India Tourism

Thought for the day

"Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it."

—Rabindranath Tagore (Indian, 1861-1941)

Word for the day

Athleisure (n)

A style of clothing worn as athletic apparel but also suitable for casual, everyday wear.

Malice towards none

There is significant rise in demand to provide for capital punishment for a variety of crimes, including rape, lynching, etc.

Do we feel that the peak of Indian civilization has already been conquered some 10000 years ago and the only way forward for us is downhill!

 

First random thought this morning

Driving a Mumbai registered vehicle in Bengaluru is unlawful! Why?

If it is a law and order threat, then roaming mobiles are much bigger threats than this.

If it is a question of revenue sharing between states, then why a professional educated in a Delhi government college paying negligible fee, is allowed to work in Bengaluru and pay taxes to the Karnataka government?

...and then why not share revenue from civil aviation as per the proportion of air space over a state used in a particular flight!

India Tourism

Tourism has been one of the favorite growth theme of the incumbent government, especially prime minister Narendra Modi. He has been emphasizing on the need to develop tourism infrastructure not only for the overseas inbound tourists, but the domestic tourists also.

The government has initiated a number of schemes to implement its strategy and ideas. The most notable being improving transportation infrastructure; improving the cleanliness and other facilities at prominent tourists places; identifying and developing new tourist places; changing rules for LTC to government employees, etc.

The official data indicates that tourism sector has seen significant acceleration in growth over past couple of years.

I find it pertinent to analyze these trends, in view of the tremendous potential this sector holds for Indian economy.

First of all, it is important to understand the primary characteristics of domestic tourism, which in my view holds much more potential than the foreign inbound tourism.

A recent NSSO survey report on domestic tourism (July 2017) highlights the following key characteristics. During the period of enquiry (365 days prior to the Survey period):

(a)   About 36% of Indian households undertook at least one overnight trip with the primary purpose of holidaying, leisure, health & medical, business, social, religion, education & training and and/or shopping. There is no significant difference in rural and urban households proportion in this regard.

(b)   Only 19% households undertook at least one overnight trip for holidaying, leisure, medical or shopping as key purpose. The proportion was same across rural and urban household. Out of this about 2/3rd trips were for health & medical purposes and 1/3rd for holidaying, leisure. Shopping trip accounted for just 1% of all overnight trips. The average duration of the trip was about 2days.

(c)    Summer vacation (May & June) and Festivals (October) accounted for over 40% of the all overnight trips.

(d)   Less than 3% of all overnight trips were packaged trips. And less than 4% of all the overnight trips for holidaying, leisure, health and shopping were reimbursed.

(e)    Bus was the most availed mode of travel in rural area (50%). In urban areas bus (34%) and train (31%) were used equally.

(f)    Tourists from rural areas mostly stayed with friends and relatives (91%), while tourists from urban areas used friends & relatives (36%), hotels (26%) and other places (33%).

(g)    As destination, Maharashtra (1.51cr) and UP (1.43cr) accounted for the maximum number of overnight visitors for holidaying, leisure, health and shopping purpose.

(h)   Similarly, Maharashtra (1.6cr) and UP (1.44cr) generated maximum number of overnight visitors for holidaying, leisure, health and shopping. UP, Andhra Pradesh and Telegana were prominent destinations for education & training, and religion.

(i)    From origination perspective, people from Kerala were most prolific tourists. People from Assam and Chhattisgarh travelled the least.

(i)    The overnight trip for health are costliest and cost on average Rs15336 per trip. Holidaying and leisure cost Rs6358 on average. Rural visitor for health purpose paid much more than the urban visitors.

(j)    For the same day trip, average expenditure per trip was Rs.620. Shopping (35%) and social occasion (34%) were two most important purposes for same day trips undertaken by rural tourists. Whereas about 50% of urban households travelled same day for social purpose.

...to continue tomorrow

Who will consume this poison

Thought for the day

"Gray hairs are signs of wisdom if you hold your tongue, speak and they are but hairs, as in the young."

—Rabindranath Tagore (Indian, 1861-1941)

Word for the day

Contextomy (n)

The practice of misquoting someone by shortening the quotation or by leaving out surrounding words or sentences that would place the quotation in context.

Malice towards none

What Imran Khan might have meant is "you take one step toward PoK, we'll take two steps towards Kashmir".

 

First random thought this morning

Recently Mr. rakesh Kaoor, Global CEO of Reckitt Benckiser was quoted having said that his company has been aggressively leveraging the government’s Swachh Bharat programme to push its brands, including rolling out low-priced smaller packs of Harpic cleaners and Dettol soap to penetrate rural markets and accelerate change in consumption habits of consumers. Does that mean Swach Bharat program has been designed to benefit "corporate friends" of PM Modi?

If Congress truly wants to be a serious contestant in 2019 election, it should come out of its Modiphobia and try to present a constructive agenda for the sustainable inclusive growth. Modi can't be defeated with just frivolities.

Who will consume this poison

In Hindu mythology, once the forces of good (Sura) and evil (Asura) had a protracted battle. The battle lasted so long that both the groups exhausted all their resources and valor. Completely tired, wounded, frustrated and exhausted, they approached the savior Lord Vishnu. The Savior advised them to go and explore the great ocean to find new resources and vigor to make a fresh beginning.

Following the advice, both the groups went to the great ocean and explored it extensively. During their exploration mission, they discovered huge amount of wealth and resources that included the nectar and venom.

The venom was discovered in the lunar month of Shravan, two months before the nectar, which was discovered in the lunar month of Ashwin.

When the venom was extracted from the ocean, the whole universe was threatened by its radiation. Sensing the apocalypse, Lord Vishnu requested the almighty Lord Shiva to absorb the venom so that it does not harm anyone and the balance of the universe is maintained. Obliging, Lord Shiva drank the entire venom and preserved it in his throat.

The legend goes, after consuming venom, the body of Lord Shiva started emitting radiation and he was in great pain due to the negative energies. In Treta Yug, seeing his Lord in pain, his staunch devotee Ravan, the Asur King of Lanka, brought the holy water of Ganga and poured over his Lord's body. It released all the negative energies of poison Lord Shiva had consumed from his body and relieved him of all pain.

The Hindu month of Shravan (or Savan as in film songs) has started last week. This month is traditionally known as month of Shiva, the Lord of Asceticism. During this month, the devotees are advised to abstain from all material pursuits and pleasures, observe fast & abstinence, and pray to the Lord for the welfare of the entire mankind, rising above the self.

Following the legend, people walk of hundreds of miles to bring sacred Ganga Jal to the constituent of Shiva, resident in their locality. The purpose behind undertaking this arduous journey is to commit oneself to the ideas of universality of the human being, selflessness, devotion and surrender.

A journey on the highways from Haridwar & Rishikesh, used by millions of devotees to bring Gangajal for offering to their respective local Shiva temples, during this fortnight, does not evoke much positive feelings amongst people. To some extent, it even raises a sense of disgust and derision towards traditions and cultures. The holy annual event has largely been reduced to frivolous celebrations and hooliganism. The devotees of Lord Shiva, who consumed venom to save the humanity, leave a long trail of venomous pollution behind them. A deeper study is needed urgently to identify the causes of this cultural degeneration and to suggest remedial course. Else we risk losing our culture and traditions; and trust me nothing will be left of India if so were to happen.