Tourism in Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu is a state in the south-eastern part of the Indian Peninsula.One of the four Dravidian states of India, it has had more than 2,000 years of continuous cultural history.Tamil Nadu has some of the most remarkable temple architecture in the country, and a living tradition of music, dance and fine arts.Tamil Nadu is well renowned for its temple towns and heritage sites, hill stations, waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and the fabulous wildlife and scenic beauty.The state boasts the second largest tourism industry in India with an annual growth rate of 16%.[1]
Contents
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1 Economy and Tourism 2 Major Cities of Tamil Nadu

o o o o o o

2.1 Chennai 2.2 Coimbatore 2.3 Tiruchirapalli 2.4 Madurai 2.5 Tirunelveli 2.6 Tuticorin

3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

o o o

3.1 The Chola Temples 3.2 Group of Monuments in Mahabalipuram 3.3 The Nilgiri Mountain Railway

4 Temples and Temple Towns of Tamil Nadu

o o o o o o o o o o o o

4.1 Chidambaram 4.2 Srirangam 4.3 Tiruchirapalli 4.4 Kancheepuram 4.5 Kanniyakumari 4.6 Madurai 4.7 Kumbakonam 4.8 Rameshwaram 4.9 Tiruchendur 4.10 Palani 4.11 Thiruvanamalai 4.12 Nagore and Velankanni

4.13 Melmaruvathur

5 Hill Stations

o o o o o

5.1 Udagamandalam 5.2 Kodaikanal 5.3 Yercaud 5.4 Kolli Hills 5.5 Coonoor

6 Waterfalls

o o o o o o o

6.1 Courtallam 6.2 Hogenakkal falls 6.3 Catherine falls 6.4 Kiliyur falls 6.5 Suruli falls 6.6 Tirparappu waterfalls 6.7 Tirumoorthi Falls

7 Beaches

o o o o o

7.1 Marina Beach 7.2 Elliot Beach 7.3 Mahabalipuram 7.4 Poompuhar Beach 7.5 Kanniyakumari

8 Festivals of Tamil Nadu

o o o

8.1 Bhogi 8.2 Pongal 8.3 Mattu Pongal

9 Galleries 10 References

[edit]Economy

and Tourism

Logo of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation

Tamil Nadu with a GDP of $98 million is the fourth largest economy of the country and Tourism is one of the main sources of its revenue.Tourism in the state is promoted by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation headquartered in the capital city of Chennai.Tamil Nadu is a year round tourist destination and the industry is the largest in the country only second to the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh.Approximately 28,04,687 foreign and 11,16,37,104 domestic tourists visited the state in 2010.[2] Along with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu draws the maximum number of tourists in India.[3] [edit]Major

Cities of Tamil Nadu

[edit]Chennai Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the state, and India's fourth largest metropolis.The city is known for its beaches, Anglo-Indian architecture, cultural festivals and is India's largest shopping destination.[4]Chennai is seen as the gateway to Southern India and is well connected to all parts of India by road,rail and air. The city is currently India's 4th largest and one of the world's fifty most largest ones.This city houses Asia's largest hospitals which has recently spurred a new wave of medical tourism.[5] [edit]Coimbatore The second largest city in the state and fourth largest city in south India, often referred to as the Manchester of South India due to its growing commercial importance, Coimbatore situated in Western end of Tamil Nadu and is well connected by road, rail and air with major towns and cities in India. [edit]Tiruchirapalli Situated along the banks of the Kaveri river and once an important historic centre, Trichy today is a fastgrowing urban centre in the state and houses a no. of popular cultural sites nearby.It has a major railway junction and an international airport.With the best infrastructural facilities in the region, Tiruchirappalli is a good base to see east and central Tamil Nadu. [edit]Madurai One of India's greatest temple towns and the oldest city in Tamil Nadu, Madurai continues to be a cultural hot spot in the state and is a major tourist destination for overseas visitors.The city is 450 km from Chennai and has a major railway junction and an airport 12 km from the city. [edit]Tirunelveli Tirunelveli is an ancient city and is home to many temples and shrines, including the largest Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, the Nellaiappar Temple. Tirunelveli had been under the prominence of the Pandya kings, serving as their secondary capital while Madurai remained its primary capital. It is located on the western side of the perennial Thamirabarani river, whereas its twin municipal city Palayamkottai, is located on the

eastern side. It has a major railway junstion and is situated 700 kilometres southwest of the state capital Chennai. [edit]Tuticorin Tuticorin is a commercial city on the sea shore which serves the inland cities of Southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu.There are stretches of sunny and sandy beaches that are restful and calm. There are several towns that have historical and religious significance that are around Thoothukudi.It has a railway terminus and a domestic airport with regular flights to Chennai. [edit]UNESCO

