Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories
Dan Eldon said, “The journey is the destination,” which is perhaps a very apt definition of tourism. National Tourism Day is celebrated on January 25 every year. India’s rich historical, cultural, and geographical diversity makes the country one of the most popular tourist destinations for visitors, especially foreign travellers. India boasts 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The latest to join the list is the Dholavira, the archaeological site of a Harappan-era city in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The tourism industry contributes significantly to the country’s economy and creates employment. This year’s observation theme, “Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories”, encourages travellers to make good choices that help the environment, support local communities, and preserve cultural heritage. As Oliver Goldsmith said, “Life is a journey that must be travelled”, irrespective of the path and obstacles it may have.  Â
Life is a journey that must be travelled, no matter how bad the roads and accommodations are.
Oliver Goldsmith
Dan Eldon said, “The journey is the destination,” which is perhaps a very apt definition of tourism. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism as “people travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure”. India celebrates National Tourism Day on January 25 every year. It aims to encourage tourism and bring awareness about its role in the country’s growth. It also aims to enhance awareness about India’s tourist locations. Though the year in which the observation started is not clear, the measures that started immediately after independence gave impetus to tourism. Way back in 1948, a tourism traffic committee was first constituted. In 1958, a tourism department was established.
India’s rich historical, cultural, and geographical diversity makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations among foreign travellers, being one of the oldest civilisations in the world. With multicultural experiences, rich heritage and natural beauty, the country is one of the popular tourist destinations. India is a country where ethnicity and culture are so diverse that one can see the changes almost every kilometre. New trends are emerging in the way people travel and visit. Homestays over hotel rooms and workcations is a new word. In fact, you would find everything you look for the world over in India. Though Tourism is referred to as travel for pleasure, it has made significant strides in sports, rural, medical, cruise and eco-tourism.
This year, the Ministry of Tourism is celebrating the day at the Red Fort in Delhi, and the event is titled ‘Bharat Parv 2024’. Tourism Week is also being observed this year from 23-31 January, with the stage set at Red Fort. These celebrations include various cultural programmes, diverse cuisines, and handicrafts.
India boasts 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The latest to join the list is the “Dholavira”, the archaeological site of a Harappan-era city in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. It has become the 40th site from India to get UNESCO’s World Heritage tag.
The tourism industry adds a significant chunk to the country’s economy (>9% of the total), and it provides jobs, with more than 15% of Indian employees working in the tourism industry. The numbers will be much higher if you consider many working in the informal tourism sector. World Travel and Tourism Council indicates that tourism contributes $220 billion annually to India’s economy. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi are the states that see the maximum number of tourists visiting them. Sure, with “Prana Pratishta of Rama” at the Ayodhya temple being completed, Ayodhya would see an influx of tourists. A report indicated more than 5 lakh visitors were at the temple the next day of the “Prana Pratishta”. With renewed interest in Lakshadweep, sparked by the events at Maldives and a quiet visit of PM Modi, the islands will likely see a significant boost to tourism.
This year’s observation theme, “Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories”, focuses on making choices that would not impact the environment and support local communities.
Domains like Trade, Technology, Tourism, Talent and Tradition have the power to redefine existing paradigms.        Â
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Toons: Shreya
Logs: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs
The TonLogs posted on the same theme in 2021 https://niascomm.in/2021/01/26/national-tourism-day/
