Tertiary Resources (Tourism and Services)
Tertiary or services sector
usually is the largest segment that builds up the national GDP. The entire
infrastructure, banking, transport, railways, forests, education, water
management, etc. fall under this head. In this sector my main impetus shall be
on tourism, which has enormous potential and is greatly neglected, besides
refurbishing and improving the infrastructure for other services.
Improving Tourism
Worldwide tourism amounted to
over a trillion dollars ($ 1100 b) in 2010, out of which India’s share was a
mere $ 14.19 b (` 75,000 crore). It is anybody’s guess how much of the $ 1.1 trillion
flows into Europe, US and South-east Asia. This is one major reason for their
booming economy. Their most places are attractive and inviting. They keep their
countries remarkably clean and attractive and are ready to receive their guests
with warmth and a smile. Back home the foreign tourists encounter a repulsive
ambience right from when they alight from the aircraft, at the airport, and as
they pass through sordid, unplanned and crowded cities full of filth, stink and
poverty galore, rising incidents of eve-teasing, fleecing, rapes, and murders.
A vivid description of most of our cities would
tell of traffic congestion, potholes, dusty lanes with mud and filth, open and
scattered garbage dumps at every nook and corner, foul odours filling the air,
seas of sewage flowing through the open drainage system, stray cattle feeding on
refuse, and pigs making fun and frolic in the garbage and refuse of our homes.
The milkman milks those same cows in the evening and supplies us milk
adulterated with polluted water to feed our children. Mosquitoes and flies
abound in the open, cockroaches and rats flourish in most Indian kitchens.
Every sight is demoralising and repulsive.
At most sight-seeing spots a
flock of children selling small low-priced items will surround visitors and
pester them.After such encounters one would think many times before visiting
such places again. For what does one see while sight-seeing – herds of
pestering petty vendors, and monuments and art works that have long lost their
splendour and have become old and squalid. The pace of deterioration is now
rapid thanks to the overcrowding of cities and neglect by the local
authorities. Everything is disgusting and pathetic. The green belts and parks
have long vanished. Many lakes and ponds have dried up and many places meant
for sight-seeing bear a deserted look.
One more dimension added to this already sordid and
creaking situation is the lack of public utilities, scarcity of water, and
shortage of power. Even our hill resorts face scarcity of water and discourage
even the home tourists. Many hill resorts and tourist spots are turning into
unplanned concrete jungles with traffic congestion and parking nightmares. The
lush green hills have long turned into denuded hillocks.
Our Tourism Department “develops” tourism on its
files. But tourism is not merely providing attractive tour packages; rather it
is making tourist spots attractive to visitors. There should be attractiveness
in the place they visit, not repulsiveness. Tourists would like to carry away
with them pleasant memories and souvenirs of their holidays.
Art and Culture
Ours is a glorious past, with
history spanning from the Indus Valley civilisation. We have inherited a rich
culture, imposing historical monuments, and very rich and captivating arts. We
also possess lots of individual skills and talents like folk dances, fables and
story-telling, and crafts. All this can be a source of enormous potential for
tourism if developed properly. Many of our old monuments are like our lost
primary resources. These can be restored to revive our rich art and culture to
become sites of tourist attractions. They can improve the overall condition of
the local people besides changing the cultural and economic scenario of our
country. Many of our magnificent monuments and rich art works are in shambles;
restoring them to their old glory and grandeur will be a Herculean task but all
this is possible.
For a
start we can make sure that the big towns and cities have cultural centres –
theatres to organise local and regional arts, folk dances, plays and any such
events that can promote local talent and culture. We should make such events
interesting and entertaining. It can prove to be a good source for employment
and income, boost local business and keep the cities clean. Experts, business
houses, industrialists and known TV and Bollywood personalities could be
invited to establish such centres. Gradually we can organise local, regional
and state-level events for more entertainment and business opportunities.
Similarly,
we can establish sports stadiums to boost our indoor and outdoor sports. Our
unexplored talent can do wonders in changing the whole national scenario in a
few years. It will induce hope and enthusiasm in our people and make their
lives lively and pleasant.
Coastal Development
We are blessed with a long
coastline surrounded with vast oceans on three sides. They have enormous
treasures in their depths that we have yet to explore. We must give special
attention to the development of our coastlines and develop them into attractive
tourist spots, besides fishing and marine businesses and exploring for the
hidden treasures of natural resources. I am sure the development of coastlines
will put our country on the world tourist map and extend a lot of opportunities
to our people for better living. In developed countries we can see people
basking by their lakes, rivers and beaches. Back home we neither realise their
importance nor have fun. Our coastlines and wonderful beaches and islands
remain neglected. The development of coastlines and water resource management
will give a new impetus to tourism, tremendous boost to the development of
flora and fauna, and multiply our domestic and export incomes through seafood,
fisheries and a variety of flora.
India
has enormous potential for tourism, at least up to 500–1000 times (one lac percent)
of what it is now. These plans would raise our income from foreign tourists
alone, from about ` 75,000 crore, to at least 50–100 times within five to seven years
besides income from home tourists. The remaining will be a gradual process and
shall be achieved along with the city centres (say in 20–25 years). This sector
alone can transform our economic scenario and make our country neat and tidy.
All this will require detailed working by experts in the field and working
relentlessly until we achieve the desired goal. We must make development,
maintenance and upkeep of tourist sites and historical places, and identifying
the new ones, a religious and continuous process.
I have
tried to provide just a brief peep through the large potential that this sector
contains. The amount of work on it will be enormous and will take long years to
reach the goal. But all this is achievable and must be achieved.
Thanks
and Regards
K C
Agrawal
Access e-book @ www.indiainshambles.com
