and staying in places outside their usual environment for
leisure, business, or other purposes. It encompasses a wide
range of experiences, including visiting tourist attractions,
exploring new destinations, engaging in cultural activities, and
seeking relaxation and adventure.

Travel and tourism play a significant role in global economies,

contributing to job creation, infrastructure development, and
cultural exchange. People travel for various reasons, such as
relaxation, adventure, education, cultural immersion, or
business opportunities. It allows individuals to break away
from their daily routines, broaden their horizons, and create
lasting memories.

The tourism industry consists of different components,

including transportation, accommodation, attractions, travel
agencies, tour operators, and hospitality services. Each sector
plays a crucial role in facilitating and enhancing the travel
experience.

Destinations can range from popular tourist hotspots to

remote and unexplored regions. Tourists can choose from a
variety of travel options, such as domestic or international
travel, solo trips, group tours, or specialized experiences like
ecotourism, adventure tourism, or culinary tourism.
The travel and tourism industry has been influenced by
various factors, including advancements in transportation,
globalization, technological innovations, changing consumer
preferences, and sustainability concerns. It continually
evolves to meet the demands and expectations of travelers
while adapting to emerging trends.

Travel and tourism provide opportunities for individuals to

explore the world, connect with diverse cultures, and create
enriching experiences. It has the potential to contribute to
economic growth, foster cultural understanding, and promote
sustainable development in destinations around the globe.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO),
international tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2019,
showing steady growth over the years. In 2019, international
tourism receipts amounted to around $1.5 trillion. According
to the UNWTO, tourism-related employment accounted for
around 330 million jobs globally in 2019.

Important phenomenon’s helped the development of

evolution of travel and tourism

500 BC, the Greek civilisation

The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The
Greeks also enjoyed their religious festivals that increasingly
became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens
had become an important site for travellers visiting the major
sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were established in large
towns and seaports to provide for travellers' needs.
Courtesans were the principal entertainment offered. This era
also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds'
first travel writer. Guidebooks also made their appearance in
the fourth century covering destinations such as Athens,
Sparta and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing
people to inns are also known in this period.
The Roman Empire
With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with
safe seas from piracy due to Roman patrols, the conditions
favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with
staging inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the
growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes,
Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also
became very popular. The Romans introduced their
guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to identify
quality.
Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied
primarily during springtime social season. The most
fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples
attracted the retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted
the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down market
tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and
all- night [Link] and Tourism were to never attain a
similar status until the modern times.
The Grand Tour
From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism
was developed as a direct outcome of the Renaissance. Under
the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court
were encouraged to travel to continent to finish their
education. Later, it became customary for education of
gentleman to be completed by a 'Grand Tour' accompanied by
a tutor and lasting for three or more years. While ostensibly
educational, the pleasure seekingmen travelled to enjoy life
and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of
eighteenth century, the custom had become
institutionalisedin the gentry. Gradually pleasure travel
displaced educational travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars
inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline of
the custom of the Grand Tour.
The development of the spas
The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in
Britain and a little later in the European Continent as
awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water
increased. Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the
nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in character as
pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an
important centre of social life for the high [Link] the
nineteenth century they were gradually replaced by the
seaside resort.
The sun, sand and sea resorts
The sea water became associated with health benefits. The
earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By
the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up
in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in
sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea
side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat
services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit.
The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point
Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the
west
The rapid urbanization due to industrialization led to mass
immigration in cities. These people were lured into travel to
escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to
the countryside they had come from change of routine from a
physically and psychologically stressful jobs to a leisurely pace
in countryside.
THE MEANING OF TOURISM

Tourism involves the movement of people. That movement

might either be within their owncountries - which is called
“domestic tourism” - or to and from other countries - which is
called “international tourism”. In either case, the movement
involves travel, by different means (by road, or rail or water or
air) over long or short distances. Therefore, tourism and travel
are completely interrelated.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines tourism as
"the activity of persons traveling to and staying in places
outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours and
not more than one year for leisure, business and other
purposes not related to the exercise of an activity
remunerated in the place visited."
Purposes of Travel - Motivations
People travel today - within their own countries or to
“foreign” (to them) countries - for manydifferent reasons or
motives. Those reasons which prompt or encourage people
to embark ontravel are called their motivations. The different
motivation are,

1. Holidays/Vacations
This is a wide ranging classification, and there are many
different reasons why people travel for holidays and
vacations; common ones include:-
 the need for a “break” from routine;
 the opportunity for rest, relaxation and leisure;
 the desire for a change of climate - the “search for the
sun”;
  entertainment, enjoyment and pleasure, adventure,
romance;
 the opportunity to engage in sport whilst on
holiday/vacation; and many more.

2. Culture and Religion

Many people travel to visit exhibitions, art galleries,
museums, historic places or buildings, to attend concerts and
festivals; whilst others visit holy cities and shrines, buildings,
etc, or make pilgrimages. Many like to see and meet different
peoples and to experience different cultures.

3. Visits to friends and relatives (often called ‘VFR travel’)

Although the primary motive is to see relatives and/or friends,
such visits are also often holidays/ vacations.

4. Education/Training/Study
These purposes are self-explanatory, but in some cases they
are combined with cultural/religious purposes.

5. New Experiences
Some people travel to visit places of renowned beauty or to
be awed by spectacular natural (and in some cases man-
made) “wonders”, or in a search for the exotic and unusual.
Yet others look upon travel as a “challenge”, something new
and different, or seek “adventure” in travel.

6. Sports, Activities and Recreation

In some cases such travel is in the nature of “business travel”,
for example, professional sportspersons, such as golfers,
football players, boxers, athletes, and so on travel in pursuit
of theirvocations. Many amateurs also travel to participate in
sporting fixtures, although they have differentmotivations -
e.g. pleasure or excitement rather than income - for doing so.
Other people travel to attend, as spectators, sporting events,
whilst yet others engage in sports or other activities as part of
a holiday/vacation.

7. Hobbies or ‘Special Interests’

An increasing number of people travel in connection with
their hobbies or “special interests”, forexample to see (and
often to study) and photograph wildlife, frequently whilst also
on holiday/vacation. Some hobbies might, of course, be
cultural ones.

8. Health
Some people travel to visit medical specialists or medical
centres, clinics spas, etc. Other peoplemight travel to areas in
which the climate or other features might be beneficial to
their ailments, or alleviate them; for example, some people
feel better at low altitudes or even at sea level, whereas other
people fare better at higher altitudes, or where the air is less
polluted.

9. Business
The term ‘business traveller’ is generally taken to include all
those who travel for reasons of business, or to attend
meetings, conferences, congresses and exhibitions in
connection with theirbusinesses, professions or occupations.

10. Others
The reasons for travel today are so diverse that there are
bound to be many which do not fall conveniently into any of
the foregoing classifications; take, for example, people who
travel forhumanitarian reasons, perhaps, to assist victims of
natural disasters, such as famines, floods, hurricanes,
sunamis, and earthquakes

Travellers and Visitors

The terms "traveler" and "visitor" are often used
interchangeably, but there are some subtle differences
between the two. A traveler is someone who travels for any
purpose, while a visitor is someone who travels for a specific
purpose, such as tourism or business.

Travelers may travel for a variety of reasons, such as to see

new places, experience different cultures, or simply to get
away from their everyday lives. They may travel for short
periods of time, such as a weekend getaway, or for longer
periods of time, such as a year-long sabbatical.

Visitors, on the other hand, typically travel for a shorter

period of time and have a specific purpose in mind. For
example, a tourist may travel to a new city to see the sights,
while a business traveler may travel to a conference or to
meet with clients.

In general, travelers are more likely to be interested in

exploring a new place and experiencing its culture, while
visitors are more likely to be interested in seeing specific
attractions or meeting specific goals.
Butthere are other people who also travel between countries
- and who are thus “travellers” by definition- who are not
generally included in tourism statistics. They include:-
 Members of armed forces travelling from their
countries of origin to their “duty stations”, and vice
versa.
 Border workers.
 Refugees and nomads.
 Transit passengers who do not leave the transit area of
the port or airport.
 Diplomats and consular staff travelling from their
countries of origin to their “duty stations”,and vice
versa.
 Temporary and permanent immigrants.
The Industry
It is quite accurate to refer to tourism and travel as an
“industry”, because it produces, markets and provides
‘products’.However, many different business activities are
involved in this industry, some of which might atfirst sight
appear to operate independently of others. In reality,
different types of activities dependupon each other for
success, and they must be co-ordinated and must operate in
harmony in orderto provide the full ‘tourist product’. For
example:-
Transport (both international and local) is essential to
tourism.
Accommodation and catering of different kinds and
standards are vital.
Both small and large scale entertainment and sporting
facilities need to be provided.
Leisure and holiday centres, sports resorts, sea cruises, fly-
drive holidays, coach and motoring and walking holidays are
organised and run by many different businesses, some small
and some very large;
There are individuals and businesses engaged in promoting,
marketing and selling the tourist products: tour operators,
advertising and publicity specialists, printers and, of course,
the “retailers”- the travel agencies;
In addition, many ‘support’ or ‘ancillary services’, such as
guide or courier facilities, travel insurance, foreign exchange,
travellers cheques and credit facilities, are required to ensure
full “customer satisfaction” with the actual tourist products
provided.

Definitions followed in India

In relation to the definitions provided by the WTO, those
followed in India are different in some ways.
 International Visitor- has been defined as a person holding
a foreign passport, visiting the country and the main
purpose of whose visit is other than the exercise of an
activity remunerated from within the country visited.
• International Tourist-An international tourist has been
defined as a person visiting India on a foreign passport,
staying at least 24 hours in India and the purpose of whose
journey can be classified under one of the following headings:
a. Leisure (recreation, holiday, health, study, religion and
sport.
b. Business, Family, Mission and Meeting.
The following are not regarded as foreign tourists
i) Persons arriving with or without contract to take up an
occupation or engage in activities remunerated from within
the country.
ii) Persons coming to establish residences in the country.
iii) Nationals of Nepal entering India through land-routes
along India- Nepal border.
iv) All foreigners entering India from Bhutan by land and
children aged less than three years.
Excursionist- Excursionist is a visitor staying less than 24 hours
in the country including cruise passengers.
Cruise Passenger- is a visitor who arrives in the country
aboard cruise ships and who does not spend a night in an
accommodation establishment in the country.
Domestic Tourist- A person who travels within the country to
a place other than his usual place of residence and stays at
hotels or other accommodation establishments or stays with
friends and relatives and uses sightseeing facilities, for a
duration of not less than 24 hours or one night and not more
than 6 months at a time for any of the following purposes:
• Pleasure (holiday, leisure, sports and so on)
• Pilgrimage, Religious and Social functions
• Study and Health
The following are not regarded as domestic tourists:
• Persons arriving with or without a contract to take up an
occupation or engage in activities remunerated from within
the state centre.
• Persons visiting their home town or native place on leave or
a short visit for meeting relations and friends, attending social
and religious functions and staying in their own houses or
with relatives and friends and not using any sightseeing
facilities.
• Foreigners resident in India. Here we observe that as per the
Indian definition, a traveller must hold a foreign passport to
be included in the category of an International Visitor; this
implies that Indians settled abroad and holding Indian
Passports will not be counted as International Visitors when
they come to India for recreation, business or other such
purposes. However, nonetheless they are counted as
Domestic Visitors and so here we see that categorisation is
based on nationality rather than place of residence.

International Tourism
International tourism is very popular type of tourism activity,
where people travel to another country. Here people cross
international boundaries. In this type of tourism the tourist
need to fulfil certain formalities to cross the border. The
formalities like Passport, VISA and Health Regulation is very
important for international travel and these travellers are
known as international tourist. “Any tourist travelling to a
country other than his usual place of residence for any reason
other than following an occupation and not for permanent
residence is known as foreign tourist”.
BASIC COMPONENTS OF TOURISM
There are three basic components of tourism which are also
known as 3 A’s of tourism:
1. Accessibility (Transportation)
2. Attraction (Locale)
3. Accommodation
1. Accessibility/Transportation:
Accessibility is the means to reach the destination. Ease of access
to - and from - a destination is an important factor. There are
three modes of transportation, they are Air, Water, Land
(road, rail) and the popular transportation means area
Airlines, Railway, Coaches, Cruise lines, Car rentals etc. It is
generally important for a destination to have regular,
convenient and reasonably priced forms of transport to and
from it. Distance and travel-time from and back to the
country/area of origin might be important considerations in
deciding whether a particular destination will be visited or
not.
2. Attraction (Locale)
An ‘attraction’ is something which appeals to a particular
tourist or to a prospective tourist. It is considered as the most
important basic component of tourism. The Attraction/Locale
may fall in the following types.
Natural attractions such as mountains (individual or ranges),
volcanoes, waterfalls, lakes, beaches, and so on; as well as
climatic conditions, such as sun, blue skies, clean/fresh air,
and so on.
Man-made attractions, such as holiday resorts and
complexes, theme parks, historic or religious sites and
buildings and other constructions (for examplethe Pyramids in
Egypt, the Great Wall of China and the Panama Canal), or
those of architectural interest, and so on.
Symbiotic, despite the distinction shown above, there are
many tourist destinations which depend for their success on a
combination of both natural and man-made attractions. For
example Zoos, Museums, Botanical Gardens etc.
Despite of the above types of attraction, we can see some
other areas in attraction like
Site attractions - which might be countries or areas of
countries or groups of countries, or geographical regions, or
cities or resorts. In effect, it is the destination itself which
appeals to tourists.
Event attractions - which might be exhibitions, sporting
fixtures (e.g. the Olympics and the World Cup Football Final),
international conferences, carnivals, festivals, religious
ceremonies, and so on. Tourists opt to visit the destination
because of what is taking place there at the time they
propose to visit.
Combined site/event attractions - many events are likely to
have greater and added appeal to tourists if they are held in
locations with inherent site attractions.
3. Accommodation
It is the means of food and lodging provided in the
destination. Accommodation is also vital for a destination to
become popular. Tourist those who want to stay in the
destination are in need of food and shelter. The
accommodation canters may vary from Hotels to other
supplementary accommodation. Now a day’s accommodation
itself becomes an attraction. Accommodation varies from
Hotels to Supplementary Accommodation.