World Heritage Sites

The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, an 11th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, a 7th Century Pallavan monument

The state houses a no. of heritage sites mainly composed of the ancient temples and deities of the Pallava and Chola empire scattered along various parts of Northern and Central-Eastern parts of Tamil Nadu.The following are the list of the Heritage sites in the state. [edit]The

Chola Temples

The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the king Raja Raja Chola I and his son Rajendra are sites of glorious heritage and architectural achievements.The Cultural heritage site includes the three great temples of 11th and 12th century namely, the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.he temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.The site was inscribed under UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 as Cultural heritage under criteria (ii) and (iii).

Thanjavur - The home to the Chola Kingdom and the location of the Brihadisvara Temple built in the 11th Century.The temple made with 130,000 tons of granite is the tallest in South India and has been built in such a way that the shadows of the gopuram and its pillars do not fall on the ground any time during the day.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram - The capital of the Chola kingdom for 250 years.The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, located here and built by Rajendra I, was completed in 1035. Its 53 metres (174 ft) vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur.

Darasuram - A small town close to Kumbakonam, the town has the prestigious Airavatesvara Templededicated to Lord Shiva along with the Brihadeeswara Temple and the temple of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram are three of the most venerated and architectural legacies of the Chola empire.

[edit]Group

of Monuments in Mahabalipuram

The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram declared as a WHS in 198, in Tamil Nadu, about 58 km from Chennai, were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. The town is said to have gained prominence under the rule of Mamalla. These monuments have been carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast.The following are the sites related.These monuments surprisingly survived the 2004 Tsunami that devastated the other coastal towns nearby.

Ratha Temples : Temples in the form of chariots. The 11 Mandapas : Cave sanctuaries dedicated to various deities. Rock Reliefs that include Descent of the Ganges and the Arjuna's Penance. The Shore Temple and the other temples cut out of rock. The Seven Pagodas

[edit]The

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Part of the Mountain Railways of India, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway(NMR) was stated to be an "outstanding examples of bold, ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain."The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was added to the list in 2005 preceding the Kalka-Shimla Railway which was granted the status in 2008. The Route is a scenic beauty throughout passing through the various terrains and thickly forested areas of the Nilgiri Mountains.The route consists of the following stations:

Mettupalayam Kaalar Hillgrove Runneymede

Kateri Road Coonor Wellington Aruvankadu Ketti Lovedale Ooty

[edit]Temples

and Temple Towns of Tamil Nadu

The Arunachaleshwara Temple, housing the deity of the fire incarnate of Lord Shiva at Tiruvanamalai

The Meenakshi Amman Temple, the heart and lifeline of the city of Madurai

The Murugan Temple situated at the top of the Palani hills one of the Six holy abodes

The 16th Century Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at the coastal town of Velankanni

