Regenerative tourism is about positive mentality of tourists, prioritizing support to the local ​communities to boost their livelihood and ​ensuring their economic and social growth from tourism.  Local communities play a key role in tourism. In regenerative tourism the government and local community together plan, develop and manage tourism. This​approach fosters a sense of ownership ​among residents, leading to more ​responsible tourism practices.

In India, Goa has become first state to launch Regenerative Tourism. On the sixty-second anniversary of the Liberation of Goa December 19, 2023, the most preferred tourist state Goa Tourism is thrilled to announce the launch of a revolutionary model for regenerative tourism. The government has invested in infrastructure development to improve accessibility and connectivity to various tourist destinations in Goa. This includes improving roads, public transportation, and airport facilities. The Goan model of regenerative tourism emphasizes on promoting environmental restoration, cultural preservation, and community empowerment through four paths: spirituality, indigeneity, civilizational and cultural nationalism, and conscious tourism.

Goa support cultural heritage. It protects and celebrate local cultures, traditions, and unique identities. Major tourist attractions include Bom Jesus Basilica, Fort Aguada, a wax museum on Indian culture, and a heritage museum. Seven Churches and Convents of Goa have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The culture of Goa is a melting pot of Indian and Portuguese culture. The long Portuguese rule has influenced the culture in more ways than one and many of the Portuguese traditions are reflected in the Goan culture even today. The crafts and arts of Goa also reflect Hindu, Muslim and Christian origins.

In February 2024, Government of Goa and Indian travel major MakeMyTrip (MMT) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to further turn Goa in a year-round destination, moving beyond its iconic sun, sand, and beaches. The one-of-a-kind public-private partnership aims to outline a series of innovative initiatives to showcase Goa’s lesser-known inland treasures, its rich cultural heritage and mouthwatering culinary traditions, is the next step ahead.

Regenerative tourism transforms the approach to travel, and it has begun to take root around the globe. By focusing on practices that restore and renew ecosystems, economies, and communities, several destinations are setting powerful examples of how tourism can be a force for positive change.

A great example of living up to these principles is New Zealand, originally known as “Aotearoa” which translates from Maori as the “land of the long white cloud.” New Zealand always practiced regenerative tourism that includes people, places, and practices can be found in the country. This small country realised long back that the key to success is in understanding and implementing regenerative travel practices.

Preserving historical sites plays a crucial role in the development of cultural tourism by enhancing visitor experiences and promoting sustainable development. Engaging local communities in activities at historical sites fosters a sense of attachment, leading to continued preservation efforts. In structural conservation technique, reinforcement work is carried out on foundations, repairs are carried out on walls, ceilings and removal of weeds from the buildings. Protects the monuments from organic and inorganic gases. Helps to eliminate moss, algae, lichens (plant like living things).

India is facing a particular challenge, as it has one of the most rapidly emerging outbound travel markets in the world, as well as a significant inbound tourism sector. Indians want to travel both domestically and internationally in ever growing numbers. And tourists want to visit India to experience its incredible cultures, histories, food and landscapes. This growth is an exciting prospect, but it comes with the need for greater accountability and action. 

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.  The ASI manages and maintains historical monuments and sites and regulates the use of these sites for tourism and other purposes. It works closely with state governments and other organisations to ensure the proper management of these sites. ASI subtly helps regenerative travel in India.  Archaeological sites represent relationship with a culture or civilization that exists or has disappeared. It represents transition in architecture or technology over a span of time

The Ministry of Environment and Forest Law is responsible for implementation of policies and programmes relating to conservation of the country’s natural resources including its lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, forests and wildlife. Ministry of Environment is responsible for framing laws and regulations for environment and forests and has a key role in development of sustainable tourism. The Ministry can provide valuable guidance and direction for utilizing natural resources for sustainable and responsible tourism.

Ministry of Culture is responsible to preserve, promote and disseminate all forms of art and culture in the Country and has many Institutions and organization involved in the field of art and culture. The Ministry can contribute to the promotion of culture and heritage in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Some examples of regenerative tourism include:

Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar

This is an incredible tropical paradise on Chumbe Island, located 8 km west of Unguja in Zanzibar. This fully protected island is home to a stunning Coral Reef Sanctuary and Forest Reserve that is entirely funded through ecotourism revenue. This is a unique place of biodiversity with rare species and abundant marine and forest life at this one-of-a-kind, multi-award-winning destination.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa

At Grootbos, the management goes beyond simply conserving the pristine wilderness which they call home. They constantly research, innovate, and establish new ways of doing things to transform the lives of community members as well as preserve 3500 hectares of botanical and wildlife treasures.

CBT township in Myaing, Myanmar

Deep into the country’s arid, central Magway region, along the sacred Irrawaddy River lies the tiny township of Myaing. It is one of the poorest and least developed regions of Myanmar. Ironically, it is only a two-hour drive from Myanmar’s tourism superhighway, the ancient city of Bagan. But this quiet farming community is home to something innovative in its own way. It is Myanmar’s first-ever Community Based Tourism (CBT) project. CBT enables travellers to experience the local culture, local cuisine, local handicraft, it is anything from a wildlife safari to a cooking or basket-weaving class. The locals emphasize on preserving their natural and cultural heritage. For travellers, it means a more authentic experience; and for locals, it leads to an upskilled workforce, and increased employment. No matter the experience, it’s about using travel for good.