ELEMENTS OF TOURISM
There are certain elementsor ingredients of tourism. They are
the fundamental attractions of tourism. They are.
1. Pleasing weather
2. Scenic Attractions
3. Historical and cultural factors
4. Accessibility
5. Amenities
6. Accommodation
7. Safety and security
8. Other factors
a. Guide/ escort facilities.
b. Basic medical facilities.
c. Electricity
d. Water
e. Communication system.
Pleasing weather: - Fineweather with warm sun shine is one
of the most important attractions of any tourist place.
Particularly good weather plays an important role in making a
holiday pleasant or an unpleasant experience. Tourist from
countries with extremes of weather Visit Sea beaches in
search of fine weather and sunshine. Due to this many spas
and resorts along the sea coasts come into existence. The best
example for this is Shimla.

Scenic attractions: - Scenic attractions are very important

factors in tourism. Scenery consisting of mountains, lakes,
waterfalls, glaciers, forests, deserts, is strong forces attracting
people to visit them. Thousands and thousands of tourists are
attracted by the northern slopes of the Alps in Switzerland
and Austria and the southern slopes at Italy and also
Himalayan. Mountain slopes of India and Nepal.

Historical and cultural factors: - Historical and cultural

interest exercised tremendous influence over travellers. Large
numbers of tourists are attracted every year by the great
drawing power of “TajMahal” in the city of Agra in India
because of its famous architectural beauty. So also the world
famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora in India are visited by
tourists because of its architecture and painting.

Accessibility: - Accessibility is another important factor of

tourism. There should be accessibility for each and every
location of tourist attractions. If their locations are
inaccessible by the normal means of transport, it would be of
little importance. All kinds of transport facilities are to be
made available for such locations. The distance factor also
plays an important role in determining a tourist’s choice of a
destination. Longer distance cost much than to short
distances.
Amenities: - Facilities are very essential for any tourist centre.
They are considered necessary aid to the tourist centre. For a
seaside resort facilities like swimming, boating, yachting, surf
riding and such other facilities like deeming recreations and
amusements is an important feature. There are two types of
amenities viz. natural and manmade. Beaches, sea-bathing,
fishing, climbing, trekking, viewing etc. are come under the
former category. Various types of entertainments and
facilities which cater for the special needs of the tourists
come under the latter category.

Accommodation: - The need and necessity of accommodation

cannot be ignored in tourist destination. Accommodation
plays a vital role in this field. Many changes have taken place
in accommodation recently. New types of accommodation,
particularly, holiday villages, apartment houses camping and
caravan sites and tourist cottage etc, have become very
popular. Usually a large number of tourists visit a particular
spot simply because there is a first class hotel with excellent
facilities. Today Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands
have gained reputation for good cuisine, comfort and
cleanliness.

Safety and Security: Safety and security are vital to providing

quality in tourism. More than any other economic activity, the
success or failure of a tourism destination depends on being
able to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors.

Other factors: - Besides the above factors, hospitality is one

such factor among the variety of factors. It is the duty of the
host country to be hospitable towards tourists.
FUTURE OF TOURISM
The future of tourism is expected to be influenced by several
key factors.
Sustainable and Responsible Tourism: There is a growing
emphasis on sustainability and responsible travel practices.
Travelers are increasingly concerned about the environmental
and social impacts of their journeys. In the future, we can
expect more eco-friendly accommodations, renewable energy
use, reduced waste generation, and a focus on preserving
local cultures and ecosystems.

Technology Integration: Advancements in technology will

continue to shape the tourism industry. Virtual reality (VR)
and augmented reality (AR) experiences will allow travelers to
explore destinations before physically visiting them. Artificial
intelligence (AI) will play a role in personalized travel
recommendations, chatbots for customer service, and smart
city management. Blockchain technology may enhance
security and streamline transactions.

Hyper-Personalization: With the help of AI and big data

analytics, tourism providers will be able to offer highly
personalized experiences tailored to individual preferences.
From customized itineraries to personalized
recommendations for attractions, dining, and activities,
travelers will have more options to create their ideal travel
experiences.

Rise of Experience-Based Travel: Traditional sightseeing will

be complemented by experiential travel, where tourists seek
immersive and authentic experiences. This could include
participating in local cultural activities, volunteering, or
learning new skills. Travelers will prioritize creating
meaningful connections and memories over mere sightseeing.

Destinations Off the Beaten Path: As travelers seek unique

experiences, lesser-known destinations are likely to gain
popularity. Instead of crowded tourist hotspots, people may
opt for remote or unconventional locations. This trend could
contribute to more evenly distributed tourism, benefiting
local economies and reducing overtourism in popular
destinations.

Health and Safety Considerations: The COVID-19 pandemic

has significantly impacted the tourism industry, with health
and safety concerns taking center stage. In the future, travel
may involve stricter health protocols, increased use of
contactless technologies, and improved crisis management
strategies to handle unforeseen events.

Collaboration and Community Engagement: The future of

tourism will likely involve closer collaboration between
tourism stakeholders, local communities, and governments.
Sustainable tourism development will require active
involvement from all parties, fostering a sense of ownership
and benefiting both travelers and local residents.
External factors such as political events, economic changes,
environmental challenges, and technological breakthroughs
can significantly shape the future of tourism.
 Module II

Development of means of transport: - Road

transport-Sea/Water transport, Cruise industry-Rail
transport-luxury trains of India-Air transport-India
and international-Travel Documents.
 DEVELOPMENT OF MEANS OF TRANSPORT

Transport is the key factor for the development of tourism,

which facilitates the movement of holidaymakers and business
travellers. Transport provides the essential link between origin
and destination areas. Tourists travelling abroad spend half their
holiday money (about 40%) on travel and transport and the
other half on accommodation and other activities. The most
important function of transport relates to accessibility, which is
one of the 3As of tourism components. Earlier travel was
undertaken for trade, commerce and religion. Advancement in
transportation technology brought about road improvement and
development of other means of transport.
The four major modes of transport prevalent in India are: -
-Road Transport
-Rail Transport
-Water Transport
-Air Transport
ROAD TRANSPORT

Till the beginning of the twentieth century, people travelled

almost exclusively by rail and steamship. With the invention of a
new transport medium i.e. the motorcar, the entire shape of the
tourism industry was transformed. It became the most
promising and potent means suitable for short and medium
distances. With the growth of a fine network of fast and super
fast national and international highway systems, long journeys
were also performed by motorcar and motor coach. After the
Second World War, their use increased manifold. Road transport
became increasingly important in the pursuit of leisure and
tourism.
Road Transport provides basic infrastructure in connecting
people of remote villages to the mainstream of national life.
Mobility can perhaps be one of the major advantages of road
transport over rail and sea transport. The motorcar provides the
actual mobility so that people are no longer anchored to a
particular holiday center, as they tended to be when they mostly
travelled by train or ship. Speed is yet another factor which
helps tourists to economize on time. The automobile provides
greater freedom of travel and choice of destination. The
provision of a good, well-linked road network, roadside services
and facilities is a pre-requisite for the development of both
domestic and international tourism.
In India, it has a vital role in the opening up of interior and
remote areas and is relatively cheaper and less capital intensive.
At the same time it supplements the efficiency of other modes
of transport. Indian roads are classified into the following five
categories:
• National Highway: - These are principal arterial routes
connecting the union capital with the state capitals, major parts
of various highways.
• State Highways: - State highways connect state capitals with
district headquarters, important cities and towns within a state,
the national highways and the highways of adjacent states.
• District Roads: - District roads take the traffic from the main
roads to the interior of each district and to rural areas.
• Classified Village roads connect villages or groups of villages
with each other and to the nearest district road and other main
highways.
• Unclassified Village roads: - These are mostly earthen roads.
Approximately 49% of traffic is handled by the private sector,
and the rest is mainly through state transport undertakings. The
inter-state bus system is well developed and the quality of buses
varies. They fall into the category of ordinary, semi-deluxe,
deluxe and air-conditioned coaches. All information is available
at Bus-stands. Taxis, chauffeur- driven cars, car rental systems;
matador type vans are other services in road transport.

RAIL TRANSPORT

The first regular steam engine passenger run was inaugurated

over a one-mile section on the 7.5-mile track from Canterbury to
Whitstable, Kent, England on May 3, [Link] first self-
propelled locomotive, which ran on rails, was built by Richard
Trevithic [1771-1883] at Salop in England. The first organized rail
transport began in the year 1841. A Baptist preacher of
Derbyshire on his way to a temperance society meeting in
Leicester was inspired with the idea of engaging a special train to
carry the friends of temperance society from Leicester to
Loughborough and back to attend a quarterly delegate meeting.
Thomas Cook gave the idea. A few weeks later, 570 passengers
made the journey by the Midland Counties Railways at a
specially reduced fare. And in this way began a new area in Rail
Passenger transport .The railway can be considered one of the
most powerful motives for mass travel in the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries. Railways are most suitable for long distance
travel. The recent and interesting development in the field of
transportation is the advent of high-speed trains.

Advent of High-Speed Trains:

The energy crisis of 1974 resulted in decrease in use of air travel
and road travel. It became expensive to travel by air and
motorcar or coach. The fuel consumption is two to four times
more in automobiles and ten times more in air travel as
compared to trains.
Following factors were responsible for the growth of rail
transport: -
(i) Fuel consumption per passenger is less in trains.
(ii) Railway stations are located in the heart of cities and train
timings are convenient.
(iii) There is growing congestion at airports and highways, as
they are unable to handle growth in tourist arrivals.
Railways are once again assuming important roles. European
countries, the United States and Japan are revolutionizing the
rail transport by introducing very high-speed trains. Europe was
the first one to formulate a design for a faster and more
comfortable train. London-Manchester line was electrified in
year 1960 at the speed of 160 km per hour. In the United States
of America, Amtrak (American Travel by Track) is offering
modernized long distance services. In Asia, Japan produced
super fast train ‘Hikari Express’ which was popularly known as
‘Bullet Train’ and ran at a speed of 210 km per hour. It was in
France that a world record of speed was broken in the year
1981. In September 1981, a new high-speed train TGV- Trains a
Grande Vitesse, began its commercial operation between Paris
and Lyon at a speed of 260 km. per hour.

INDIAN RAILWAYS
In India, railways have made use of technological advancement
that has resulted in increased speed, comfort and carrying
capacity. In India, a tourist has to use railway facilities wherever
he goes as not all the places are linked by air. Railways have a
great role to play in stimulating and creating traffic particularly
on routes where they can offer speediest and cheapest form of
transport. Indian Railways is the world’s second largest railways
system with staff strength of 1.7 million persons, which is the
largest single employer in the world.
It all began with a small journey from Bombay to Thane on a 34
km track on 16th April 1853. Indian railways run its services on
three gauges viz. Broad gauge (1.676m), meter gauge (1m) and
narrow gauge (0.76).
Here are some of the recent developments in Indian Railways:

1. 100% electrification of broad-gauge routes by 2023. As

of June 2023, 98% of broad-gauge routes have been
electrified. The remaining 2% are expected to be
electrified by the end of the year.
2. Introduction of semi-high-speed Vande Bharat
Expresses. The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-
speed train that can travel at speeds of up to 160
km/h. The first Vande Bharat Express was introduced
in 2018, and there are currently 10 in operation.
3. Introduction of CNG trains. In 2021, the first CNG train
was introduced in India. CNG trains are a more
environmentally friendly alternative to diesel trains.
4. Privatisation of catering in trains. In 2022, the Indian
Railways announced that it would be privatising
catering in trains. This is expected to improve the
quality of food served to passengers.
5. Introduction of new technologies. The Indian Railways
is also introducing new technologies, such as
automatic train protection (ATP) and centralized traffic
control (CTC). These technologies are designed to
improve safety and efficiency.