Tamil Nadu has the credit of having 34000 Hindu temples which are several centuries Old.[6]The cities in ancient Tamil Nadu is believed to have revolved around the magnificent temples built by the Pallava,Chola and Pandya empires and therefore most of the cities in the state have a lot of religious significance and contain a no. of temples and shrines in and around their limits.Temple towns like Madurai and Kanchipuram are thronged by visitors throughout the year. [edit]Chidambaram Chidambaram is the seat of the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja (Ananda Tandava pose ; the Cosmic Dance of bliss). It is one of the Pancha Bhutasthalas.The Chidambaram Temple dedicated to Lord Natraja built in the 9th century has an unusual hut-like sanctum with a gold-plated roof and four towering gopuras.Many Chola kings were crowned here in the presence of the deity. Nearby a sculptural temple is Melakadambur, with its distinct architecture that makes it resemble a chariot. [edit]Srirangam Srirangam another example of classic temple town, houses the Ranganathaswamy Temple a major pilgrimage destination for the Vaishnava community.It is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world (156 Acres) and the temple tower measuring 60 m (196 ft)is the tallest Hindu temple tower in the world. [7] East of the Rangnathasamy temple is the 17th century temple town of Jambukeshvar Temple, in the town of Tiruvanaikka an important destination for worshipers of Lord Shiva. [edit]Tiruchirapalli Tiruchirapalli, no temple town by itself is a feeder point to several other temple towns and major shrines in Central Tamil Nadu.the 'Ucchi Pillayar' shrine located at the top of the prominent ruins of the Rock Fort is one such temple.Tiruchirapalli is also very close to the Parvati temple in Samayanallur and the temple towns of Srirangam and Tiruvanaikka. [edit]Kancheepuram Main article: List of temples in Kanchipuram One of the most visited destinations in the state, Kanchipuram was the capital of the ancient Pallava Kingdom and is considered one of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of India.Over 100s of ancient

temples are located in this town, though most of them are in ruins, there are a few prominent ones which attract a large no. of devotees every year.[8] The Kailashnathar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the oldest temple of Kanchi. It reflects the grandeur and the splendor of the early Dravidian style of temple architecture built by the Pallava king Rayasimha.This temple was constructed in the late seventh century AD and the eighth century remains of murals within the temple are an indication of the magnificence of the original temple that was supposed to exist much before than the temple today.The Ekambareswarar Temple built by the Pallavas and extended by the Cholas is another popular temple in the town sprawling over a large area of 12 hectares. The Kamakshi Amman Temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati is the main pilgrimage center in the town and one of the three temples of worship of Goddess Parvati in Tamil Nadu. The Varadharaja Perumal Temple, the Devarajswmi Temple and the Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple are the other major temples in the environs. [edit]Kanniyakumari The Southernmost tip of the subcontinent, Kanniyakumari is known for the Kumari Amman Temple and the Thanumalayan Temple.Other religious sites include the Mondaicaud Bhagavathi Temple, the St.Xavier's Church, Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple and the St. Arockiya Nathar Church within the district. [edit]Madurai Madurai being one of the world's oldest inhabited cities is the home to several temples built by the Pandyan and Nayak kings with the most famous being the Meenakshi Amman Temple which dates back to 2000 years.[9]The city and the life of its inhabitants revolve around the temple which is one of the largest Hindu temples by size and enclosure.Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this temple and the surroundings. The Mariamman Theppakulam built in 1636 is a huge tank at the eastern end of the city and is almost equal in area to that of the Meenakshi Amman temple.To its side is a temple dedicated to Parvati, and every year a local festival celebrating Goddess Meenakshi's wedding is held in the month of January/February. Madurai is also situated close to the Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple and Pazhamudircholai, two of the Six Abodes of Lord Subramanya. Madurai is also famous for its two mosques one being the Kazimar Big Mosque believed to be constructed by a descendant of Prophet Muhammed and claimed to be the oldest Islam monument in South India.The other is the Goripalayam Mosque which is believed to house the tombs of two of the Delhi Sultans. [edit]Kumbakonam Main article: Hindu temples of Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam, 40 km from Thanjavur, has about 188 temples within its municipal limits.Apart from these a thousand more are estimated to be nearby.[10]The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is the biggest Saivite temples in the region and has a huge complex covering an area of 30,181 sq ft having three gopurams in the Northern,Eastern and Western entrances of the temple. After the Adi Kumbeshwara Temple, the second most important landmark s the Ramaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Rama from the epic of Ramayana and has a no. of intricate crvings within its pillars depicting the various scenes of the epic. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple here is another example of ancient Dravidian architecture in the region.The tank of the temple contains the waters of the 9 holy rivers in Hindu mythology namely Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Saraswati, Kaveri, Godavari, Tungabhadra, Krishna and Sarayu and a no. of pilgrims visit this temple on the Mahamaham festival once in 12 years to bathe in the waters of the tank which they believe would purify them from their sins. The Sarangapani Temple is one of the five most important Vaishanavaite pilgrimage centers in South India and had the tallest Gopuram in the region before the Temple town of Srirangam was built.To the south of the temple is the Someswar Temple another flagship of Dravidian architecture. [edit]Rameshwaram Situated at the tip of the Pamban Island and 50 km from the coast of Sri Lanka, is considered to be as sacred as Varanasi and is a bustling pilgrimage center.Named after Lord Rama who according to the Legend embarked his journey to Sri Lanka from this town, Rameshwaram is a place of wide religious significance.The city is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham shrines that has to be visited in one's lifetime and this island Temple is connected by the scenic Pamban Bridge over the sea for 2.3 km. The Ramanathaswamy Temple, the most important of them all is believed to be constructed at the spot where Lord Rama had offered his prayers toShivaThe construction of the temple as it stands today, was started in the 12th century and ended in 19th century.The most interesting feature in the temple is the 1,220m long corridor (the longest in India) with the beautiful carvings on the pillars, walls and ceiling. The Kothandaramaswamy Temple situated on the shore of Dhanushkodi is supposed to be the place where Vibishena the borther of Raavana, had met Rama's army and joined hands.The temple miracously survived the 1964 Cyclone that destroyed most of the region and receives a good amount of visitors. The village of Devipatinam 20 km from Ramnathapuram has a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannatha and about hundred yards in the sea are naturally existing nine blocks of stone, supposed to be the Navagrahas, the nine planets. The Erwadi Dargah an 800 year old mosque and the tomb of Ibrahim Syed Aulia a Muslim saint, attracts devotees from all over India,Sri Lanka and Malaysia during the annual festival in December. [edit]Tiruchendur