Conclusion

I think of regenerative travel as the next step in our sustainable travel journey. Sustainability is about making sure that the resources we enjoy today will still be available for the generations that follow; regeneration is about making sure that what we do now feeds back into the system from which we benefit. It’s about being proactive and intentional.

We visited Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City also known as Saigon in May 2024. Ho Chi Minh is most notably known for its importance during the Vietnam war. However, there is so much more to this city than old war museums and Vietcong tunnels. Vietnam is one of the most popular countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is bursting with culture and breathtaking natural beauty. From picturesque beaches to historic local villages and cosmopolitan cities, Vietnam has countless unmissable destinations.

I found Saigon very clean and lush green. It is a major modern hub of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City offers a glimpse into both the future of the country and its past. The city’s landscape if full of skyscrapers tower over French colonial buildings and ancient pagodas, while the streets buzz with the hustle of daily life. There are pieces of Vietnam’s history everywhere, from the architecture and culture to historic landmarks. The Independence Palace or the War Remnants Museum for understanding depth of the Vietnam War. The Mekong Delta consists of the rows of houseboats and paddy fields for a true look at local life. Saigon is famous for night life.

Vietnam, like most of the other Southeast Asian countries is known for its meaty delicacies across the globe. It is hard to be a vegetarian when there is at least one non-veg ingredient in the Vietnamese cuisine. But in the hordes of frog legs, snails, pork, dog meat etc.

I am a pure vegetarian. I had a big problem of finding vegetarian food. Luckily, we found a good vegetarian restaurant named ‘Benaras’ near our hotel, tucked within the vibrant culinary landscape of Vietnam. This Indian Restaurant emerges as an ideal restaurant offering wide array of culinary dishes of Indian origin; South Indian, North India, Marathi. Gujarati foods. I ordered idli and masala dosa and to my surprise, they were authentically cooked. Benaras is founded and led by Nidhi Arora in 2018. Prior to her entrepreneurial stint, Nidhi worked as a HR consultant. Benaras Indian Restaurant has swiftly earned its place as the premier destinations of Vietnam for the best Indian food experience in Vietnam. It has multiple branches.  

I could luckily discuss with Nidhi as she was present at her Saigon restaurant. She is a charismatic lady. In restaurant business the biggest challenge is handling the staff as the attrition rate is very high. Nidhi handles her staff compassionately; she has mastered collaboration and empathy skills. I found a strong leader in her. She sees others as actual people, not just work producers. As a woman leader, she is more attentive to her employees and the customer’s needs, aspirations, and experience.

Restaurant ambience personifies the owner’s character. I found Benaras restaurant’s atmosphere warm, incorporating lighting, decor, pastel color scheme, dining tableware textures more to match the intended vibe. The lighting brings so much change to an indoor environment. The right tableware can set the mood complementing the lunch/dinner’s general theme and the food’s visual aspects. The pictures on menu and description serve functional purposes. The cutlery set collection adds to visual aesthetics.

I honestly recommend tourists and visitors to visit Benaras Restaurant at Vietnam. I wish Ms. Nidhi Artora best wishes for all her upcoming endeavours.

IRCTC has presented a novel and special idea in Hospitality Services for the travellers.  Its first ever Pod Hotel used as Retiring Rooms is set up at Mumbai Central station in association with Urban Pod Pvt Ltd, Mumbai. Directors of Urban Pod Private Limited are Satyen Ashwin Gandhi and Hiren Ashwin Gandhi. Hiren Gandhi, Co-founder, Urbanpod, informed that while staying in Singapore on some work assignments, Shalabh Mittal, one of the Co-founders of Urbanpod, got a chance to stay and experience an elegant Pod hotel. He absolutely loved the concept, business model, service and the quality that was offered. That’s how Urbanpod came to life.   

The Pod hotel at Mumbai Central station was inaugurated in November 2021. The idea is special in its own specific manner due to different never seen before features. A Pod-inn was first introduced in Japan, which includes countless little bed-sized rooms known as capsules. Pod inns give reasonable, fundamental overnight convenience for visitors who don’t need or who can’t manage the cost of bigger, more costly rooms presented by the traditional lodgings.

The minimum charge for a single bed in a sleeping pod is charged barely Rs 499 for 12 hours. It provides facilities such as Wi-Fi, free business centre usage, 24-hour reception, free locker, ironing board, soap, and shampoo. The pod hotel at Mumbai Central Station comprises of 48 pods, containing 3 classifications, specifically 30 Classic Pods, 7 for Ladies in particular, 10 Private Pods and One for Differently Abled persons. While the Classic Pods and Ladies just Pods will easily fit one visitor, the Private Pod will likewise include a private space inside the pod room, though the room for differently abled will coolly fit 2 visitors with space with the expectation of complimentary development of Wheelchair. The traveller can profit all advanced offices at relatively less expensive rates.

