AICTE ACTIVITY

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION

What is Tourism?
The beauty of nature lies in its variety which indeed is endless. So is the timeless desire in
human beings to appreciate the nature sincerely. This is why since ancient times explorers,
discoverers and travelers undertook adventurous journeys despite all difficulties they came across.
The underlying idea of visiting recent places to appreciate their beauty, in course of time, has given
birth to a modern industry called tourism.

It is the job of tourism industry to spot such places of beauty and interest and bring people
and places physically closer to one another by providing every facility and comfort. Thus, natural
scenery, favourable weather and climate and cultural heritage are used for area development
through promotion of tourism.

Tourism as a modern term is applicable to both international and domestic tourists. It is the
temporary movement of people to destinations outside their normal place of work and residence.
Such a pleasure-seeking tourist is a traveler moving from place to place or visiting the same place
repeatedly. The concern of business or professional tourism is for exchanging views for seeking
collaboration between different parties. It is an era of economic reforms within the prospective of
globalised economy.

Tourism in India
India can always boast of its rich cultural heritage. Travel and Tourism in India is an integral
part of Indian tradition and culture. In ancient times, travel was primarily for pilgrimage –as the
holy places dotting the country attracted people from various parts of the world. People also
travelled to participate in large scale feasts, fairs and festivals in different parts of the country. In
such a background, cultural tradition was developed where ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ (the guest is
god) and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) became bywords of Indian social
behaviour. The beauty of India’s cultural heritage and the richness of nature’s endowments make
India tourists paradise.

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Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru often remarked, “Welcome a Tourist and send back a friend”. That
was the essence of India’s approach to tourism in the post-Independence era. Tourism was seen as
an important instrument for national integration and international understanding. India is ranked
68th among the world’s 139 most attractive destinations and scores very high on natural resources
(ranked 8th) and cultural resources (24th); with 30 world heritage sites and strong creative
industries in the country.

Tourism is the most important industry in the service sector of the Indian economy. It is
one of the world’s fastest growing industry and it can play role in accelerating the economic
development of the country is widely recognized. It has generated a number of social and
economic benefits, promoted national integration and international understanding, and creates
employment opportunities to a large number of people and foreign exchange earnings.

Tourism also supports local handicrafts and cultural activities. For many developing
countries, particularly the small countries they are dependent upon tourism; this tourism offers a
more reliable source of income to them.

Recent Development Of TourismIn India

Eco-Tourism

Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively

undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small-scale alternative to standard
commercial mass tourism. It means responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the
environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the
traveller, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic
development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different
cultures and for human rights.

Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural
heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists an insight into the

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impact of human beings on the environment and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural
habitats.
Ecotourism India has developed recently, for the concept itself is a relatively new one.
Ecotourism entails traveling to places that are renowned for their natural beauty and social culture,
while making sure not to damage the ecological balance. Ecotourism pertains to a conscious and
responsible effort to preserve the diversity of a naturally endowed region and sustaining its beauty
and local culture. Indians have been known since ages to worship and conserve nature. So, the
growth of ecotourism in India is but natural. Also, the government of India has set up the Ministry
of Tourism and Culture to promote ecotourism in India alongside other types of tourism.
The few places like the Himalayan Region, Kerala, the northeast India, Andaman &
Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands are some of the places where you can enjoy the
treasured wealth of the Mother Nature. Thenmala in Kerala is the first planned ecotourism
destination in India.

Importance of Eco-tourism

Tourism allows us to do more than just learn facts about various locations. It allows us to
immerse ourselves into the cultures and lifestyles of others and leaves lasting impressions that
aren’t likely to be forgotten.

• Ecotourism is valuable for people and the Planet.

• Sustainable tourism is a learning experience for everyone involved.

• Ecotourism Promotes Economic Stability.

• We Become More Sensitive Through Ecotourism.

• Ecotourism Reduces our Carbon Footprint.

• Animals Suffer When We Don’t Travel Sustainably.

• Planning to Travel Sustainably is Easier Than Ever Before.

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Chapter 2

OUR ACTIVITY

As a part of this activity, we made a group of 5 members and made a discussion regarding
promotion of tourism. We all thought and finalized the topic “Tourism Promotion Innovative
Approaches” and went to Kuppalli and Mrugavadhe

Kuppali is a small village and as soon as you enter, you can see glimpses of memorials
created for Kuvempu and his son Poomachandra Tejaswi (another popular Kannada writer). One
thing you will notice as soon as you enter Kuppali is its pin-drop silence. Proceed further to the
Kuppali bus stop and you will see the iconic ancestral house of Kuvempu. Nestled amidst the dense
forests of Western Ghats, the house itself is a beautiful tourist spot. The big house is now renovated
and is converted into a museum. It is called Kavi Mane which means House of the
Poet".
It houses numerous awards received by him including the prestigious Padma Bhushan,
Padma Vibushana, and Karnataka Rathna awards. Kuvempu was the first one to bring the most
prominent Jnanapeetha award for Kannada literature. The first floor also houses the various articles
used by Kuvempu. The second floor has a great collection of books written by him and the ones
published by his publications. One will definitely be surprised to see the number of books present
in that room.KaviMane is very well maintained and the place where it is located makes it worth
the visit.
Mrugavadhe is a small village in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district. It comes under
Mrugavade Panchayat. It is 86 km from Shivamogga in the district. It is 26 km from Thirthahalli.
Mrugavadhe is a place with limited awareness yet of historical and mythological
significance. According to the Indian Hindu scripture "Ramayana", this mangrove is the place
where the demon Maricha, who came in the form of a golden deer to take away Lord Rama from
Sita, was killed.After slaying the demon, Rama installed a Shivalinga here. Worshiped here in an
ancient and beautiful temple. This temple, originally named Malahanikareshwar, is today known
as Mallikarjuna Temple. Mallikarjuna Swamy is in Tunga river. A special feature of this place is
the four and a half feet Shivalinga.

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Chapter 3

GLIMPSES CAPTURED DURING ACTIVITY

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Chapter 4

CONCLUSION
Tourism is an important industry that provides economic, social, and cultural benefits to many
countries and communities around the world. However, it also poses significant challenges,
including environmental degradation, cultural commodification, and economic inequality. To
address these challenges, it is essential to prioritize sustainable tourism practices that prioritize
responsible development and management. This will help ensure that the benefits of tourism are
shared equitably and that its negative impacts are minimized, allowing tourism to continue to be
a positive force for development and cultural exchange. We went to Kuppalli and Mrugavadhe as
a part of AICTE Activity because it is one of the well known tourist spots in Shivamogga.
We were rejoiced by the peaceful environment.

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