Another of the Six Abodes, the Thiruchendur Murugan Temple located here attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees.The temple is situated so close to the sea that waves from the Gulf of Mannar lap at the eastern perimeter wall of the temple. The temple however had no damage done by the 2004 tsunami. The other temples in the town and its neighborhood are:

Sri Ponvandu Aiyanar temple, at the hamlet called Nainarpattu. Sri Karkuvel Aiyanar temple, at the hamlet called Theri Kudiirruppu near Kayamozhi. A temple to Arunchunai Kattha Aiyanar Swami is located at a nearby natural spring called "Sunai". Nallur Thirunageshwaramudayar with the Aramvalartha Nayagi Sivan temple. An old temple, the Santhana Mariyamman temple, is also nearby. This Ambal is a fertility shrine.

A thousand-year-old Sri Somanatha temple is situated at Authoor, 18 km from Thiruchendur. Kulasekaranpatinam, a village 13 km away, is known for its Dasara festival. The village has the only temple where Muthu Aara Amman / Muthu Maalai Amman (Aaram & Maalai means garland in Tamil language) is shown with his consort.

Located about 10 km from Thiruchendur, the village of Melaputhukudi is considered a holy place because of its ancestral Aiyanar temple, which includes a thalamboo grove, which is popular as a picnic spot.

[edit]Palani The largest pilgrimage center in Tamil Nadu and the second largest in South India after Tirupati, Palani is the most famous of the Six Abodes of Murugan.During the Thai Poosam festival, the temple attracts over 7 million devotees, many of whom do a lot of penances and acts such as shaving their heads, walking barefoot all the way from their homes etc. to show their devotion.A cable-car service ferries devotees to the top of the hill.Palani is also a base for hikes in the surrounding hills.A railway station links the town to Coimbatore and Madurai. [edit]Thiruvanamalai In Arunachaleshwara Temple of Thiruvannamalai, Siva is worshipped in the form of fire.The temple town of Thiruvannamalai is one of the most ancient heritage sites of India and is a centre of the Saiva religion. The Arunachala hill and its environs have been held in great regard by the Tamils for centuries. The temple is grand in conception and architecture and is rich in tradition, history and festivals. The main Deepam festival attracts devotees from far and wide throughout South India.A no. of spiritual centers are also located in the region:

Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram:It was created by the Mahan Sri Seshadri Swamigal lived in the late 20th Century.. People from all over the world visit this Ashram, which is situated near the Sri Ramana Ashram.