The swanky new pod rooms at Mumbai Central have been done up in muted shades of beige, brown and white. The pods come with a single bed, a mirror and a personal safe, among other amenities. The photos of the capsule-like rooms have created a buzz on social media. 

According to a recent report from WiseGuy Research Consultants, demand for capsule hotels is increasing each year. Japan is not the only country with a pod-room mentality.  The global Capsule Hotels market size was valued at USD 213.84 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.96% during the forecast period, reaching USD 320.11 million by 2028.

The pod trend has also shown its grip in the market with its popularity across consumer booking websites. In the last year, the tourism industry saw an increase in the number of capsule hotels listed on travel website, Booking.com. This growth is coming primarily from Asia, with the nations showing the largest number of capsule hotels. They include Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Russia. Cities with the most capsule hotels on Booking.com are Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, Osaka, and Xi’an. Booking numbers at capsule hotels have also risen year over year. Most of these are primarily being made from travellers in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Great Britain. Asia is known for its pricey hotel rates, making capsule hotels a welcome alternative for both domestic and international travellers. Frank Sorgiovanni, head of research in hotels and hospitality in Asia Pacific at JLL, (Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated is a professional services company), explained that more travellers nowadays, including business travellers prefer frugality with their spending and are looking for affordable luxury lodging. They want a room that offers their essential needs, fast Wi-Fi, somewhere to charge their iPads and work from a small desk if necessary. They don’t need a stacked minibar and other ancillary offerings such as day spas or numerous food and beverage options.

The travel landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, as affordability and sustainability become priorities for modern travellers. Among the innovations taking the lead are capsule hotels, a concept that originated in Japan but has now started to gain global traction. For youngsters, who often juggle with desire to travel with tight budgets and busy schedules, capsule hotels are becoming a blessing.

In an era of information and ambition to enjoy life to the fullest, minimalism/frugality is opted by more and more travellers. Capsule hotels typically follow minimalist design principles, which helps travellers to focus on what truly matters: the experiences and the memories they make during a trip. Pod Hotels are becoming a hit concept.

Ayodhya is a city situated on the banks of the Sharayu River in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh which has been transformed significantly. From the new Maharishi Valmiki Airport to the revamped railway station, Ayodhya has been renovated ahead of the Ram temple inauguration on 22^nd January 2024. Experts predict a massive rise in spiritual tourism, with officials anticipating three to five lakh daily visitors in the coming months. India is focused on the grand “Pran Pratishtha” (sanctification) ceremony of the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya. Large posters bearing a symbolic image of the upcoming Ram temple, design of the new airport along with a message that hails Ayodhya as a city of “Maryada, Dharm and Sanskriti” have been put up in the temple town, including at locations near the airport and the station and the bypass road.

The hospitality industry in Ayodhya is fortunate as it will be benefited from religious tourism, with major hotel chains such as IHCL, Marriott, Sarovar and many other hotel brands planning projects in the temple town. The existing hotels are struggling to meet the demand, and there are plans for around 550 “Home Stay” centres for visitors to experience local culture and cuisine for 22^nd Jan 2024. The transformation of Ayodhya gained momentum after the Bhoomi Puja ceremony for the Ram Mandir in August 2020.

Ayodhya’s transformation from an undistinguished mofussil town to bustling city gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the Bhoomi Puja ceremony of Ram Mandir on August 5, 2020, about nine months after the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict in favour of Ram temple on November 9, 2019.

In few months’ times, people will not only visit Ayodhya to pray and respect to Ram Lalla, but they will also come here for ceremonies and rituals. It will be one of the renowned venues for wedding destination for people with spiritual bent of minds. Not only weddings, but people would also like to perform other family functions like the mundan ceremony (tonsure) of children and birthdays in Ayodhya. The Ayodhya Development Authority, which is organizing the project, has received 600 applications for locals willing to start a homestay facility at their residence.

The Home Stay facility will be an ideal opportunity for visitors to enjoy local cuisine and culture of Avadh by staying with locals. The tourism department and the development authority will keep a check on these centres to ensure their proper functioning assures the Ayodhya Development Authority.

India is a land of religious and spiritual tourism. It refers to travel for religious or spiritual purposes, such as undertaking a pilgrimage and visiting sacred sites. Also known as sacred or faith tourism, it is one of the oldest forms of tourism. Religious tourism is a niche within the segment of cultural tourism, comprising four specialist niches pilgrimages, visiting sacred sites, church, mosque and temple tourism, and travel for the purpose of mission or worship.

The temple tour packages in India cater to the religious sites of North Haridwar-Rishikesh-Varanasi. In Central Mahakaal-Kjajuraho-Sarnath in South Chennai- Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram-Kanyakumari and in West Pushkar-Mount Abu- Somnath- Dwarka in Gujrat. Therefore, whether a South India temple tour or a North Indian temple tour package, you will be spellbound with remarkable architecture. India comprises diverse religions, caste, and creed therefore you will find temples of Hindus and Jains, Buddhists Monasteries, Sikhs’ Gurudwaras, Muslim Mosques, Christian’s Churches. Some are in the form of prehistoric caves, which also enjoy the privileges of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Some of them include Ajanta, Ellora, Modhera Surya Temple, Khajuraho, Sun Temple of Konark, Elephanta, Taj Mahal, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda University etc.