TOURIST TRAINS
 The Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train. It was
launched by the Indian Railways to promote tourism
in Rajasthan, and has been highly popular since its launch. The
train service was refurnished and launched in August 2009
with a new decor, itinerary and cuisine. The concept of
the Palace on Wheels was derived from the royal background
of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the
personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the
princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat,
the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India. Each
coach has four cabins (named chambers or saloons by the
company) with twin beds, wall-to-wall carpeting, air-
conditioning, DTH satellite television, channel
music, intercom, attached toilets, running hot and cold water,
with personal attendants.
 The Maharaja Express is a luxury train owned by the
Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and
operated from early 2010. The train used to be a joint venture
betweenIndian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
but after the verdict of the High Court and Supreme Court of
India the train now belong exclusively to the IRCTC. The IRCTC
are the owners of the Maharajas Express TrainThe
reintroduced Maharaja Express train offers 5 itineraries, all of
which either begin or end in Delhi and include a visit to
the TajMahal in Agra. Each morning, the train arrives at a
different station for off-rail excursions, including visits to
monuments, heritage sites, shopping, palaces, forts, and
hotels New itineraries announced by the operators of
Maharajas Express include 3 pan-Indian journeys and 2 golden
triangle tour itineraries covering Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The
Maharaja Express is the most expensive luxury train in India. It
was named to the 2011 list of World's Top 25 Trains by The
Society of International Railway Travellers and was praised for
it’son board accommodation and dining facilities, service, and
off-train excursion program after its review in the fall of 2010.
 The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is a luxury tourist
train run by Indian Railways. It is modelled on the Palace on
Wheels, and follows a similar route through Rajasthan.
Tourists are taken to several important tourist, wildlife and
heritage sites across Rajasthan. The train was launched in
January 2009 following the success of the Palace on Wheels,
another luxury train that travels through Rajasthan. Some of
the tourist attractions covered are the HawaMahal (Palace of
Winds), MotiMahal, Sheesh Mahal, Ranthambhor National
Park, Chittaurgarh Fort, Jag Niwas (Lake Palace), Keoladeo
Ghana National Park, Agra Fort and finally the TajMahal.
 The Golden Chariot is a luxury tourist train that
connects the important tourist spots in the Indian states
of Karnataka and Goa. It is named after the Stone Chariot in
the Vitthala Temple atHampi. The 19 coaches on the train are
coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of a mythological
animal with the head of an elephant and a body of a lion.
The Golden Chariot operates weekly and had its maiden
commercial run on March 10, 2008. The train, along with
the Deccan Odyssey, is designed on the lines of the more
popular Palace on Wheels with accommodations, spa
treatments and dining. The train is operated by the Karnataka
State Tourism Development Corporation and marketed
by The Luxury Trains, whereas The Mapple Group handles
the hospitality services on the train. The Golden Chariot offers
accommodation in 44 cabins in 11 coaches. It also has two
restaurants, a lounge bar, and conference, gym and spa
[Link] is the only train in India to have onboard Wi-
Fi connectivity, and satellite antennae providing live television
service in the cabins.
 Royal Orient Express:This train leaves from Delhi
Cantonment halting at Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Ahmedabad
and Jaipur. The tariff for Royal Orient Express is US $ 350 per
person per night on single occupancy.
Indrail Pass:
The Indian Railways doesn’t pay commission to its agents at
domestic level. It charges service-tax from its clients. Indian
Railways pay 10% commission on Indrail Passes sold by travel
agents against foreign exchange. To encourage its sales,
Railways has appointed GSAs in some countries. Tourist can
book tickets through GSAs 360 days in advance.

Metro Railways:
The Indian railways entered into the Metro age with the opening
of the Calcutta Metro Railway in 1984-85. Metro railways in
India have witnessed significant growth and development over
the years. Several cities in India have established or are in the
process of constructing metro rail systems to improve urban
transportation and reduce traffic congestion. Here are some
notable metro rail systems in India:

Delhi Metro: The Delhi Metro is one of the most extensive and
well-established metro systems in India. It began operations in
2002 and has since expanded to cover a vast network across
Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It consists of several
lines and has become a lifeline for commuters in the region.

Kolkata Metro: The Kolkata Metro was the first metro system in
India, inaugurated in 1984. It currently operates a network of
elevated and underground lines in Kolkata, West Bengal. The
metro system has been gradually expanding to cover more areas
of the city.

Mumbai Metro: The Mumbai Metro operates multiple lines in

the bustling city of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The first line, Metro
Line 1 (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar), commenced operations in
2014. Since then, additional lines have been opened, and several
others are under construction or in the planning stages.

Chennai Metro: The Chennai Metro is a rapid transit system

serving the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The first phase of the
metro system was opened in 2015, and it has expanded to cover
various parts of the city. Further phases are planned for future
development.

Bangalore Metro: The Bangalore Metro, also known as Namma

Metro, operates in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The system started
with the opening of the first line in 2011 and has grown over
time. It serves as an important mode of transportation for the
residents of Bengaluru.

Hyderabad Metro: The Hyderabad Metro is a relatively new

metro system that began operations in 2017. It connects
different parts of Hyderabad, Telangana, and aims to provide a
convenient mode of transport for commuters.

Kochi Metro: The Kochi Metro in Kochi, Kerala, is another

notable metro system in India. It began operations in 2017 and
serves as an efficient means of transportation in the city.

Jaipur Metro: The Jaipur Metro in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is a rapidly

developing metro system. The first line of the system was
opened in 2015, and it has plans for further expansion.

These are just a few examples of metro rail systems in India.

Other cities like Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Nagpur also
have ongoing metro projects. The development of metro
railways in India reflects the country's efforts to modernize
urban transportation and provide efficient and reliable public
transit options to its citizens.
SEA/ WATER TRANSPORT

Travel by ship was the only means to travel overseas till the
middle of the 20th century. The earliest type of boat was the raft,
made of grasses, logs and bundles of reeds or other light
material tied together. The ocean shipping originated towards
the Mediterranean Sea. Greeks and Romans navigated in the
vessels with sails and established trade and maintained colonies.
Ocean shipping flourished since the colonies depended on their
motherland for supplies and export opportunities. First
steamship for carrying mail and passenger was inaugurated in
1840 on the North Atlantic port. The opening of the Suez Canal
in 1869 advanced the development of the steamship. The
replacement of coal by oil made transport by sea cheaper. In
America number of sailing ships was built which were better
than those built in England. The decade following World War II
was the most successful period for the shipping industry. A great
number of people from Britain and later Germany along with
other countries used sea transport as tourists. But when jetliners
were introduced on these routes in 1958, the growth of shipping
was reversed. The liners began to leave the service one by one
after that. Finally, some liners diverted their business to cruise
trade. The shipping industry has shifted its emphasis according
to needs of the cruise holiday market, especially in the
Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Overseas shipping has an
important role to play in India’s international trade. The country
is 17th in ranking in world shipping tonnage. Shipping
Corporation of India, a public sector undertaking is the biggest
shipping line in the country.
CRUISES
Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for
vacationing. There are only few passenger ship liners left in the
world which offer transport these days. The line voyages are not
shifted to cruises. The advancement of travel by vessel is due to
the element of relaxation and entertainment. This has resulted
in picking up of the cruise holiday market. The largest numbers
of cruise patrons live in the United States. Some of them are
expanding their capacity for specific demands in certain areas.
North America accounts for 81% of the cruise ships which have
casinos and duty free shopping available on board. India and
Indian Ocean have not yet fully exploited cruise business.
Tourism through cruises has excellent future potential. At
present, a luxury cruise ship on its round the world journey may
touch an Indian port like Cochin, Madras or Bombay. Passengers
take off to Delhi or Agra forsightseeing of India. By taking them
to Goa, Andaman, Sri Lanka and so on, a new cruise market can
be developed.

INLAND WATERWAYS
Lakes, rivers and canals are important sources of fun filled water
holidays. Cruises on the Ganges, Brahamaputra and Hoogly can
be profitable tourist attractions. White Water River rafting has
already started picking up in Haridwar. Cruises became popular
to motivate passengers to enjoy the delights of life on sea.
Cruises have everything to offer which a 5 star hotel can. Now a
day they provide many opportunities to arrange various events
and celebrations to promote it for tourism.

AIR TRAVEL

The birth of air travel and after

The wars increased interest in international travel. This
interest was given the shape of mass tourism by the aviation
industry. The surplus of aircrafts and growth of private airlines
aided the expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become
comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for overseas travel.
With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air
travel for the masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered
flights boosted the package tour market and led to the
establishment of organised mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a
400 seat craft, brought the cost of travel down sharply. The
seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the
Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.

AIR TRANSPORT
Air transport being the most modern and the quickest mode
of transport has been gaining popularity. However, the
exorbitant rates have made it the mode of travel of the rich or
of the business community for whom time is more expensive
than air travel. But the entry of private Airlines and their
various schemes have reduced airfare drastically.
There are currently 15 scheduled airlines operating in India.
The largest airlines are IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Vistara.
Domestic market: The domestic market in India is the third
largest in the world, after the United States and China. In
2022, there were over 100 million domestic passengers in
India.
International market: The international market in India is also
growing rapidly. In 2022, there were over 20 million
international passengers in India.
Some of the major players in the Indian airline industry:
IndiGo: IndiGo is the largest airline in India, with a market
share of over 50%. It is a low-cost carrier that offers
affordable air travel to passengers across India.
Air India: Air India is the national carrier of India. It is a full-
service airline that offers a variety of services to passengers,
including business class and first class.
SpiceJet: SpiceJet is a low-cost carrier that offers affordable
air travel to passengers across India. It is the second largest
airline in India, with a market share of over 20%.
Vistara: Vistara is a full-service airline that is a joint venture
between Air India and Singapore Airlines. It offers a variety of
services to passengers, including business class and premium
economy.

Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited has been providing

helicopter support services to the petroleum sector including
ONGC, Oil India Limited and Hardy Exploration at Chennai.
Apart from these, it also provides services to certain state
governments and public sector undertakings and in the north
eastern states.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulates

international air travel with its head office in Montreal in
Canada. It was established in 1945. IATA regulates the prices of
air tickets in different areas of travel in the world. The IATA
decides all international airfares. The respective governments
decide domestic airfares. IATA provides machinery, which makes
the worldwide system of air transportation possible. IATA has
been closely associated with the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), an inter-government agency established
also in 1945 that creates world standards for technical regulation
and standardization of civil aviation.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
TYPES OF PASSPORTS
A rough standardization exists in types of passports
throughout the world, although passport types, number of
pages and definitions can vary by country.
 Ordinary passport, [Tourist passport, Regular
passport, Passport]
Issued to citizens and other nationals, and generally the most-
issued type of passport. Sometimes it is possible to have
children registered within the ordinary passport of the parent,
rendering the passport functionally equal to a family passport.
 Official passport [Service passport, also Special
passport]
Issued to government employees for work-related travel, and
to accompanying dependents.
 Diplomatic passport
Issued to diplomats for work-related travel, and to
accompanying dependents. Although most diplomats with
diplomatic immunity carry diplomatic passports, having a
diplomatic passport is not the equivalent of having diplomatic
immunity. A grant of diplomatic status, a privilege of which is
diplomatic immunity, has to come from the government of
the country in relation to which diplomatic status is claimed.
Also, having a diplomatic passport does not mean visa-free
travel. A holder of a diplomatic passport usually has to obtain
a diplomatic visa, even if a holder of an ordinary passport may
enter a country visa-free or may obtain a visa on arrival.
In exceptional circumstances, a diplomatic passport is given to
a foreign citizen with no passport of his own, such as an exiled
VIP who lives, by invitation, in a foreign country.
Emergency passport [Temporary passport]
Issued to persons whose passports were lost or stolen, and
who do not have time to obtain replacement passports.
Sometimes laissez-passerare used for this purpose.
 Collective passport
Issued to defined groups for travel together to particular
destinations, such as a group of school children on a school
trip to a specified country.
 Family passport
Issued to family members—father, mother, son, daughter.
There is one passport holder. The passport holder may travel
alone or with one or more other family members. A family
member who is not the passport holder cannot use the
passport for travel unless accompanied by the passport
holder.
 Alien's passport
A document issued under certain circumstances -such as
statelessness- to non-citizen residents. Sometimes alien's
passports are issued as internal passport to non-residents.
VISA
Travelling to India for tourism, business, studies or other
purposes requires a valid passport and an entry visa. Visas are
issued in the Indian Embassies or Missions abroad. No entry
visas are issued at the entry point. A passenger who is
travelling without an entry visa shall be detained and
deported.
The Passport of the person who is applying for the visa should
be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of
intended departure date from India. Foreigners holding
nationalities other than the country from where applying for
visa, should submit proof of long-term (at least three years)/
permanent residence in the country from where they are
applying.
The following visas are issued from the Indian Missions
abroad.
Tourist Visas
Entry visas for tourists are generally issued for six months
from the date of issue. Tourist travelling in groups of not less
than four members under the auspices of a recognised travel
agency may be considered for grant of collective tourist visa.
If a traveller plans to visit neighbouring countries and re-enter
India, ask for a six months visa with a request for multiple
entries.
Business Visas
Business Visas are issued for one or more year with multiple
entries. A letter from sponsoring organization indicating
nature of business, probable duration of stay, places and
organizations to be visited with a guarantee to meet
maintenance expenses, etc. should accompany the
application.
Student Visas
Student Visas are issued for the duration of the academic
course of study or for a period of five years whichever is less,
on the basis of firm letters of admission from
Universities/recognised colleges or educational institutions in
India. Change of purpose and institutions are not permissible.
Transit Visas
Transit Visas are issued for a maximum period of 15-days with
single/double entry facilities to bona fide transit passengers
only.
Visas to Missionaries
Visas to Missionaries are valid for single entry and duration as
permitted by Government of India. A letter in triplicate from
sponsoring organization indicating intended destination in
India, probable length of stay, and nature of duties to be
discharged should be submitted along with guarantee for
applicant’s maintenance while in India.
Journalist Visas
Journalist Visas are issued to professional journalists and
photographers for visiting India. The applicants are required
to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity
Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places,
the Office of the Government of India's Press Information
Bureaus.
Conference Visas
Conference Visas are issued for attending conferences or
seminars or meetings in India. A letter of invitation from the
organiser of the conference is to be submitted along with the
visa application. Delegates coming to attend conferences may
combine tourism with attending conferences
Employment Visas
Employment Visas are issued to skilled and qualified
professionals or persons who are engaged or appointed by
companies, organisations, economic undertakings as
technicians, technical experts, senior executives etc.
Applicants are required to submit proof of contract or
employment or engagement of foreign nationals by the
company or organisation.
Tourism visas can be extended by three months at the
foreigner's registration office in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta
and Madras. It can also be extended with the Superintendent
of Police at any District Headquarters. If overstayed, beyond
180 days, the tourist is required to get a tax clearance
certificate available at the foreigner's section of the income
tax department in every major city. It is recommended to
keep records of all money transactions to prove legality.
 Module III