Sri Ramana Ashram: Mahan Sri Ramana Maharshi lived in Thiruvannamalai town. Sri Ramana Ashram is one the holy places in this town. People from throughout the globe visit this Ashram. He attained mukthi in the year 1950.

Yogi Ram Surathkumar Ashram: Yogi Ram Surathkumar Ashram, also known as Visiri Samiyar Ashram, is one of the beautiful place in the town. It is situated near the Ramana Ashram.He attained mukthi/salvation in the year of 2000.

[edit]Nagore

and Velankanni

Nagore, a town north of Nagapattinam, is the home to the tomb of Meeran Sahib Abdul Qadir Shahul Hamid Badshah also known as the Nagore Durgah a spirtual place for all faiths.The Durgah as it stands now was built by devotees whose wishes were fulfilled by praying Shahul. It is believed that 60 percent of the shrines were built by Hindus and there are other shrines built in his honour in Penang(Malaysia) and Singapore.The urs festival celebrated every year draws Hindus and Muslims from all over the world. Velankanni is located 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Eastern coast.The town is home to a significant Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to Our lady of Good Health.Virgin Mary is believed to have miraculous healing powers.In 1560, Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a shepherd, asking him for milk to quench the thirst of baby Jesus. When the shepherd returned to his master, after performing the good deed, his pitcher kept filling up with milk. Consequently, a small thatched chapel was built at the site. At the end of the 16th century, Virgin Mary appeared again in front of a lame boy, who regained the use of his limbs. The actual church was constructed after the incident.Thousands of pilgrims belonging to various castes and communities flock daily to this 'Lourdes of the East'.[11] [edit]Melmaruvathur The Adi Parasakthi Temple situated in Melmaruvathur, is a large temple dedicated to Goddess Adi Parasakthi believed to have miraculous healing and bestowing powers.People of all religions including Hindus, Christians, Jains, Buddhists are allowed to enter the sanctum & offer prayers in the pattern they are accustomed to. [edit]Hill

Stations

A view of Ooty, from the Dodabetta Peak its highest point

The hill resort of Kodaikanal with the lake in the picture

Tamil Nadu situated in the southern end of the Western and Eastern ghats is the home to several hill stations.Popular among them are Udagamandalam(Ooty), Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Coonoor, Valparai, Yelagiri,Sirumalai, Kalrayan Hills and the Kolli Hills.The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife. [edit]Udagamandalam Popularly known as Ootysituated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the most popular Hill station in South India[12].It provides a scenic view of Nilgiri Hills.The town is connected to the rest of India by road and the popularNilgiri Mountain Railway, and its historic sites and natural beauty attract tourists from all over the country.The list of attractions include :

Government Rose Garden The largest Rose garden in India. Ooty Lake St. Stephen's Church Ooty Golf Course Tribal Museum Doddabetta Peak Wenlock Downs Emerald and Avalanche Lakes Pykara Falls

[edit]Kodaikanal Located in the forests of the Dindigul distrcis, the hill station of Kodaikanal is fast gaining reputation for its unspoilt beauty and soothing climate.It is known by the nickname "Princess of Hill stations"[13] and is a leading tourist destination in Tamil Nadu.The most popular sights within the town are:

The Kodaikanal Lake Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedalos can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club.Very popular with tourists.

Bryant Park: Just east of the lake is the Bryant Park.Over 325 species of trees, shrubs and cacti and flowers.

Coaker's Walk A paved pedestrian path offering stunning views of the mountains and the plains below.

Green Valley View Offers spectacular views of the plains and the Vaigai River Dam at the South. Shembaganur Museum of Natural History A nature muesum with over 500 species of local wildlife and 300 exotic orchid species.

Silver Cascade A waterfall in the region popular with first-time visitors. Berijam Lake A calm serene lake surrounded by mesmerizing nature.