India being part of the world’s oldest civilizations is a land of rich history, countless beliefs, traditions, and legends surrounding the religions. India takes pride in the country’s rich cultural and religious history as it is the birth land of the traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. India is a land where people of different religious beliefs live in harmony and brotherhood. Hinduism is believed to be the world’s oldest religion. Unlike other religions, Hinduism does not have a founder but is instead a fusion of religions. Various ancient manuscripts and scholars describe the religion as a traditional way of living, a religion whose beginning and ending cannot be traced.

Indians seek spiritual support or reinforce their religious beliefs. Often, they undertake a pilgrimage for religious reasons or for the purpose of worship. Most religious tourists are very motivated to travel, so they are willing to spend more money than the average traveller. This inherent motivation also makes religious tourism less susceptible to economic lows. Believers like to travel in groups of like-minded people.

What is Religious Tourism?

When a person travels to a pilgrimage site primarily based on their religious belief, it is known as religious tourism. These travellers perform pilgrimage to worship and enjoy salvation. However, there are Muslim and Jewish travellers who go for pilgrimage because it is obligated by their religion.

Popularity of Religious Tourism

People visit the religious sites for expressing gratitude to the Almiighty, to confess their secrets and sins, to thank the deity, asking for forgiveness. For Spiritual Salvation etc. In many societies, going on a pilgrimage is seen as a mark of devotion. People also travel to religious sites to celebrate religious events, communicate with other believers. For the youngers generations and for foreigners’ new experience of spiritual travel could be the reason why they throng to temples and other religious sites. Better connectivity from major Indian cities is another significant reason people have begun to visit the pilgrim sites.

The Indian history is rich in spiritual learnings, cultural references and values that add solemnness to our actions. Today, many aspects of our lives have influenced the West. They are visiting India in search of peace and tranquillity. We Indians are blessed with the spiritual abundance.

One of my PhD students is working on her thesis titled “Marketing Strategies for Tourism Industry;’’ the University practices progress review on research every year. One of the panellists asked her to explain what her contribution to the research is, and what are the 4 Ps of tourism?  My student has done a wonderful job; she tried explaining the 4 Ps, however, the panellist was not in a mood to listen to her explanation. How do we explain 4 Ps of tourism? Can we call tourism a tangible or an intangible product? The most accepted definition is provided by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), “tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to end staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes”.

The natural curiosity of human to know different places, its culture, and desire of travel is inborn. People keep travelling for number of reasons. The travelling activities will never stop; therefore tourism activities will increase in the future more and more, especially with the development of transportations system and the information technology.

Nevertheless, tourism is a very multifaceted industry which involves numerous stakeholders right from government of a nation, hospitality stake holders, and the nature (environmental factors) themselves – each contributing to either its growth or downfall.

Lets understand the 4 Ps of tourism:

Product: First and foremost, tourism as a product differs from other products due to its large canvas. It covers a range of elements such as accommodation, food and beverages, transportation, scenic/heritage/historical/geographical/spiritual attractions, recreation and of course the customer’s own outlook. Not everything is tangible in it; it is a mix of tangible and intangible experiences. And a customer is going to like a “product”, which is a “destination” for a tourist. If the elements listed above are up to the tourist’s satisfaction, the product is purchasable.

In a marketing mix a product is any offering which satisfies customer’s requirement. Since tourism business is all about experience of TOURIST – this needs a different handling all together. It has to satisfy the tourist’s innate experiences.

Each tourist has his/her enigma; there are lot of tacit expectations of tourists. I personally think tourism as a product is complex in nature. It’s packaging matters.

Price: Price in case of tourism is the amount of money that customer pays for the package offer. Whether the package is highly priced, properly priced or is low priced is decided by the experience of the tourist. The pricing should be based on basis of offering made; the accommodation standard, food standard, transportation standard, recreation and the aspirations to be met with. Some destinations are expensively priced while some are modestly priced.

Tourism products are rarely identical. This is because locations differ and also because of the people and the components that make up the experience provided to a traveler.  It can be incredibly diverse and pricing strategies can evolve as a tourism destination develops.  The pricing varies according to the package: uniqueness of the destination, what value added services are provided inclusive of the experience, which segment is being served (middle income/ high income/ low income) the operating costs (fixed and variable) and break even of the service provider.

For most tourism businesses setting prices will be market based. It is driven by what do competitors with similar products and services charge within a given market. Let me clarify here, preferably being price competitive is not price driven, its product driven. It also depends on the seasonality element. In sense, tourism business is seasonal in nature.

Place: In case of tourism industry, distribution is a tricky aspect. In terms of definition, distribution is concerned with making the product available to the customer. It includes various activities undertaken to make the product accessible and available to target customers. Tourism being a service product, and here the customers need to be transported to various destinations (point of sale), its channels are tourist operators, agents, wholesalers, Tourist Company’s website, blogs etc. For the distribution channels in tourism understanding the distribution systems, recommended rates of commission, and the roles of various booking agents’ matters.