Tourism Products:-Types (Natural, Manmade,

Symbiotic) –Eco tourism, Adventure tourism-
Sustainable tourism- Responsible tourism- Nature
based tourism- Green tourism- Multi sport
adventures- Cultural tourism- Health tourism- Rural
tourism-Ethnic tourism - Spiritual tourism- Golf
tourism- Space tourism- Pro poor tourism- Dark
Tourism etc.- Important Tourist Destinations in India
and Kerala
 TOURISM PRODUCTS
FORMS/TYPES OF TOURISM PRODUCT
The tourist product can be entirely a man-made one or
nature’s creation improved upon by man.

NATURAL TOURISM PRODUCTS

These include natural resources such as areas, climate and its
setting, landscape and natural environment. Natural
resources are frequently the key elements in a destination’s
attraction. Let us look at some examples:
1) Countryside
2) Climate- temperature, rains, snowfall, days of sunshine
3) Natural Beauty- landforms, hills, rocks, gorges, terrain
4) Water- lakes, ponds, rivers, waterfalls, springs
5) Flora and Fauna
6) Wildlife
7) Beaches
8) Islands
9) Spas
10) Scenic Attractions

MAN- MADE TOURISM PRODUCTS

Man- made tourism products are created by man for
pleasure, leisure or business. Man- made tourism products
include:
a) Culture
• Sites and areas of archaeological interest
• Historical buildings and monuments
• Places of historical significance
• Museums and art galleries
• Political and educational institutions
• Religious institutions
b) Traditions
• Pilgrimages
• Fairs and festivals
• Arts and handicrafts
• Dance
• Music
• Folklore
• Native life and customs
c) Entertainment
• Amusement and recreation parks
• Sporting events
• Zoos and oceanariums
• Cinemas and theatre
• Night life
• Cuisine
d) Business
• conventions
• conferences

SYMBIOTIC TOURISM PRODUCTS

Some tourism products do not fall into the above categories.
Wildlife sanctuary, Marine parks, Aero products and Water
sports, Flower festivals are the example of tourism products
which are a blending of nature and man. Nature has provided
the resource and man has converted them into a tourism
product by managing them. National parks for example, are
left in their natural
state of beauty as far as possible, but still need to be
managed, through provision of access, parking facilities,
limited accommodation, litter bins etc. Yet the core attraction
is still nature in this category of product. These products are
symbiosis of nature and man.

OTHER TOURISM PRODUCTS

Eco tourism
Perhaps the most over-used and miss-used word in the travel
industry. But what does it mean? The Ecotourism Society
defines it as "responsible travel to natural areas which
conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the
local people". A walk through the rainforest is not eco-tourism
unless that particular walk somehow benefits that
environment and the people who live there. A rafting trip is
only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and/or funds to help
protect the watershed. A loose interpretation of this
definition allows many companies to promote themselves as
something they are not. If true eco-tourism is important to
you, ask plenty of questions to determine if your trip will help
"conserve and improve" the places you visit.
Adventure Travel
Another term which is heavily used by marketing
departments. While travel to another country is often
adventurous it is not necessarily "Adventure Travel". Most
dictionaries define adventure similarly: "an unusual
experience including some level of risk and uncertainty".
Adventure Travel includes this idea of perceived risk and
oftentimes some unconventional means of transport.
A dugout canoe journey deep into the Amazon basin with it's
attendant difficulties meets this definition. While a city tour of
Paris might have some level of uncertainty it is not by
definition "Adventure Travel". If you love true adventure you
probably already know this and can see through the hype to
find the real thing for yourself.

There is sometimes a distinction made between "soft" and

"hard" adventures. Soft adventures have a lower level of risk,
greater comfort in accommodations and are less physically
rigorous. Hard adventures often have very basic facilities,
higher risk factor and greater physical challenge (ie: mountain
climbing, backpacking or river expeditions).
Sustainable Tourism
Any form of tourism that does not reduce the availability of
resources and does not inhibit future travelers from enjoying
the same experience. If the presence of large numbers of
tourists disturbs an animal's mating patterns so that there are
fewer of that species in the future then that visit was not
sustainable. Kayaking school on a free flowing river is an
example of sustainable tourism. Big game hunting in Africa is
not.
Responsible Tourism
Tourism which operates in such a way as to minimize negative
impacts on the environment. A wilderness camping trip using
"leave no trace" ethics would be considered responsible
tourism while dune buggy tours would not.
Nature-Based Tourism
A more generic term for any activity or travel experience with
a focus on nature. Remote jungle lodges fall into this category
as do cruise ships to view penguins in Antarctica. These types
of trips may or may not be environmentally sustainable or
responsible.
Green Tourism
Often used inter-changeably with eco-tourism and sustainable
tourism but more accurately described as "any activity or
facility operating in an environmentally friendly fashion". A
lodge with composting toilets, gray water system, and solar
powered lighting is probably "green". There are varying
degrees of "greenness"; an awareness of where resources are
coming from and where wastes are going is at the heart of the
idea.
Multi-Sport Adventures
These trips have a focus on physical outdoor
activities. Rafting, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, diving,
etc. all offered in the same package. Not necessarily
sustainable or eco but might be since many companies want
to protect the areas where these activities take place.
Cultural Tourism
Interacting with, understanding and learning about unique
cultures is the focus of this style of trip. The concept of
learning from other cultures to broaden ones’ perspective is
usually a core value. An artisan showing you how to weave a
tapestry and learning from them about their traditional dress
would be a form of cultural tourism. Buying crafts in the
market with no more interaction than the exchange of money
does not provide the insight into another culture that is the
central theme of cultural tourism.
Health Tourism
Holidaying is generally considered as an investment in health,
a subject that presents opportunities of cost- benefit analysis.
The medical expertise of various countries has added a new
product to the existing tourism products. People are travelling
to various countries for treatment of various ailments and
medical procedures like Cardio care, Bone Marrow
Transplant, Dialysis and Kidney transplant, Neuro surgery,
Joint Replacement Surgery, Urology, Osteoporosis, and
numerous other diseases. Even cosmetic surgery, alternative
medicines like homeopathy, acupressure, Ayurveda medicines
and naturopathy are also becoming tourism products wherein
travel companies are offering Yoga and Rejuvenation
packages. Tourists travel for what is illegal in one's own
country, e.g. abortion, euthanasia; for instance, euthanasia
for noncitizens is provided by Dignitas in Switzerland. Tourists
travel also for advanced care that is not available in one's own
country, in the case that there are long waiting lists in one's
own country or for use of free or cheap health care
organisations.
Rural Tourism
Any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture
and heritage at rural locations, thereby, benefiting the local
community economically and socially as well as enabling
interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more
enriching tourism experience an be termed as rural tourism. It
is multifaceted and may entail farm/agricultural tourism,
cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, and eco-
tourism. The stresses of urban lifestyles have lead to this
counter- urbanisation approach to tourism. There are various
factors that have lead to this changing trend towards rural
tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest
in heritage and culture and improved accessibility and
environmental consciousness, Tourists like to visit villages to
experience and live a relaxed and healthy lifestyle.
Ethnic Tourism
Ethnic tourism is travelling for the purpose of observing the
cultural expressions of lifestyles of truly exotic people. Such
tourism is exemplified by travel to Panama to study the San
Blas Indians or to India to observe the isolated hill tribes of
Assam. Typical destination activities would include visits to
native homes, attending traditional ceremonies and dances,
and possibly participating in religious rituals.
Senior Citizen Tourism
A newly emerging trend in tourism, basically for senior
citizens or old people who live in isolation, especially in the
west, because of daily busy schedules of their children and
more importantly the attitudes. The characteristic feature of
this type of tourism is that the senior people are less
demanding in the form of facilities and services, besides
leaving minimum impact on the destination community and
their main consideration is on personalised service.
Spiritual Tourism
Many people when living under conditions of stress turn to
spirituality. The Eastern world is considered to be very
spiritual with many of the new age Gurus and their
hermitages. This takes the form of another tourism product,
that is, spiritual tourism. Tourists visit places to attend
spiritual discourses and meditation workshops. For example,
TheOsho Foundation, Art of Living Foundation which have
centres all over the world, Buddhist Monasteries and
Ashrams.
Golf Tourism
Golf has been enjoyed by many for a long time. Earlier it was
enjoyed as a sport but in recent times it has developed into a
hot tourism product. Many tourist organizations plan
promotional packages to woo the golf tourist especially from
Japan where the green fees are very high. These tourists take
exclusive golfing holidays wherein their accommodation is
also arranged near the course and they return after serious
golf playing.
Important Tourist Destinations in India.
1. Agra - TajMahal, Agra Fort, FatehpurSikri
2. Jaipur - HawaMahal, Amer Fort, City Palace,
JantarMantar
3. Delhi - Red Fort, QutubMinar, India Gate, Jama Masjid
4. Varanasi - Ganges River, KashiVishwanath Temple,
Sarnath
5. Udaipur - City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jag Mandir,
FatehSagar Lake
6. Mumbai - Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Elephanta
Caves, Colaba Market
7. Goa - Beaches, Portuguese architecture, Anjuna
Market, Dudhsagar Falls
8. Rajasthan - Jaisalmer Fort, Jodhpur's Blue City,
Pushkar, Ajmer
9. Hampi - UNESCO World Heritage Site, VijayaVittala
Temple, Virupaksha Temple
10. Amritsar - Golden Temple, Wagah Border Ceremony,
JallianwalaBagh
11. Kolkata - Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Indian
Museum, Sundarbans
12. Chennai - Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San
Thome Basilica, Mahabalipuram
 13. Leh-Ladakh - Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, Magnetic
Hill, Leh Palace
14. Rishikesh - Ganges River, LaxmanJhula,
ParmarthNiketan Ashram, Yoga and Meditation
Retreats
15. Shimla - Mall Road, The Ridge, Kufri, Jakhu Temple
16. Darjeeling - Tiger Hill, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway,
Tea Gardens
17. Mysore - Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Brindavan
Gardens
18. Khajuraho - Khajuraho Temples, KandariyaMahadeva
Temple
19. Jammu and Kashmir - Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Srinagar,
Sonamarg, Pahalgam
Important tourist destinations in Kerala
1. Alleppey (Alappuzha): Famous for its backwaters,
houseboat cruises, and serene canals.
2. Munnar: A hill station known for its tea plantations,
misty mountains, and pleasant weather.
3. Kochi (Cochin): A vibrant city with a rich history,
known for its Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi, and
colonial architecture.
4. Kumarakom: A backwater destination known for its
bird sanctuary, houseboat stays, and Ayurvedic
treatments.
5. Thekkady: Home to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary,
known for its boat safaris, elephant rides, and spice
plantations.
6. Kovalam: A popular beach destination with beautiful
sandy shores and lighthouses.
7. Varkala: Known for its pristine beach, scenic cliffs, and
the ancient JanardhanaSwamy Temple.
8. Wayanad: A picturesque hill station with lush green
landscapes, waterfalls, and wildlife sanctuaries.
9. Thrissur: Known as the cultural capital of Kerala,
famous for its ThrissurPooram festival, temples, and
traditional art forms.
10. Kozhikode (Calicut): Known for its historic sites,
beautiful beaches, and aromatic spice markets.
11. Bekal: Famous for its scenic Bekal Fort, beautiful
beaches, and backwaters.
12. Poovar: A tranquil village located near
Thiruvananthapuram, known for its golden beach,
backwaters, and estuary.
13. Marari: A peaceful beach village near Alleppey,
offering a relaxing and laid-back atmosphere.
14. Athirapally: Known for its magnificent Athirapally
Waterfalls, often called the "Niagara of India."
15. Kannur: Famous for its pristine beaches, ancient forts,
and Theyyam rituals.
 Module IV