[edit]Yercaud The Yercaud hills situated at an altitude of 1515 m in the Salem District is an enchanting and picturesque hill stations in the Eastern Ghats.Known for its rich flora and scenic views of the other hills nearby Yercaud receives a good amount of tourists every year for its slightly less-expensive fare as compared to Udagamangalam or Kodaikanal.Yeracud is also a great base for trekking and visiting neighbouring tourist spots like[14]:

Killiyur Falls a 27 m high waterfall. Lady's seat a high peak offering fantastic views of the plains below. The Servaroyan Temple The temple is a narrow and dark cave having the God Servarayan and the Goddess Kaveri inside, which are believed as the deities of the Shevaroy Hills and Cauvery River.

Pagoda Point: Another vantage view point; once adorned with stone built pagodas, it is now home to a large temple.

Heaven's Ledge: A Scenic west-facing cliff situated in Gowri Estate in Yercaud.It has been converted into a campsite to encourage sustainable tourism. It is 15 km away from the main town area.

[edit]Kolli

Hills

Kolli Hills is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu in India. The mountains are relatively untouched by commercial tourism and still retain their natural beauty.[15]The government holds a tourism festival in August. Kolli Hills has been the top choice for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, trekking clubs and meditation practitioners among hill stations in Tamil Nadu.Kolli hills is less polluted and mostly unexplored compared to the other hill stations in the state and effective steps re being implemented to improve the area as to make it more tourist-friendly. [edit]Coonoor Part of the Nilgiri Mountain Range, Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the mountain range and is an ideal base for trekking expeditions leading into the Nilgiri Mountains.Coonor is en route the Mettupalayam-Ooty highway as well as the NMR and is an ideal break-point for tourists to Ooty.The Dolhin's Nose Viewpoint and the Lamb's Rock offer stunning views of the mountainside and.The attractions in the town and nearby include -

Sim's Park The main attraction within the town, a small well maintained botanical garden that has several varieties of plants.An annul fruit show is held in the town in summer.

Droog Fort At a distance of 13 km from Coonoor, the Droog takes one into the past, with the ruins of a fort, which was once used by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century.

Law's Falls Catherine Falls

[edit]Waterfalls

A view of the Courtallam Falls, popularly referred to as the Spa of South Asia

A view from the Dolphin's Nose of the Catherine Falls near Coonor

Hogenakkal Falls often referred asNiagara Falls of Asia

[edit]Courtallam Courtallam, the 'Spa of the south', is situated at an elevation of about 167m on the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District. It is an excellent health resort and is visited by young and old alike, because of the

herbal medicinal properties the water is believed to contain. The town is noted for its salubrious climate and natural scenery. [edit]Hogenakkal

falls

Hogenakkal waterfalls located close to the border of the adjacent state of Karnataka is a beautiful picnic spot with its waters supposed to be having curative powers.[15] Hogenakkal is set in thick, green woods and is considered both a sacred bathing place and a spa-like health resort. Here the water spreads for miles around. The area is surrounded by hills and offers lovely panoramic view. People can take bath in the Kaveri river, before and beyond the falls. [edit]Catherine

falls

Catherine Falls is a double-cascaded waterfall located in Kotagiri(near Coonor), The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu and It is also a major tourist spot in Kotagiri.It is on the Mettupalayam road branching off at Aravenu. The upper fall drops to the floor, and is the second highest in the Nilgiri mountains. It can clearly been seen from the top of Dolphin's Nose if seeing the entire waterfall as one total impression is what you are looking for. [edit]Kiliyur

falls

Kiliyur Falls is a waterfall in the Shervaroyan hill range in the Eastern Ghats and is a popular tourist attraction inYercaud.The waters overflowing the Yercaud Lake fall 300 ft (91 m) into the Kiliyur Valley. [edit]Suruli

falls

The Suruli Falls is a 2 stage cascading waterfall from the Meghamalai mountain range. The beauty of this falls finds mention in the ancient Tamil epic, Silappathikaram.Near Suruli Falls are 18 caves which represent Indian rock-cut architecture of the 18th Century.The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department celebrates summer festival at Suruli falls every year.[16] [edit]Tirparappu

waterfalls

Tirparappu Waterfalls are located in Kanyakumari district. The Kodayar River makes its descent at Thiruparappu. The water fall at this place is about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi). from Pechiparai Dam. The river bed is rocky and about 300 feet (91 m) in length. The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet (15 m) and the water flows for about seven months in a year. The whole bed above the falls is one rocky mass which extends 250 metres (820 ft) upstream where the Thirparappu weir has been constructed for supplying water to the paddy fields. On either side of the river, on the left bank of the river in between the waterfalls and the weir, there is a temple dedicated to Siva enclosed by strong fortification. [edit]Tirumoorthi [edit]Beaches