Retailers provide customers with an accessible place; either online or as a shop front by booking travel products.  They sell products to customers. Wholesalers are businesses that will sell product through established retail distribution channels both at shop front and online on behalf of the service provider.  They also sell individual product elements and link them to form packages. The role of the intermediary has been an important element at all stages experienced by the tourism sector. Technology has played a pivotal role in growth of travel industry.

Promotion:  Refers to informing the customers about existence of a product. The promotional activity consists of educating, persuading, reminding the customers about the product. A variety of media vehicles are available and being used by the tourism industry.

Tourism promotion uses a good promotional mix such as personal selling, advertisements in print media and electronic media, television etc. People prefer less-travelled destinations; these products require accommodations, transportations and infrastructural facilities of an international standard. Distinctive advertising strategies help to promote nation as a brand, which develops over so many choices in our world. Painting a tourism product in a positive light always helps in attracting potential consumers, and consequently the product consumed is the very essence of the advertising world.

The tourism business is highly hyper competitive in nature. The tourism destinations are faced with a rapidly changing surrounding, nature and increasing demands from travelers. It requires adaptable and workable marketing strategies. The world is well connected today – thanks to Internet. Nationally, tourism ministries of governments are tremendously responsible for its maintenance and development both. And, tourists are complex in nature; they go for overall holistic experience. In order to support the development of a destination that provides a seamless experience are the ones that click.

To sum it up – sky is the limit for growth of tourism sector. The 4 Ps can be developed in manifold and can be mixed and merged beyond imagination.

River of Five colours – Columbia

Every year in the remote backwoods of Colombia, an ordinary river erupts into a spectacular rainbow-coloured waterway. The river looks colorful. Caño Cristales in Colombia’s Serranìa de la Macarena National Park is nicknamed the “River of Five Colors,” or “liquid rainbow,” or “melted rainbow” because of the many hues you can see beneath its clear waters. In certain light and water conditions, bright greens, yellows, reds, and purples may appear to flow down the river. Sometimes, the river can also appear a bright blue, hot pink, orange, or a deep maroon. The vibrant coloration can be attributed to a weed called Macarenia clavigera, a kind of tropical aquatic plant that is different from algae or moss. The right water level and weather conditions make all the difference as to which colors you can see in the water.

Cotton Castle in Turkey

Pamukkale city is also called Cotton Castle, a perfect name for the magnificent site in southwestern Turkey. The terraces and hot springs in this area were created by carbonate minerals over centuries, leftover by streaming, calcite-weighty waters developed from a nearly 700-foot cliff overlooking the plain. The landscape is unreal, almost mysterious in its purity and intense whiteness. Terraced basins, mineral forests, and a collection of petrified waterfalls blanket the terrain creates spawned look. The Hierapolis thermal spas, part of this natural phenomenon, were created when the 2nd century BC ended during the Attalids dynasty. The Byzantine and Roman spa city, Hierapolis is one of the most fascinating ruins in Turkey, well protected and preserved by its UNESCO status. The ruins of the Greek monuments, baths, and temples are located at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though visitors cannot walk directly on terraces, the small, cerulean pools are open for dips.

Upside down trees – Madagascar

One of the world’s most famous outdoor alleys, the Avenue of the Baobabs is Madagascar’s is most established natural wonder. The fairytale trees are found in the Menabe region, covering an old dirt road, and are one of the continent’s most impressive sights. Madagascar, one of Africa’s Island countries, is laden with rainforest and featuring deserts, beaches, and fantastic wildlife. Getting there is not easy. The place is known as the “Upside down trees” baobabs are also called bottle trees, boab trees, and boaboa trees, some of which are more than 800 years old. The circumference of the baobab can reach around 160 feet and the diameter of larger specimens near 40 feet, making them some of the biggest in Africa.

Caves of crystals – Chihuahua, Mexico

Located 980 feet below the Chihuahua Desert, the enormous Cave of Crystals is home to the largest formations discovered on Earth, these are formed over ages, and the biggest being 39 feet long and 55 tons in weight. I n 1910, in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico, a group of miners discovered a cave underneath the Naica mine workings. It was named the Cave of Swords. In April 2000, while miners were excavating a new tunnel, drilling through the Naica fault line, they discovered another cave which was named Cave of Crystals or Giant Crystal Cave.

The Cave of Crystals is a horseshoe-shaped cavity in limestone. Its floor is covered with perfectly faceted crystalline blocks. Huge crystal beams project out from both the blocks and the floor. The caves are accessible today because the mining company’s pumping operations keep them clear of water. If the pumping were stopped, the caves would again be submerged in water. The crystals depreciate in air, so the Naica Project is attempting to visually document the crystals before they deteriorate.

Bermuda Tringale – USA 

This stretch of Atlantic Ocean is enchantingly beautiful. It is one of the few places in the modern world that remains wrapped in an aura of superstitious mystery. It is hidden in mythos and mystery, the infamous 500,000 square miles stretch of ocean is also called the Devil’s Triangle which is physically the area between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Over the centuries, many ships and planes have been reported to have mysteriously disappeared in the region. Also, this Devil’s Triangle has been blamed for the disappearance of thousands of people in the past decades. However, the US Coastguard argues any such area exists from where about unusual magnetic readings and ships, planes and people who have disappeared here without a trace.