Accommodation Industry- History-Types-

Departments-Categorisation in India (Star)-Room
types-Travel Agency-Types and Functions-Tour
Operators-Types and Functions -Characteristics of
tourism- Impacts of tourism (Economic,
Environmental, Socio-cultural) -Reference Books
 ACCOMMODATION

INTRODUCTION
Accommodation is a function of travel. It creates a home
away from home for the tourist. Hotel industry is the most
sophisticated industry today. We need to study the kinds of
accommodation available, how they are being graded and
what are the factors that are worth noting for a tourist
professional regarding the satisfaction of clients.
Accommodation is in other words the matrix of tourism. The
United Nations Conference on International Travel and
Tourism held in 1963, acknowledged the importance of
accommodation, both traditional (hotel\motel) and
supplementary (Camp, Youth hostels and so on) asincentives
to International tourism.
HISTORY OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
Until about the middle of the nineteenth century, a bulk of
the journeys was undertaken was for business and vocational
reasons by road and within the boundaries of countries. The
volume of travel was relatively small and was confined to a
fraction of the rich segment of the population in any country.
India is known as a friendly place for guests.
“AtithiDevoBhava” or “Guest is God” has been the slogan
since time immemorial. There were no hotels in the ancient
times and needs of travellers for food and accommodation
were taken care by householders. Kings built Dharamshalas,
constructed roads, planted trees and arranged for drinking
water. Muslim rulers built Sarais. In USA Inns took the name
of taverns.
As civilization and industrialization took place, establishment
of accommodation took place. British were the first one to
contribute to this sector. ‘Victory hotel’ and ‘Albion hotel’
were perhaps the first to acquire the name ‘Hotel in India’.
The first western style hotel was opened by
PallongeePestonjee in 1840 with the name ‘British Hotel’ in
Mumbai. The twentieth century was a turning point in the
history of the hotel industry in India. Big business owners and
corporate owners entered the accommodation sector. In
1902, Indian Hotel Company was incorporated and in 1904, J.
N. Tata opened the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. Thereafter a number
of other hotels were opened such as Ajanta, New Woodland,
Grand Hotel, Associated Hotel of India Ltd., East India Hotels
Ltd., Oberoi Hotels, and Wild Flower Hall and so on. After
independence many private and public sector entrepreneurs
entered into the accommodation business such as Air India,
Indian TourismDevelopment Corporation, Indian Tobacco
Company Limited, and Clarks Group of Hotels and so on.

Definition of a Hotel:
A hotel provides accommodation, meals and refreshment for
irregular periods of time for those who may reserve their
accommodation either in advance or on the premises. Hotel is
defined in several ways: “A place which supplies board and
lodging” or “A place for the entertainment of the travellers”.
A hotel is an institution or a building in which lodging, meals
and other services are provided for travellers. A hotel also
provides amenities like Fridge and television and facilities like
room services, laundry services, valet, shops, auto rentals,
airline ticketing, reservation, banking and postal services. “A
hotel is a world within a world with its peculiar movements
and fashions”. A hotel is a fixed immobile installation. Its
products and services cannot move to tourists. It is an open
and unique system where the tourist moves in, consumesthe
product and returns with an intangible product.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF HOTELINDUSTRY

At the international level, the International Hotel Association
(IHA) was founded in London in 1946. It has its headquarters
in Paris now. It brings under its network thousands of
international hotels and individual hoteliers from all over the
world. It deals with various aspects of hotel management and
links them together. It tries to unite the hotel associations of
all countries and provides opportunities to discuss and solve
their problems. It also trains young workers at IHA hotels. It
publishes the International Hotel Guide and International
Hotel Review every year. At the national level, the Federation
of Hotel and Restaurant
Association of India (FHRAI) regulates the hotel industry in
India. It was founded in 1954. The Federation caters to
various needs of the industry. It establishes link with
Government and provides relief in day to day working of
hotels. It also carries out surveys and research studies for the
Hotel industry.
TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION
According to physical features the accommodation industry
can be broadly divided into three types:
(i) Traditional/ Hotel Accommodation: Traditional
accommodation includes hotels and motels. They can further
be subdivided into various types.
(ii) Supplementary Accommodation: This includes premises,
which offer accommodation but not necessarily hotel
services. In the Indian context it includes bungalows,
government rest houses, and
youth hostels and so on.
(iii) New accommodation Concepts: These are new concepts
of accommodation, which have come into being. It has the
combination of both the types discussed earlier. They include
Condominiums, Time-sharing, Pensions, Paradors, Camping
grounds, Villas, Eurotel and Apart hotels.
Traditional Accommodation
International Hotel
International hotels are the modern western style hotels in
almost all metropolitan and other big cities as well as principal
tourist centers. These hotels are luxury hotels and are
classified on the basis of internationally accepted system of
classification. The hotels are placed in star categories. There
are five such categories ranging from 5 stars to one star
depending upon the facilities and services provided. Hotels
belonging to international chains are owned by public
companies and controlled by a Board of
Directors.
Commercial Hotels:
The commercial hotels cater primarily to the individual
travellers as compared to international hotel where the focus
is on the group travel. Most of the commercial hotels receive
the travellers who are there on business. They are situated in
important commercial and industrial centersor in big towns or
cities. Private owners run these hotels and their success
depends on their efficiency and kind of services provided.
Resorts:
Resort hotels cater to the need of holidaymaker, and those
tourists who travel for health or change of climate. Resort
hotels are located near the sea, mountains and other areas of
natural beauty. Rest, relaxation and entertainment are the
key factors around which resorts are built. The type of
services and amenities located in resort properties include
recreation facilities such as a swimming pool, golf course,
tennis courts, skiing, boating, surf riding and other various
indoor sports. Other important amenities include coffee
shops, restaurants, conference rooms, lounge, shopping
arcade and entertainment.
Resort can be classified on the basis of climate and
topography such as summer, winter, and hill, Health Resorts,
Forest Resorts and Beach Resorts.
Roatel:
Roatel is an air-conditioned coach. It provides sleeping
accommodation, food and transport all in one. The sleeping
coach has rooms with beds in three tiers besides a cupboard
for clothes. It provides each passenger with bedding, reading
light, a shelf for articles, personal mirror. A kitchen with sink,
cupboards, and refrigerators get attached to this coach.
Floating Hotels:
This hotel facility is provided on the surface of water on sea,
river or lake. It has excellently finished drawing room, sitting,
dining and sleeping rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting. The
houseboats of Kashmir are examples of Floating Hotels. They
are classified into various categories viz. Deluxe, A, B, C and D
and are rated accordingly. These are made of Cedar wood.
The designed terrace can serve as an open-air cocktail terrace
or a place for viewing the morning sunrise. All modern
amenities like, a well-equipped kitchen, telephone, TV, video
etc are to be found in thehouseboat.
Heritage Hotels:
A new classification standard of heritage hotel has been
introduced to cover hotels in palaces, havelies, castles, forts
and residences built prior to 1950. In India, this type of hotel
is extremely popular with foreign tourists. The hotel should
have at least fifteen rooms. The traditional structure reflects
the ambience and lifestyle of kings and Nawabs of bygone
era. This scheme was introduced to save these properties
from decaying due to disuse. This way they have been made
financially viable as they belong to the approved sector and
get proper care besides adding to the capacity of
accommodation sector. These hotels have adequate sporting
facilities, continental and traditional cuisine, other facilities
like parking facilities, cloakrooms having modern facilities and
lobby or lounge having furniture of high standard. There
should be a reception, cash and information counter attended
by trained and experienced personnel, well maintained dining
and bar room and the staff must understand English.

Motels:
They are the same as tourist hotels except that they are
geared to accommodate the motor traveling public. According
to Webster “Motel is a building or institution providing
lodging, meals and services to the public.” It offers its services
for sale, individually or in various combinations.
Motel is an abbreviation of the phrase ‘Antomata Motel’. It is
a type of accommodation inexpensive for its category and
easy to manage. This is the accommodation usually found by
the side of highways. Reception is greatly simplified. The
provision of a close circuit television permits contact between
guest and front office-staff. Money operations, the checking
of passport and registration are fully mechanized. Services are
efficient with the degree of personal attention. It gets its
image the way in which it portrays itself.
Tourist Cabinets or Camps:
It consists of frame cottages. The cottages are rented at low
rates. They range in size from 5 to 12 units. They provide bed
and shelter.
Tourist Court:
It offers facilities for private bath, car shelters and some
timescooking facilities. These are situated at the roadside,
generally on the highway on the outskirts of town or in resort
areas. Many of them now have a restaurant, swimming pool
and air-conditioned facilities.
Roadside Motels or Highway Motels:
These are situated outside the towns in the countryside along
with the main highways and preferably in an important road
junction. Resort Properties: Florida, California, Miami, Arizona
have a wide variety of such accommodations. This type of
Motel enables many more travellers to reach the resort area
by motorcar.
City Motel and Motor Motels:
These motels are built within the limits of the city. The
limitation of suitable land area and the increased value makes
it more difficult to provide parking space. They have a
basement, ground floor, first floor and adjoining area for
parking facilities. In these motels one can find all the facilities
plus convenient parking.
Supplementary Accommodation:
All establishments under this heading are designed to offer
accommodation and meals in return for cash payment per day
spent on the basis of services provided. This type of
accommodation has following
advantages:
-More reasonable prices.
-More freedom with regard to organization of the day.
-A close approach to the natural environment.
-Social contact and amusement.
Sarais or Inns:
Kings built the Sarais on both sides of the roads in India where
arrangements are made for food and shelter for the
convenience of pilgrims,merchants and state officials.
Tourist Bungalows:
These bungalows are situated at tourist centers for the
benefit of tourists and are maintained moderately. These
establishments cater to the middle class tourists and budget
travellers and also the youth of the country and those coming
from overseas. These bungalows provide the nucleus of the
tourism infrastructure for the domestic tourists and facilities
suitable to meet the requirements of the average Indian
tourist and the budget travellers.
Dak Bungalows:
These are set up primarily for officials travelling on
government duty. These are small rest houses, having limited
number of rooms and situated in places important from the
point view of government’s working. They are moderately
furnished and are offered at a very low cost.
Circuit House:
Compared to tourist bungalows, these houses are superior as
regard to the facilities offered. These are meant for senior
government officials. The accommodation in these houses is
provided to the bonafide tourists possessing ‘tourist card’.
There are big halls with several individual beds. Each bed is
provided with a rack and a pigeonhole, which can be locked.
Guests can use them for their personal belongings and
valuables. The bathrooms and toilets are common. Their
charges are nominal and there are more suitable for the
student’s groups. They do not provide food.
Railway Retiring Rooms:
These are owned by railway and are situated within the
railway station. Accommodation is provided to bonafide
railway passengers holding confirmed and current tickets. The
rates charged by these establishments are fixed and
reasonable. They are moderately furnished rooms with
attached bath and toilets.
Traveller’s Lodge:
These are modest hotels situated in remote places of tourist
interest. The rooms in these lodges are moderately furnished
but they are cozyand air-conditioned. These are self-sufficient
establishments as it is not possible for the guests to go to the
far-off town or city for the purchase of the things of daily
requirement. They provide a dining hall with fixed or slightly
fixed menu and daily necessities of life like oil, comb, towel,
tea and coffee.
Boarding House:
These are the establishments, which provide accommodation
usually with meals at definite period of time, week or month.
Their facilities are restricted for use by resident guests. It is a
small enterprise intended for clients staying for a certain
duration. As a rule accommodation in these units has to be
arranged in advance. These are also called guesthouses.
Paying Guest Accommodation:
It is a British concept. The paying guest accommodation
system has become popular in India also. Many foreign
tourists love it because it gives them an opportunity to
interact with Indian families. The benefit of this system is that
it is quick to respond to seasonal demands. It is very popular
in Rajasthan and Goa.
Youth Hostels:
The concept was introduced in 1900. A youth hostel is defined
as a building, which offers clean, simple, inexpensive shelter
to young people experiencing their own country or the world,
travelling independently or in groups on holiday or for
educational purposes. It is a place where young people of
different social background and nationalities can meet and
come to know each other. The comfort in modest, the stay is
limited and price is low. Youth hostels are created and
controlled by non-commercial organization whose aim is the
development of youth tourism. On the international scale, the
hostel movement has gained momentum all over the world.
The youth hostels are so located as to offer complete package
tour of a country covering monuments, places of historical
and cultural importance. These are equipped to
accommodate young men and woman, tourists who travel on
foot or bicycle or other means of locomotives
and who, at very little cost, are provided with a place to sleep,
eat or even to make their own meal and then clean up.
Forest Lodges:
The rest houses at sanctuaries, which fill in the shortage of
accommodation at such places, are called Forest Lodges. The
state concerned makes land available free of cost, provides
water and electricity connections and also undertake
supporting construction for staff quarters, garbage and
dormitory for drivers. Their location is finalized with the
concerned ministry and State Forest Department. ITDC is
entrusted with the responsibility for the management of all
the forest lodges. These lodges are very popular among
nature tourists who love wildlife as they provide a clear view
of the forests to the residents from the guest rooms.
Examples of forest lodges are Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary
inAssam, Bharatpur Sanctuary in Rajasthan and others
Hospices:
These are the type of accommodation used by persons who
travel mainly for religion. The owner of the establishment
offers accommodation to pilgrims who could find a place to
sleep, a fire to keep
them warm and something to eat.
New Accommodation Concepts:
Most of these are based on American and European concepts.
They are neither totally traditional nor supplementary
accommodation.
Condominiums:
They are a recent innovation. It involves joint ownership of a
complex. These are hotels with apartments. The
condominium units are sold to undivided owners, who give it
on contract basis to Management Company to operate the
hotel and rent the space to visiting tourists. The management
company receives fees for the services. At the end of the year,
they share the profit or loss with the owners of the
condominiums. Family tourists prefer this type of
accommodation as they provide enough space and facility to
cook and they are also economical.
Time Sharing:
Time-sharing is a specialized condominium ownership. This
concept came from the Europe. This system started when
people experienced difficulties in getting reservations at a
resort of their choice at their preferred time. The people
started prepaying. If the tourist wants to spend 2 weeks in a
particular place for next 10 years, he can get this guaranteed
accommodation by paying much less than the usual charges.
This time-sharing can also be exchanged by selling this to their
friends if in a particular year they don’t want to do so. In India
Dalmia Resorts, Sterling Resorts and others are offering this
facility.
All-Suite Hotels:
This is the newest concept in hotel keeping. These hotels have
suites, which have the same charges as any deluxe room in a
hotel. This concept has brought units within the range of
junior executives. They are provided only the basic services.
Private caterers provide restaurant services and not the
management of the hotel. These services are provided in India
by Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt and Radisson and others.
Pensions:
These are found in Europe and USA. These are
accommodations with facilities owned and run by a family
usually living in the same building. Pensions are known as
residential hotels. These were developed in the USA when
people discovered that permanent living in hotels has many
advantages. These are mostly available in cities. They play an
important role in accommodating touristsspecially those with
a limited budget.
Paradors:
This is Spanish concept. These are castles, convents and
monasteries converted into hotels by the government.
Paradors are similar to Palaces in Rajasthan.
Camping Grounds/Tourist Camps:
These are usually located within the cities in the open spaces.
They provide facilities for parking, tent pitching, water,
electricity, toilet etc. These are equipped to receive mobile
form of accommodation used by tourists who sleep in the
tents and enjoy the natural environment. Campers have to
pay an admission fees. In the sixties when overland traffic
from Europe to India via the Asian Highway was considerable,
Government of India had set up camping sites in major cities.
Now domestic tourists use these.
Farm Houses:
These are very popular in U.K and India. Tourists who are
interested in healthy food and natural outdoor life prefer
these. Big farmers build farmhouses on the land used for
cultivation and package it to tourists for extra income. In
Denmark, it has been quite successful in packaging farm
holidays through travel agents for international market.
Villas/ Chalet:
These are single-family houses for sale or rent to tourists or
holidaymakers.
Eurotel:
This type of accommodation is much common with apartment
houses and its characteristic feature is that the co-owners can
use another apartment in another places and another building
through exchange system agreed upon in advance.
Apart hotel:
This concept was first developed in Spain. These buildings are
hotels because hotel services are provided and yet they are
not hotels because the accommodation consists of an
apartment, which may be sold if desired. The purchaser of the
apartment gets the full services of a hotel during the periods
these are not self occupied, can add their apartments to the
pool of hotel accommodation and thus derive income from
the hotel.

