24 May 2008
‘Travel and tourism’ helps the spas and seaside resorts
‘Travel and tourism’ is one of those great twenty first century paradoxes – the leisure industries, encompassing vast employment and investment exceeding those of such major industries as steel, automobile, textiles and electronic industries. Over 500 million tourists move worldwide spending billions of dollars every year in the countries they traveled on accommodation, catering, local transport and other goods and services. Travel is undertaken for trade, commerce, pilgrims, religious purpose, to explore new lands, study and research, pleasure travels, enjoyment of beauties and cultural programmes. The destination ranges from places of industrial hub, legacy of historical past and cultural interests, sanctuaries, hill stations, testimony of religious architectures and paintings and rocky mountains. Industrialisation and urbanism have created great pressures on modern living. The stress and strain of modern city life has made it still more necessary than ever before for people to get away from all this and relax in an atmosphere which is more peaceful and healthy. The prime motive to engage in tourism is to be ‘else where’ and to escape however temporarily from the routine stress and strain of every day life. Tourism and its development are closely interrelated to consumers’ purchasing power on the one hand and peace and prosperity on the other. Any domestic or international economic fluctuation or political disturbance results in a temporary setback to the growth of tourism. Tourist attractions of whatever type would be of little importance if their locations are inaccessible by the normal means of transport. Transport may be a bus, car, van, a coach, aeroplane, ship or a train. In ancient period, people used chariots, palanquins, bullock carts, horses, camels and elephants. Tourist’s demands are very much susceptible to changes of fashion. Hospitality plays a key factor. A friendly and appreciative attitude on the part of the nationals of the host country will make the visitors feel at home and help them enjoy their stay better. A satisfied tourist is an asset and helps promote a destination in a much more effective way than any tourist promotional campaign or publicity. Tamilnadu is endowed with rich natural scenario with flora and fauna. Yercaut, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Thekkedy, Courtallam, play a prominent part in attracting tourists with a landscape consisting of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, which are strong forces attracting people to visit them. The magnificent mountain ranges provide an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Millions of tourists from countries with extremes of weather visit sea beaches in search of fine weather and sunshine. The spas and sea bathing are very popular with travelers. Medicinal baths and seaside resorts together constitute spas. Sunshine and clear sea breeze at the beaches attract the foreign tourists to a large extent. In fact, the development of spas and resorts along the seacoast are the result of travellers’ urge to enjoy good weather and sunshine. Spas and seaside resorts are associated with pleasure travel. Visitors not only enjoy the medicinal baths but also various forms of entertainment. Already there are many amusement parks such as VGP, MGM, Kishkinta etc., They offer theatrical productions, athletic competitions, festivals, cultural programmes and other forms of entertainment very often. A large number of large scale pleasure zones have been developed in some pockets in the suburb at some considerable distance from the city. Now many tourism players are developing beautiful beach resorts in the entire stretch of ECR and in some locations in the OMR. So land costs are skyrocketing there.