Blood Falls – Antarctica

While Antarctica is known for its virgin white snow cover, there is a part that stands out for its blood-red colour. Known as the Blood Falls, this unique phenomenon was first discovered by an Australian geologist Griffith Taylor. The waterfall looks red (bleeding) because of a hypersaline discharge phenomenon. And it flows bold streaks of bright-red saltwater from within the glacier onto the ice-covered surface of Lake Bonney. The rare natural phenomenon is a result of a complex chemical reaction that has occurred over 1.5 million years. When the iron-bearing saltwater meets oxygen, the iron takes on a deep red colour. Blood Falls is an outflow of an iron oxide–tainted plume of saltwater, flowing from the tongue of Taylor Glacier onto the ice-covered surface of West Lake Bonney in the Taylor Valley of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Victoria Land, East Antarctica.

Dhanushkodi – India

Once the lost land of Tamil Nadu, Dhanushkodi has once again emerged as one of the best places to visit in India. This beach destination is known for its matchless serenity that is away from hustle and bustle. Dhanushkodi is called the last land of India as Dhanushkodi is just 25 km away from Sri Lanka. Here the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet.

As per mythology, Dhanushkodi was the spot where Lord Rama and his army-built Ram Setu, otherwise known as Adam’s Bridge across the sea connecting Rameshwaram Island (Tamil Nadu) and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka), to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana.  According to legend, the bridge was built using floating stones, with name of Lord Rama engraved on it, which made it unsinkable. The bridge was built by vanar-sena (troop of monkeys).  The architects of Ram Setu were Nal and Neel. Nal and Neel were the monkey sons of Lord Vishwakarma. According to the epic Ramayana, both were cursed by the sages, this curse later proved to be a boon for them.

Rainbow Mountains, Zhengyi Danxia National Geopark, China

The mountainside of Zhangye National Geopark looks like the painting on wall.  Splashes of rainbow appear in thick straight lines. It has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, the rainbow mountains have maintained their vibrancy because of the viewing platforms and trails created by the tourism of China. The steepness and peculiar looks deter tourists from stepping directly onto them. They can be viewed from far by standing on another mountain. They look stunning.  They are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. They are formed into cake shape angled by the action of the same tectonic plates responsible for creating parts of the Himalayan range of mountains.

Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2017. It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional Aviation market with some key features. Its main goal is to make air travel affordable and extensive, to boost inclusive national economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of all regions and states of India. The UDAN scheme aims at stimulating regional connectivity with flights covering distances up to 800 km through a market-based mechanism.

According to industry chamber FICCI, about 53 airports across the country have been streamlined to execute operations under the scheme. A dozen airports where limited but irregular flights operate will be connected. As many as 31 destinations that are not operational despite the existence of airports will become active. Furthermore there are many airports in Tier 2 and Tier 3 which remain empty which hardly receive one two flights in a week. It is worth noting that the air travel sector of the country has improved tremendously.

The scheme will be jointly funded by the central government and state governments. The scheme will run for 10 years and can be extended thereafter.

Features of UDAN Scheme

i) Improving air transport infrastructure in all parts of the country with a special focus on remote areas. ii) Ambitious plan of making 425 underserved airports operational in the country iii) Improving the economy of the country by facilitating faster connectivity for strengthening supply chain iv) Creating job opportunities in the aviation sector v) Making air services available at lower prices.

Components of UDAN Scheme

It has two components. The first one is to improve the existing airports and develop new ones for faster regional connectivity. The second one is the addition of new, topped airfare and financially viable regional real roots.

Funding for UDAN Scheme

Is done by Central Government; the government aims at giving subsidised air fares with help of Viability Gap Funding (VGF). Viability Gap Funding means a grant to support projects that are economically justified but not financially viable. Such a grant under VGF is provided as a capital subsidy to attract the private sector players to participate in PPP projects that are otherwise financially unviable.

Under the UDAN scheme concessions are given on ticket-related taxes. UDAN also allows flight code sharing which is a marketing arrangement in which an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, and sells tickets for that flight. Airlines throughout the world continue to form code-share arrangements to strengthen or expand their market presence and competitive ability

The State Governments reduce the GST to 1%. They help in improving fuelling infrastructure by coordinating with oil companies. Provide free security personnel and land for airport development. They also assist in supplying water, electricity, etc at cheap rates.

Airport Operators

Airport operators provide on-airport roadways, automobile parking facilities, rental car availability, passenger pick-up and drop-off locations, and various truck facilities to accommodate cargo and mail movements. For UDAN flights the operators will not charge for parking, landing, storage, etc. They will not charge nil terminal navigation landing charge. They will give 4% discount on UDAN-RCS flight’s Route Navigation and Facilitation Charge (RNFC).

UDAN scheme has evolved in four rounds. The 4th round of UDAN was launched in December 2019 with a special focus on North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands. The airports that had already been developed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) are given higher priority for the award of VGF (Viability Gap Funding) under the Scheme. Under UDAN 4, the operation of helicopters and seaplanes are also been incorporated. Air India and SpiceJet have the biggest fleet of regional planes under this scheme. Jet Airways too flies on regional routes but did not participate in the first UDAN round.