DEPARTMENTS IN A HOTEL
Housekeeping:
It is also known as accommodation operations. The main aim
of housekeeping department is to keep hotel clean and
maintain the property. Housekeeping department plays a very
important role for guest satisfaction by keeping the property
clean, comfortable and hygienic. The housekeeping
department takes pride to create “home away from home”.
As we all know hotel’s margins comes from rooms sales and
up-keeping of rooms i.e. by maintaining rooms during guests
stay and preparing room after they check out etc. Apart from
rooms housekeeping is also responsible for public area
cleaning, swimming pool cleaning, lobby, gardens, floors,
cloak rooms, restaurants, kitchen, shopping arcade, cabanas
etc.
Housekeeping department includes:
 Lost and found department.
 Horticulture department.
 Linen and Uniform room.
 Laundry department.
 Tailor room.
Front office:
This is the department which is responsible for the sale of
hotel rooms. Here sale means the use of hotel rooms for
some time by paying a particular price for it by the guest. This
is the only department which generates maximum revenue.
This department holds the prime importance as it builds the
image of the hotel by giving warm welcome to the guest. If
guests need anything they will contact at the reception only,
so front office department has the maximum interaction with
guests. It does the reservation of the rooms and then as the
guests check in to the hotel, registration process takes place
and after this room is assigned to the guest. The front office
takes the onus to ensure that the guests have the pleasant
time during their stay and also takes care of the departure
procedure. The entire billing and auditing process takes place
in this department.
Front office department have:
 Reception.
 Reservation.
 Business center.
 Concierge.
 Information department.
 Cashier and foreign currency exchange.
 Cloak rooms and bell desk.
 Telephone exchange.
Food and Beverage Service:
This is the department which serves food and beverage to the
guests. This is the second most revenue producing
department of the hotels. Whenever guests want to enjoy
meal or drinks with great ambiance they visit restaurants and
bars. There are so many restaurants with different cuisines,
some with live kitchen, pubs, bars and cafe which even
operates 24 hours. These restaurants are based on different
themes, giving guests an amazing experience. There are
different types of services offered in the restaurant such as
buffet service, table of the host and al a cart menu i.e.
according to the card. The waiters follow all the rules of
service and serve food, drinks in the finest cutlery and
crockery to the guest.
Food and beverage department includes:
 Inside and outdoor catering.
 Pubs and bars.
 Restaurants
 Cafes
 Room service
Food production:
In this department chef prepares the world class food. All the
types of cuisines are made here with different styles of
cooking. The chefs prepare delicious food and put their
creativity into it. You can even ask chef to prepare the food
according to your taste in case of any medical reasons. These
chefs work in back area so it’s not so visible department,
though in some of the live kitchen you can see how your meal
is being prepared. Different cuisines have different kitchen
and each one has its own specialized chefs. It has a very
important section as gardemanger where all the cold
preparations takes place like salads, cold dressings etc and
also has pre preparation kitchen where basic preparation of
food is done. For Kitchen hygiene and cleanliness, hotel has
kitchen stewarding department which clean the kitchen as
well as washes the utensils and in small hotel housekeeping
takes care of cleanliness.
Food production department includes
 Bakery
 Garde manger or cold storage room.
 Pre preparation kitchens
 Tandoor section
 Kitchen stewarding

CATEGORISATION OF HOTELS IN INDIA

Accommodation is the most important component of tourism.
Tourists need certain regulations and standardization of the
services they get for a price. Categorization separates
accommodation into different classes. There has to be a
standard method of classifying them into different categories.
Different countries have different systems of classification.
Different stars ranging from 1 star to 5 stars deluxe signify
differentcategories. Categorizing one hotel into a particular
group is not easy because of its diversity. Government of
India, Department of Tourism is following the widely accepted
categorization. A committee is constituted by the Department
of Tourism, which has seven members. Government of India
appoints chairman, there are members each from Federation
of Hotels and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI), Travel
Agents Association of India (TAAI), Indian Association of Tour
Operations (IATO), Director of Tourism of that State, Principal
of Institute of Hotel Management of that state and the
Director of India Tourist Office is also a member. The Hotels
apply for classification with fees. The committee gives
advance notice before inspecting these hotels. If they fit into
the criteria, they are given the stars. This remains valid for
next three years.
The following are the facilities checked by the committee
members:
1 star: The establishment applying for one star should have:
• Minimum 10 rooms.
• Restaurant is not necessary.
• One Bathroom for two rooms.
2 star:
• Minimum 10 rooms.
• Every room should have an attached bathroom.
• Restaurant not necessary.
• There should be a place to take food.
3 star:
• Minimum 20 rooms.
• All the public areas should have air conditioning.
• At least 50 percent rooms should be air-conditioned.
• A few shops selling necessities for tourists (Stationery,
Flowers etc.)
• Restaurants should be conditional?
4 star:
• Minimum 25 rooms.
• All rooms should be air-conditioned.
• The public areas should be air-conditioned.
• There should be more than one restaurant.
• Shopping Arcade with a florist and drycleaner.
5 star:
• Minimum 25 rooms.
• All rooms should be air-conditioned.
• Wall to wall carpeting.
• Entire public area should be air-conditioned.
• There should be at least two specialty restaurants.
• Shopping arcade, florist and drycleaner.
• Swimming pool of dimension 10*3 meter.
• Facility to use telephones.
Further, many hotels don’t apply for classification even when
they are providing facilities similar as these classified hotels
provide. They can be called unclassified hotels.
HOTEL ROOM TYPES, LOCATION AND RATES
In the travel industry, it is very important for Tour Operators
or planners to select the right type of accommodation for his
client or tourist. The type of room, location and room rates
are the prime factors, which are considered while planning a
tour.
Type of Room:
Hotels provide different types of rooms at different rates,
which are as follows:
• Deluxe Room- With extra facilities.
• Suite- Separate rooms for living and sleeping.
• Standard Room: Located in less convenient sections.
• Economy/ Budget room- Smaller than other rooms.
Bedding Types:
• King Bed- Size of Bed is 86II*80II
• Queen Bed- Size 60II*75II
• Standard Bed-54II*75II
• Twin Bed- 39II*75II
Room Rates:
Room rates are usually based on the location of room such as
pool side, beach front, market front, ocean view, hill view and
so on. Taxes also vary according to the state. Within the same
hotel, price charged may vary depending on the season.
Mostly in the peak season the hotels charge high rates and in
the lean season they charge low rates.
Following are the different room rates:
• Flat Rate: Flat rate is a discounted rate offered to a group at
certain times of the year.
• Rack Rate- Standard rate charged by hotel based on type of
room and bedding.
• Group Rate- Discounted rate based on the pre-set number
of rooms.
• Package Rate- Rate for complete package such as New
Year’s Eve package.
• Wholesale Rate- Given to tour operators who buy the rooms
in bulk.
• Special Rate- Promotional rate offered to corporate clients,
government employees, repeats customers and so on.
• Family Rate- Free accommodation to the children with
parents.
• Run of the House Rate- Special rate to be offered for the
best room available at the time of check-in.
Reservation of Accommodation:
In hotel management, reservation is a very important
function. This is also known as selling accommodations. These
hotels rely on their representatives, reservation offices in
different locations, travel agents, airlines, cruise companies
and tour operators.
TOUR OPERATORS
Tour operators can be likened to wholesalers since they buy
in bulk from the producers of travel products and services,
break the bulk into manageable packages and offer these for
sale to prospective travellers. The service they provide is
valuable to the producers, the retailers and the customers.
Most mass-market tour operators choose to sell through
travel agents.
Some tour operators deal directly with the consumer and are
known as ‘direct sell’. There are also very small specialist
operators who prefer to deal directly with their clients and
who advertise in newspapers or special interest magazines.
Basically, there are four different types of tour operator:
Mass-market Companies that sell high volumes of ‘packaged
operators products’, primarily to overseas destinations at
comparatively cheap prices.
Specialist Companies that focus on specific market operators
segments, e.g. activity holidays, senior citizens, a particular
country or a specific type of tourism,
Domestic Companies providing arrangements for residents
operators of their own country.
Incoming tour Companies in a particular destination who
operators specialise in putting together holidays and services
for overseas visitors to the destination.
TRAVEL AGENCIES
The travel agent is the retailer in the travel and tourism chain
of distribution. Travel agencies provide a service to customers
requiring business or leisure travel arrangements. They also
act as agent for companies supplying the travel products.
Functions
Provision of Travel Information
Reservation of Tickets
Reservation of Hotel Rooms
Reservation of Ground Services
Selling Cruise Package
Preparation of Itinerary
Costing Package Tour
Designing Package Tour
Reservation and Cancellation
Travel Documentations
Travel Insurance
Currency Exchange
Types of Travel Agencies
Retail Travel Agency: A retail travel agency sells tourist
products directly to the public on behalf of the product
suppliers and in return gets commission.
Wholesale Travel Agency: These agencies are specialized in
organizing package tours, which are marketed to the
customers/tourists through the network of a retail travel
agency or directly to the prospective clients (if the wholesale
travel agency has a retail division).

