World Tourism Day: Bridging the intricate gaps globally and Re-building Tourism

Every year from September 27, 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has commemorated the occasion as World Tourism Day with the objective of raising more awareness about the role tourism plays in terms of impacting socially, culturally, politically and economically. Travel and tourism is a very vast sector such that one in every 10 people on a global scale have a job in the tourism sector.

Over the years, there have been different themes ranging from ‘Sustainable Tourism’ in 2017, ‘Tourism and the Digital Transformation’ for 2018 and ‘Tourism and Jobs – A Better Future For All’ was the theme for 2019.

Covid-19 and Tourism

Tourism is one sector that is affected the most after the global emergency of Coronavirus. There is no country in the world managing complete profits from the industry during the period with the intense ban on international travel. There has been an overall drop with respect to the demand of the consumers in the sector. Alongside, the businessmen or the vendors dependent on the tourism attractions have hit real time. Moreover, wildlife conservation initiatives and cultural heritage protection projects which work on the revenue of tourism industry have also suffered losses.

In the present scenario, “tourism” needs a new shape which synchronizes with the current opportunities and adversities. Covid-19 is giving not just travel a new perspective, but also our minds. The gap opens upon the time, space and innovation required to channelize the further pace of the industry. ‘Tourism’ will extend the horizon beyond the pandemic crisis by merging the lives of the people from different corners of the world together and seep through solidarity and trust, which are the need of the hour to build global cooperation.

Indian tourism over the years

India has a rich cultural heritage backed up by architectural masterpieces like the forts, palaces, mosques, temples, caves and extremely vibrant community of people based on the weather, food, languages and style of living.

Originating with the concept of ‘pilgrimage’ or ‘jatra’, tourism in India has taken a gradual shift. There has been an array of opportunities with the increase in the foreigners visits and their craze for India and its monuments. So, India has 37 UNESCO heritage sites and another land blessed with rich cultural diversity and heritage. India has a better performance in terms of domestic travel.

India plans on taking the lead of Germany, China and United States. The significant contribution that tourism had was 200 billion in 2017 and will raise to be as high as 424 billion by 2028.

Indian states approve all the different forms of tourism – Medical tourism, Eco-tourism, religious tourism, cruise tourism, adventure tourism, wellness tourism, cultural tourism and legislature tourism.

“Incredible India’ is an initiative run by Indian government from 2002 promoting culture, history and traditional practices like yoga, wellness and spirituality. “Atithi Devo Bhavo” is the main slogan running this campaign. Let’s take simple steps in the present challenging scenario and focus on reshaping and rebuilding tourism which will help fill the intricate voids in the world.