UDAN has facilitated regional air connectivity by making it affordable for the common man in India. And, slowly the scheme is helping the nation in creating entrepreneurial climate and many jobs.

The concept of sustainable tourism is gaining lot of importance all over the world. Sustainable tourism means making a positive impact as a tourist in the place of visit. As a tourist wherever we go, we must try to maintain the place uninterrupted, especially without dirtying it.  More countries and regions are trying their best to develop tourism to attract foreign tourists. In India, Goa is mot preferred destination for its natural bounty, stunning diversity of riverine systems, lush Green Island, long beaches and some of the oldest heritage sights attract the tourists. The locals of Goa are some of the coolest hosts ever. Warm, friendly, helping, the locals here make you feel as safe as you are at home. There are several tour companies, hotels and travel enterprises promoting their brand in the name of eco-friendly and sustainable tourism. Goa is working hard to implement and to bring a positive social, economic and environmental change.

When tourists create positive impact to the environment, to the local economy and the society the tourism becomes sustainable. Tourism involves primary transportation to the general location, local transportation, accommodations, entertainment, recreation, nourishment and shopping. It is related to travel for leisure, business and what is called VFR (visiting friends and relatives). People now broadly agree that tourism development should be sustainable; however, the question of how to achieve this remains unanswered because of different views and too many debates going on at various levels.

Without travel there is no tourism, so the concept of sustainable tourism is tightly linked to a concept of sustainable mobility. Two relevant considerations are tourism’s reliance on fossil fuels and tourism’s effect on climate change. 72 percent of tourism’s CO2 emissions come from transportation, 24 percent from accommodations, and 4 percent from local activities. Aviation accounts for 55% of that transportation CO2 emissions (or 40% of tourism’s total). However, when considering the impact of all greenhouse gas emissions from tourism and that aviation emissions are made at high altitude where their effect on climate is amplified, aviation alone accounts for 75% of tourism’s climate impact.

The natural curiosity of human to know different places, its culture, and desire of travel is inborn. People keep travelling for number of reasons. The travelling activities will never stop; therefore tourism activities will increase in the future more and more, especially with the development of transportation’s system and the information technology.

There are dos and don’ts when it comes to sustainable tourism.  Global economists forecast continuing international tourism growth, the amount depending on the location. As one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, this continuous growth places great stress on remaining biologically diverse habitats and indigenous cultures, which are often used to support mass tourism. Tourists who promote sustainable tourism are sensitive to these dangers and seek to protect tourist destinations, and to protect tourism as an industry. Sustainable tourists can support the impact of tourism in many ways: informing themselves of the culture, politics and economy of the communities visited anticipating and respecting local cultures, expectations and assumptions supporting the integrity of local cultures by favoring businesses which conserve cultural heritage and traditional values. Tourists support local economies by purchasing local goods, by conserving resources, by becoming environmentally conscious, and by using the least possible amount of non-renewable resources such as plastic.

Another concept which is becoming famous is ‘Responsible tourism’ which implies that tourism can be consumed in a more responsible way. Sustainable and Responsible Tourism are both alternative forms of tourism that aim to alleviate the negative effects of tourism, but the terms aren’t identical. Rather than mistaking both to be the same, both Sustainable and Responsible tourism as two parallel concepts similar in their mission, but, different in their implementation. Both ideas ultimately aim to enrich a destination; sustainable tourism approaches this through the influence of stakeholders and political leadership, whereas, responsible tourism takes place at individual level. Responsible Tourism happens when tourists, tour operators, hoteliers, governments and importantly local people take responsibility for nurturing the tourist destinations they belong to.

Increasingly, the local communities and tourism operations are endorsing and following responsible tourism as a pathway towards sustainable tourism. Responsible tourism and sustainable tourism have an identical goal, that of sustainable development. The pillars of responsible tourism are therefore the same as those of sustainable tourism.

The best example of sustainable tourism is the tiny nation Bhutan. It has very strict entry requirements. Travelers are approved to enter Bhutan with an approved tour operator who will arrange all travel while in the country and arrive via Druk Air, which offers a limited number of flights from a handful of cities in Asia. Additionally, all visitors must pay a daily tariff, starting at $200 per day during the low season. However, the daily tariff involves most necessary expenses during a trip, including a 3 star hotel, all meals, a licensed Bhutanese tour guide, internal transportation, and equipment for treks. $65 from this daily tariff is considered “sustainable tourism” royalty which is used towards the country’s free health-care and education, as well as the building of tourism infrastructure. As a result of the high daily tariff, fewer travelers are visiting Bhutan.

I wish to give another example of Gijón, which is a large coastal city in northern Spain. It’s known for its maritime heritage and the old fishermen’s quarter of Cimadevilla.  It is certified for its responsible tourism by the Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR) and supported by UNESCO, the city of Gijon remains as one of the best sustainable tourism examples. After renewing their certificate of sustainability, the government and citizens didn’t stop, instead developed a marketing plan to publicize the city’s commitment to responsible tourism, Gijon continues to champion the example of a city committed to responsible tourism. It offers sustainability both to visitors and to their own citizens in terms of a broad culture and cuisine that blend with its green landscapes, a comprehensive care of the environment, a high quality of life and a tourism model that focuses on the satisfaction of its visitors.