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM
Tourism is an Intangible, Non material product
No transfer of ownership of goods is involved as compared to
a tangible product, say for example a motor car In Tourism
instead certain facilities, installations, items of equipment are
made available for a specified time and for a specified use. For
instance, a seat in an aeroplane or a train for a journey from
one point to another or a booking in a hotel through a travel
agent are carried out for a customer or services such as
information and advice are provided.
Production and Consumption of Tourist Services are Closely
Interrelated
The travel agent or tour operators who sell his product cannot
store it. Production can only take place or can be completed if
the customer is actually present. There is a close link between
production and consumption of tourist services. Most tourist
services cannot be consumed incrementally .In other worlds,
consumption, once begun, cannot be stopped, interrupted or
modified at all .As a result, risk and uncertainty for the
customer are higher, and his need for reliable pre-purchase
information is stronger. The potential customer’s decision risk
and dependence on accurate information is further increased
because he cannot see, inspect, compare or try out tourist
services before deciding to use them.
Multiplicity of Producers
The tourist product cannot be provided by a single enterprise.
Each of the components of a tourist product is highly
specialized and together make the final product. This is not so
in the case of other tangible products where one
manufacturer produces a total product in tourism on the
other hand, an airline considers seats flown or passenger
miles to be its product ahotel produces guest nights a travel
agent bookings a theatre and museum or an archaeological
site measures its production in number of visitors. In the
tourists view, however, the product the buys covers the
complete experience of his visit to a particular place. In other
words the tourist product is not an airline or a rail seat, or a
hotel bed or a theatre ticket, but rather an amalgam of many
components which together make a complete product.
Because of these peculiar characteristics coordination in
marketing efforts is very crucial.
Highly Unstable Demand
The demand is influenced by factors such as seasonal
economic political, etc. The seasonal changes greatly affect
the demand Seasonality means that tourism plant is
frequently used for a limited part of the year and therefore
uneconomic. Many tourist areas have a short season- often as
little as three months. A corollary of this seasonal usage is the
seasonal unemployment, which has recently established
tourist industries suffer particularly from seasonality.
Seasonality also place strains on the transport system and
other services. Thus seasonality presents a problem not only
in relation to employment but also in relation to investment.
On the other hand political unrest and economic instability
caused by currency fluctuations and inflation etc. greatly
affect tourism demand.
Dominant Role of Intermediaries
In most industries, manufacturers have predominant control
over product design distribution and promotion and pricing.
On the other hand in tourism, sales intermediaries like tour
operators, travel agents reservation services and hotel
brokers play a very dominant role and enjoy superior
marketing strength from the standpoint of tourism marketing,
this strong position of the travel trade has significant
implications. The travel trade determines to a large extent
which services will be sold and to whom .The type of services
to be offers as well as the pricing policies and promotion
strategies to be adopted by tourist enterprises are therefore
determined not only by the need and preferences of the
customers but also by those expressed by travel sales
intermediaries.
Diverse Motivations
It is comparatively simple to determine why people buy a
certain make of refrigerator smoke certain brands of
cigarettes, use certain brands of toothpaste or prefer a
certain type of packaged food The subjective and objective
reasons, expectations and desires which influence tourists
choices for a certain holiday destination, type of
accommodation and vacation activities are far less evident
very often two people make exactly the same choices for
entirely different and sometimes even mutually exclusive
reasons. Travel motivations unlike motivations for buying a
tangible article like a refrigerator, are heterogeneous
composed of diverse elements.
Psychological
A large component of tourism product is the satisfaction the
consumer derives from its use. A tourist acquires experiences
while interacting with the new environment and his
experiences help to attract and motivate potential customers.
Highly Perishable
A travel agent or tour operator who sells a tourism product
cannot store it. Production can only take place if the customer
is actually present. And once consumption begins, it cannot
be stopped, interrupted or modified. If the product remains
unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not visit a
particular place, the opportunity at that time is lost. It is due
to this reason that heavy discount is offered by hotels and
transport generating organisations during off season.
Cannot be brought to the consumer; the consumer must go
to the product
The tourism product unlike a manufactured product cannot
be brought to the consumer; the consumer must go to the
product. This requires an in-depth study of users’ behaviour,
taste preferences, likes and dislikes so that expectations and
realities coincide for the maximum satisfaction of the
consumer. The supply of a tourism product is fixed in the
short run and can only be increased in the long run following
increased demand patterns.
Absence of ownership
When you buy a car, the ownership of the car is transferred to
you, but when you hire a taxi you buy the right to be
transported to a predetermined destination at a
predetermined price (fare). You neither own the automobile
nor the driver of the vehicle. Similarly, hotel rooms, airline
tickets, etc. can be used but not owned. These services can be
bought for consumption but ownership remains with the
provider of the service. So, a dance can be enjoyed by viewing
it, but the dancer cannot be owned.
Heterogeneous
Tourism is not a homogeneous product since it tends to vary
in standard and quality over time, unlike a T.V set or any other
manufactured product. A package tour or even a flight on an
aircraft can’t be consistent at all times. The reason is that this
product is a service and services are people based. Due to
this, there is variability in this product. All individuals vary and
even the same individual may not perform the same every
time. For instance, all air hostesses cannot provide the same
quality of service and even the same air hostess may not
perform uniformly in the morning and evening. Thus, services
cannot be standardised.
IMAPCTS OF TOURISM

TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT

Development can be viewed from various dimensions,
however, for the purpose of this current lesson, we use the
following definition of economic development: Economic
development is a process of economic transition that involves
the structural transformation of an economy and a growth of
the real output of an economy over a period of time. It is a
long run concept. Structural transformation is achieved
through modernization and industrialization and is measured
in terms of the relative contribution to gross domestic
product of agriculture, industry and service sectors. The
potential of tourism to contribute to development is widely
recognized in the industrialized countries, with tourism
playing an increasingly important role and receiving
government support. Tourism along with some other
activities like financial services and tele-communications is a
major component of economic strategies. Tourism has
become a favoured means of addressing the socio- economic
problems facing rural areas on one end, while enhancing
development of urban areas on the other.
Tourism and National Development
Tourism emerged as a global phenomenon in the 1960s and
the potential for tourism to generate economic development
was widely promoted by national governments. They
appreciated that tourism generated foreign exchange
earnings, created employment and brought economic
benefits to regions with limited options for alternative
economic development. National tourism authorities were
created to promote tourism and to maximize international
arrivals. However, an awareness of the negative
environmental, social and some other impacts also increased.
The importance of economic benefits at the local level,
environmental and social sustainability was also widely
accepted. It was observed that tourism presents excellent
opportunities for developing entrepreneurship, for staff
training and progression and for the development of
transferable skills. Tourism development focuses on national
and regional master
planning. It also focuses on international promotion,
attracting inward investment. The primary concern has been
with maximizing foreign exchange earnings. These earnings
enable the government to finance debt and also to finance
some investment in technology and other imports for
economic development.
No trade barriers to tourism
Unlike many other forms of international trade, tourism does
not suffer from the imposition of trade barriers, such as
quotas or tariffs. Mostly, destination countries have free and
equal access to the international tourism market. This
position has become strengthened by the inclusion of tourism
in the General Agreement on Trade in Services, which became
operational in January 1995.
Redistribution of wealth
Both internationally and domestically, tourism is seen as an
effective means of transferring income, wealth and
investment from richer, developed countries or regions to less
developed, poorer areas. This redistribution occurs as a result
of both tourist expenditures in destination areas and also of
investment by the richer, tourist generating countries in
tourist facilities. Thus
it appears as if, the developed countries support the
economic growth and development of less developed
countries.
Tourism and Poverty Reduction
Tourism can contribute to development and the reduction of
poverty in a number of ways. Economic benefits are generally
the most important element, but there can be social,
environmental and cultural benefits and costs as well.
Tourism contributes to poverty reduction by providing
employment and various livelihood opportunities. This
additional income helps the poor by increasing the range of
economic opportunities available to them. Tourism also
contributes to poverty alleviation through direct taxation of
tourism generated income. Taxes can be used to alleviate
poverty through education, health and infrastructure
development. Some tourism facilities also improve the
recreational and leisure opportunities available for the poor
themselves at the local level.
Tourism is not very different from other productive sectors
but it has four potential advantages for pro-poor economic
growth:
- It has higher linkage with other local businesses because
customers come to the destination;
- It is relatively labour intensive and employs a large
proportion of women workers;
- It has high potential in poor countries and areas with few
other competitive exports;
- Tourism products can be built on natural resources and
culture, which might sometimes be the only assets that
people have.
POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Positive economic impacts are

1. EARNER OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE
2. MULTIPLIER EFFECT
3. GROWTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE
4. TOURISM AND TAXATION
5. BALANCED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
6. GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT

EARNER OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Tourism has major economic significance for a country. The
receipts from international tourism are a valuable source of
earning for all countries, particularly, the developing. Visitor-
spending generates income for both public and private
sectors, besides affecting wages and employment
opportunities. Tourism, therefore, provides a very important
source of income for a number of countries, both developed
and developing. The figures from World Tourism Organization
(WTO) indicate that, among the world’s top 40 tourism
earners about 18 were developing countries including India, in
the year 1995. These earnings form a major part of the gross
domestic product (GDP). Tourism forms a very important
source of foreign exchange, for several countries. Although
the quantum contributed in foreign currency per visitor varies
from destination to destination, the importance of receipts
from tourism in the balance of payment accounts and of
tourist activities in the national revenue has become
considerable for a number of countries.
MULTIPLIER EFFECT
The discussion in earlier paragraphs clearly indicates that
earnings from tourism occupy an important place in the
national income of any country. Without taking into account
receipts from domestic tourism, international tourism
receipts alone contribute to a great extent. The flow of money
generated by tourist spending multiplies as it passes through
various sections of the economy. In addition to an important
source of income, tourism provides a number of other
economic benefits, which vary in importance from one
country to another; depending upon the nature and scale of
tourism. The benefits from infrastructure investments,
justified primarily for tourism such as airports, roads, water
supply and other public utilities, may be widely shared by the
other sectors of the economy. This enables us to understand
how tourism impacts development in the economy.

GROWTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE
A significant benefit of tourism is development and
improvement of infrastructure. The benefits from
infrastructure investments, justified primarily for tourism –
airports, roads, water supply and other public utilities – may
be widely shared by the other sectors of the economy. In
addition to development of new infrastructure, the
improvements in the existing infrastructure which are
undertaken in order to attract tourists are also of great
importance. These improvements may benefit the resident
population by providing them with amenities which they
desire. Furthermore, the provision of infrastructure may
provide the basis or serve as an encouragement for greater
economic diversification. A variety of secondary industries
may be promoted which may not directly serve the needs of
tourism. Therefore, it is evident that tourist expenditure is
responsible for stimulating other economic activities.

TOURISM AND TAXATION

Tourism also results in tax revenues both at national and local
levels. Taxes can provide the financial resources for the
development of infrastructure, enhancing and maintenance of
some types of attractions and other public facilities and
services, tourism marketing and training required for
developing tourism, as well as to help finance poverty
alleviation programmes by governments both at local and
national levels. In addition, tourism-related tax revenues help
finance general community improvements and services used
by all residents.

BALANCED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Another important domestic effect relates to the regional
aspects of tourist expenditure. Such expenditure is of special
significance in marginal areas, which are relatively isolated,
economically underdeveloped, and have unemployment
problems. The United Nations Conference on International
Travel and Tourism held in Rome in 1963 stated that tourism
was important not only as a source of earning foreign
exchange, but also as a factor determining the location of
industry and in the development of underdeveloped regions.
It further stated that in some cases the development of
tourism may be the only means of promoting the economic
advancement of less-developed areas lacking in other
resources.

GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment is an important economic effect of tourism. The
tourist industry is a highly labour-intensive service industry
and hence is a valuable source of employment. It employs a
large number of people and provides a wide range of jobs
which extend from the unskilled to the highly specialized. In
addition to those involved in management there are a large
number of specialist personnel required to work as
accountants, housekeepers, waiters, cooks and entertainers,
who in turn need a large number of semi-skilled workers such
as porters, chambermaids, kitchen staff, gardeners, etc.
Tourism is also responsible for creating employment outside
the industry in its more narrowly defined sense and in this
respect those who supply goods and services to those directly
involved in tourism are beneficiaries from tourism. Such
indirect employment includes, those involved in the
furnishing and equipment industries, souvenir industries and
farming and food supply.

NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TOURISM

There are many hidden costs to tourism, which can have
unfavorable economic effects on the host community. Often
rich countries are better able to profit from tourism than poor
ones. Whereas the least developed countries have the most
urgent need for income, employment and general rise of the
standard of living by means of tourism, they are least able to
realize these benefits. Among the reasons for this are large-
scale transfer of tourism revenues out of the host country and
exclusion of local businesses and products.
Leakage
The direct income for an area is the amount of tourist
expenditure that remains locally after taxes, profits, and
wages are paid outside the area and after imports are
purchased; these subtracted amounts are called leakage. In
most all-inclusive package tours, about 80% of travelers'
expenditures go to the airlines, hotels and other international
companies (who often have their headquarters in the
travelers' home countries), and not to local businesses or
workers. In addition, significant amounts of income actually
retained at destination level can leave again through leakage.
There are two main ways that leakage occurs:
Import leakage

This commonly occurs when tourists demand standards of

equipment, food, and other products that the host country
cannot supply. Much of the income from tourism
expenditures leaves the country again to pay for these
imports.
Export leakage

Multinational corporations and large foreign businesses have

a substantial share in the import leakage. Often, especially in
poor developing destinations, they are the only ones that
possess the necessary capital to invest in the construction of
tourism infrastructure and facilities. As a consequence of this,
an export leakage arises when overseas investors who finance
the resorts and hotels take their profits back to their country
of origin.
OTHER NEGATIVE IMPACTS
Infrastructure cost
Tourism development can cost the local government and local
taxpayers a great deal of money. Developers may want the
government to improve the airport, roads and other
infrastructure, and possibly to provide tax breaks and other
financial advantages, which are costly activities for the
government. Public resources spent on subsidized
infrastructure or tax breaks may reduce government
investment in other critical areas such as education and
health.
Increase in prices
Increasing demand for basic services and goods from tourists
will often cause price hikes that negatively affect local
residents whose income does not increase proportionately.
Tourism development and the related rise in real estate
demand may dramatically increase building costs and land
values.
Economic dependence of the local community on tourism
Diversification in an economy is a sign of health, however if a
country or region becomes dependent for its economic
survival upon one industry, it can put major stress upon this
industry as well as the people involved to perform well.
Seasonal character of jobs
The seasonal character of the tourism industry creates
economic problems for destinations that are heavily
dependent on it. Problems that seasonal workers face include
job (and therefore income) insecurity, usually with no
guarantee of employment from one season to the next,
difficulties in getting training, employment-related medical
benefits, and recognition of their experience, and
unsatisfactory housing and working conditions.
OTHER INDUSTRY IMPACTS AFFECTING TOURISM
Economic crises, like the Asian crisis that hit Thailand,
Malaysia and Indonesia a few years ago, can be devastating to
inbound tourism flows. The financial turmoil triggered a sharp
fall in tourism flows to affected countries during 1997 and
1998. In the Philippines, the crisis and the temporary closure
of Philippine Airlines affected inbound arrivals significantly as
there was a decline of almost 3.3% in 1998.

POSITIVE IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENT

The tourism industry can contribute to conservation through:

Financial Contributions

 Direct financial contributions

Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of
sensitive areas and habitat. Revenue from park-entrance
fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to
pay for the protection and management of
environmentally sensitive areas.
 Contributions to government revenues
Some governments collect money in more far-reaching
and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or
conservation areas. User fees, income taxes, taxes on
sales or rental of recreation equipment, and license fees
for activities such as hunting and fishing can provide
governments with the funds needed to manage natural
resources.
Improved environmental management and planning
Planning helps to make choices between conflicting uses, or
to find ways to make them compatible. By planning early for
tourism development, damaging and expensive mistakes can
be prevented, avoiding the gradual deterioration of
environmental assets significant to tourism.
Environmental awareness raising
Tourism has the potential to increase public appreciation of
the environment and to spread awareness of environmental
problems when it brings people into closer contact with
nature and the environment.
Protection and preservation
Tourism can significantly contribute to environmental
protection, conservation and restoration of biological
diversity and sustainable use of natural resources. Because of
their attractiveness, pristine sites and natural areas are
identified as valuable and the need to keep the attraction
alive can lead to creation of national parks and wildlife parks.
Regulatory measures
Regulatory measures help offset negative impacts; for
instance, controls on the number of tourist activities and
movement of visitors within protected areas can limit impacts
on the ecosystem and help maintain the integrity and vitality
of the site. Such limits can also reduce the negative impacts
on resources.

NEGATIVE IMPACT AREAS

Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor
use is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this
use within the acceptable limits of change. Uncontrolled
conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural
areas around the world.
Depletion of Natural Resources
Tourism development can put pressure on natural resources
when it increases consumption in areas where resources are
already scarce.
Water resources
Water, and especially fresh water, is one of the most critical
natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses
water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and
personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water
shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as
generating a greater volume of waste water.
Localresources
Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like
energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in
short supply. Greater extraction and transport of these
resources exacerbates the physical impacts associated with
their exploitation.
Land degradation
Important land resources include minerals, fossil fuels, fertile
soil, forests, wetland and wildlife. Increased construction of
tourism and recreational facilities has increased the pressure
on these resources and on scenic landscapes. Direct impact
on natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, in
the provision of tourist facilities can be caused by the use of
land for accommodation and other infrastructure provision,
and the use of building materials.
Pollution
Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as any other
industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering,
releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, even architectural/
visual pollution.
Air pollution and noise
Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in
response to the rising number of tourists and their greater
mobility. One consequence of the increase in air transport is
that tourism now accounts for more than 60% of air travel
and is therefore responsible for an important share of air
emissions.
Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, and buses, as well as
recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles and jet skis, is an
ever-growing problem of modern life. In addition to causing
annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for it humans, it
causes distress to wildlife, especially in sensitive areas.
Solid waste and littering
In areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and
appealing natural attractions, waste disposal is a serious
problem and improper disposal can be a major despoiler of
the natural environment - rivers, scenic areas, and roadsides.
Solid waste and littering can degrade the physical appearance
of the water and shoreline and cause the death of marine
animals. In mountain areas, trekking tourists generate a great
deal of waste. Tourists on expedition leave behind their
garbage, oxygen cylinders and even camping equipment.

Sewage
Construction of hotels, recreation and other facilities often
leads to increased sewage pollution. Wastewater has polluted
seas and lakes surrounding tourist attractions, damaging the
flora and fauna. Sewage runoff causes serious damage to
coral reefs because it stimulates the growth of algae, which
cover the filter-feeding corals, hindering their ability to
survive. Changes in salinity and siltation can have wide-
ranging impacts on coastal environments. And sewage
pollution can threaten the health of humans and animals.

Aesthetic Pollution
Often tourism fails to integrate its structures with the natural
features and indigenous architectural of the destination.
Large, dominating resorts of disparate design can look out of
place in any natural environment and may clash with the
indigenous structural design. A lack of land-use planning and
building regulations in many destinations has facilitated
sprawling developments along coastlines, valleys and scenic
routes. The sprawl includes tourism facilities themselves and
supporting infrastructure such as roads, employee housing,
parking, service areas, and waste disposal.

Physical Impacts
Attractive landscape sites, such as sandy beaches, lakes,
riversides, and mountain tops and slopes, are often
transitional zones, characterized by species-rich ecosystems.
Typical physical impacts include the degradation of such
ecosystems. Physical impacts of tourism development
 Construction activities and infrastructure development
dune erosion, soil erosion and extensive paving.
 Deforestation and intensified or unsustainable use of
land
 Marina development
Physical impacts from tourist activities
 Trampling
Tourists using the same trail over and over again
trample the vegetation and soil, eventually causing
 damage that can lead to loss of biodiversity and other
impacts.

 Anchoring and other marine activities

 Alteration of ecosystems by tourist activities.

SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS

The socio-cultural impacts of tourism described here are the

effects on host communities of direct and indirect relations
with tourists, and of interaction with the tourism industry. For
a variety of reasons, host communities often are the weaker
party in interactions with their guests and service providers,
leveraging any influence they might have. These influences
are not always apparent, as they are difficult to measure,
depend on value judgments and are often indirect or hard to
identify.

NEGATIVE SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS FROM

TOURISM
Change or loss of indigenous identity and values
Tourism can cause change or loss of local identity and values,
brought about by several closely related influences :
 Commodification
Tourism can turn local cultures into commodities when
religious rituals, traditional ethnic rites and festivals are
reduced and sanitized to conform to tourist expectations,
resulting in what has been called "reconstructed
ethnicity." Once a destination is sold as a tourism product,
and the tourism demand for souvenirs, arts,
 entertainment and other commodities begins to exert
influence, basic changes in human values may occur.
Sacred sites and objects may not be respected when they
are perceived as goods to trade.
 Standardization
Destinations risk standardization in the process of
satisfying tourists' desires for familiar facilities. While
landscape, accommodation, food and drinks, etc., must
meet the tourists' desire for the new and unfamiliar, they
must at the same time not be too new or strange because
few tourists are actually looking for completely new
things. Tourists often look for recognizable facilities in an
unfamiliar environment, like well-known fast-food
restaurants and hotel chains.
 Loss of authenticity and staged authenticity
Adapting cultural expressions and manifestations to the
tastes of tourists or even performing shows as if they were
"real life" constitutes "staged authenticity". As long as
tourists just want a glimpse of the local atmosphere, a
quick glance at local life, without any knowledge or even
interest, staging will be inevitable.
 Adaptation to tourist demands
Tourists want souvenirs, arts, crafts, and cultural
manifestations, and in many tourist destinations,
craftsmen have responded to the growing demand, and
have made changes in design of their products to bring
them more in line with the new customers' tastes. While
the interest shown by tourists also contributes to the
sense of self-worth of the artists, and helps conserve a
cultural tradition, cultural erosion may occur due to the
commodification of cultural goods.
Culture clashes
Because tourism involves movement of people to different
geographical locations, and establishment of social relations
between people who would otherwise not meet, cultural
clashes can take place as a result of differences in cultures,
ethnic and religious groups, values and lifestyles, languages,
and levels of prosperity.
Cultural clashes may further arise through:
 Economic inequality
 Irritation due to tourist behavior
 Job level friction
Physical influences causing social stress

The physical influences that the increasing tourism flow, and

its consequent developments, have on a destination can
cause severe social stress as it impacts the local community.
Socio-cultural disadvantages evolve from:

 Resource use conflicts, such as competition between

tourism and local populations for the use of prime
resources like water and energy because of scarce
supply.
 Cultural deterioration. Damage to cultural resources
may arise from vandalism, littering, pilferage and
illegal removal of cultural heritage items. .
 Conflicts with traditional land-uses, especially in intensely
exploited areas such as coastal zones, which are popular
for their beaches and islands.
Ethical issues
Partly due to the above impacts, tourism can create more
serious situations where ethical and even criminal issues are
involved.
 Crime generation.
 Child labour.
 Prostitution and sex tourism

Tourism and Socio-Cultural Conservation

Tourism can contribute to positive developments, not just

negative impacts. It has the potential to promote social
development through employment creation, income
redistribution and poverty alleviation. Other potential positive
impacts of tourism include:

 Tourism as a force for peace

Traveling brings people into contact with each other and,
as tourism has an educational element, it can foster
understanding between peoples and cultures and provide
cultural exchange between hosts and guests. Because of
this, the chances increase for people to develop mutual
sympathy and understanding and to reduce their
prejudices.
 Strengthening communities
Tourism can add to the vitality of communities in many
ways. One example is that events and festivals of which
local residents have been the primary participants and
spectators are often rejuvenated and developed in
response to tourist interest.
 Facilities developed for tourism can benefit residents
As tourism supports the creation of community facilities
and services that otherwise might not have been
developed, it can bring higher living standards to a
destination. Benefits can include upgraded infrastructure,
health and transport improvements, new sport and
recreational facilities, restaurants, and public spaces as
well as an influx of better-quality commodities and food.
 Revaluation of culture and traditions
Tourism can boost the preservation and transmission of
cultural and historical traditions, which often contributes
to the conservation and sustainable management of
natural resources, the protection of local heritage, and a
renaissance of indigenous cultures, cultural arts and
crafts.
 Tourism encourages civic involvement and pride
Tourism also helps raise local awareness of the financial
value of natural and cultural sites and can stimulate a
feeling of pride in local and national heritage and interest
in its conservation.

Important terms used in Tourism Industry

FAM: Familiarization Tour. FAMs are marketing initiatives,
inviting either media or travel trade professionals to tour a
region or destination. Experiencing it helps them write about
it or sell it as a product to their customers.
Fly drive: A vacation package that includes air transportation
and a rental car.
Itinerary: The planned route for a trip. This is what travel
trade professionals sell to their customers. It’s a pre-planned
experience with where to go, when, and what to expect when
you get there.
Rack Rate: Standard daily rate established for hotel rooms.
This rate is typically public, printed on hotel brochures and
listed on websites.
Average daily rate (ADR): average guest room income per
occupied room in a given time period
Carrying capacity: the maximum number of a given species
that can be sustained in a specific habitat or biosphere
without negative impacts
Customer relationship management (CRM): a strategy used
by businesses to select customers and to maintain
relationships with them to increase their lifetime value to the
business
Destination management company (DMC): a company that
creates and executes corporate travel and event packages
designed for employee rewards or special retreats
Destination marketing organization (DMO): also known as a
destination management organization; includes national
tourism boards, state/provincial tourism offices, and
community convention and visitor bureaus
Low-cost carrier (LCC): an airline that competes on price,
cutting amenities and striving for volume to achieve a profit
Occupancy: percentage of all guest rooms in the hotel that
are occupied at a given time