Stakeholders of sustainable tourism play a role in continuing wellbeing of the ecology and economy both. Stakeholders include organizations as well as individuals. A stakeholder in the tourism industry is deemed to be anyone who is impacted on by development positively or negatively, and as a result it reduces potential conflict between the tourists and host community by involving the latter in shaping the way in which tourism develops. The stakeholders in tourism industry are the Governments, NGOs, the tour operators, the tourists and most importantly the local communities.

Local communities play an important role in tourism development. They are regarded as legitimate and moral stakeholders in tourism development. Local community has to be involved in policy and decision making so that it will enhance the trust and confidence of the local people on the tourism industry. I am of an opinion that good amount of research is required to study this facet in tourism development. I feel that tourists must respect the local culture, minimize waste, buy local products to help the economy grow, and lower the carbon emission in air. Walk or use the local transpiration as far as possible.

Being a responsible traveler comes naturally to some, while many remain ignorant travelers. If you see someone inadvertently doing something that is damaging to the environment or to the local people and culture, it’s better to caution the person/group in a friendly manner. Become a responsible traveler and help spread the word about sustainable tourism.

MICE tourism consists of large groups which are usually planned well in advance; these groups are brought together for the purpose of conferences, conventions, seminars, workshops, meetings or exhibitions. In the recent times MICE is also called ‘meeting industry’. Other industry educators feel that the industry should be called ‘events industry’ to be an umbrella term for the vast scope of the meeting and events profession. MICE events are usually centered on a theme or topic and are aimed at a professional, school/college, academic, entertainment or trade organization or other special interest group.

A destination marketing organization (DMO) which is also called a convention and visitor’s bureau (CVB) is an organization that promotes a town, city, region, or country in order to increase the number of visitors. The destination bureau promotes the development and marketing of a destination by focusing on convention sales, tourism marketing, and services. Major cities in the UK and around the world have a ‘convention bureau’. Occasionally they have a different name and may be known as a conference office or convention and visitor bureau (CVB). In India the India Convention Promotion Bureau is located in New Delhi. The Pearl City Hyderabad is fast becoming an information and technology hub of India. Studded with numerous heritage monuments, the heritage city Hyderabad has come up with a sophisticated business venue, Hyderabad International Convention Centre – HICC. The lavish HICC is able to meet the requirements of a convention of 5000, a seminar for 500 or a meeting of 50.

The capital city of India, New Delhi has been the favorite MICE destination for quite some time. The numerous charm of the city varies from ancient monuments to excellent shopping options making the business meeting and conference here an absolute pleasure. The Ashok, New Delhi, has been hosting meetings and conventions on the international scale for more than four decades. Spread over 16,435 sq ft, the pillar-less Convention Hall at The Ashok is a favorite venue for the top businessmen and government officials. Other business meeting venues of the capital are the Habitat World Convention Centre, Vigyan Bhawan and a number of hotels with excellent convention facilities including Taj Palace, Maurya Sheraton, Le Meridien, etc.

No matter what they are called, the MICE/Convention bureaus exist to promote their city as a place to hold meetings, conferences and business events and to support meeting planners all through the organizing process. A convention bureau is the first point of contact for planners who look out for organizing conference, particularly in a place they are unfamiliar with. It is a ‘one stop shop’ offering unbiased advice which provides local knowledge in their city, and is the ‘official’ point of contact for all conference organizers.

Most components of MICE are easily understood; maybe with the exception of incentives. Incentive tourism is utilized by organizations when they wish to reward their employees a trip with family to an exotic destination; may be for achieving targets, for good conduct or for a project completion – it can be anything.  Incentive tourism is usually conducted purely for entertainment, rather than professional or education purposes.

Convention Promotion Bureaus cover wide range of services for all kinds of events: location, hotel room booking, meeting area layout, membership management, catering organization, supply and installation of audiovisual devices and interpreters for foreign languages, airport – hotel – airport transfers, banquet and themed event organization, post seminar tour and cultural program organization etc.

M.I.C.E. tourism has seen a spurt of growth in the last ten years all over the globe.  Automobile industry, IT sector, Pharmaceutical companies, Textile, IT, Publishing House, Doctors, Engineering companies, jewellery, education, meditation, yoga, and garments etc. are major user of the convention and conference facilities.

In the international corporate world, Malaysia has fast emerged as one of the most preferred Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destinations. The country has everything you need for a successful event – be it a board meeting, incentive trips for employees or customers, team building get-togethers, conferences for key stakeholders, or exhibitions to showcase your latest innovations. Malaysia has gathered a momentum in MICE tourism because of its well-developed infrastructural facilities, remarkable economic development, extensive MICE expertise, pleasant tropical climate and guest-friendly culture. It is a melting pot of cultures living in harmony, where law and order is upheld by citizens and government equally, this land promises guests a secure, peaceful time. Similarly, Singapore and Hong Kong, Sri Lanka are also famous as MICE tourist centers.