Falls

The environs of the Poompuhar beach

[edit]Marina

Beach

Marina Beach one of the world's largest and longest beaches, is located on the eastern side of Chennai, adjoining the Bay of Bengal. Watching the sun set and rise from the beach is an enthralling experience. With its natural sandy beauty and spacious promenade and beautiful gardens, the beach is a major attraction for tourists visiting Chennai.The Marina, however, is large enough to accommodate all visitors as well as the hawkers and is often the venue for important state functions. [edit]Elliot

Beach

This beach is located in Besant Nagar. Formerly a popular bathing beach, today, it is the favourite rendezvous of the younger generation. Good roads, pavements, illuminated sands, makes a visit to this beach a real pleasure. [edit]Mahabalipuram Mamallapuram, 58 km south of Chennai, has a beautiful beach spanning a distance of over 20 km. Once the site of the erstwhile Pallava Kingdom's seaport, the place today abounds with stone carvings, caves, rock-cut temples also attract tourists. A crocodile farm, snake venom extracting centre, schools of art and sculpture and a wide choice of resorts along the beach draw holiday-seekers all round the year. [edit]Poompuhar

Beach

Once a legendary port city with trade links to ancient Greece and Rome, today Poompuhar is a small coastal town with a superb shoreline that attracts a number of tourists for its vistas during sunrise. [edit]Kanniyakumari Located at the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies the Kanyakumari Beach, an important pilgrim center. Kanniyakumari is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. The beach itself is a beautiful sight with multi-colored sand. [edit]Festivals

of Tamil Nadu

Pongal Festival

Tamil Nadu is a land of many festivals. January marks the beginning of the festival season in the state. Pongal is the first festival and it is celebrated with much enthusiasm. It is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. Pongal is actually the name of a rice and lentil dish cooked in Tamil Nadu, and on this festive day Pongal is cooked. It is celebrated on January 14, each year. In fact, four festivals are celebrated in Tamil Nadu for four consecutive days in that week. Bhogi is celebrated on January 13, Pongal on Jan 14, Maattu Pongal on Jan 15, and Kannum Pongal and Thiruvalluvar Day on Jan 16.The main festivals of the state are: [edit]Bhogi Bhogi is celebrated to rid the society of evil. People clean up their houses of all the junk that they have accumulated in the past year. All the waste stuff is burnt. Houses are freshly painted. Farm animals are bathed and decorated with colored powders and paint. [edit]Pongal Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month of Thai. It is considered to be an auspicious month. The Sun God is worshipped.Sweets,delicacies and Chakkara Pongal, a sweet rice pudding dish is made from clay stoves and wooden fuel.The sugarcane crop ripens at the time of Pongal and is of huge importance during the festival. [edit]Mattu

Pongal

Mattu pongal, the day next to Pongal, is the day for farm animals especially the bulls. Most farmers still use them to plough and till the land for irrigation.The festival is celebrated with great respect and regard as a farmer would find it difficult to survive without the bull. Bulls, cows and other farm animals are worshipped on this day.

[edit]Galleries

Santhome Basilica

Chettinad Palace

War Memorial

Valluvar Kottam

GangaiKonda Cholapuram(Front View)

Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

Kolli Hills Waterfalls

The 133 ft ThiruvalluvarStatue, Kanyakumari at night

Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari, at sunrise

View of the Western Ghatsfrom Vattakottai Fort

Velankanni Church Front View

Padmanabhapuram Palace, near Thuckalay

Mathur Aqueduct, nearThiruvattar, is the longestAqueduct in South Asia

Jungle stream at Keeriparai

Pilgrims taking holy dip at Kanyakumari, where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, meet

Thirparappu waterfalls

Captain De Lannoy's Tomb at Udayagiri Fort

Jain Art & Carvings at the hilltop-temple at Chitharal.

Tourist Places & Attractions in Tamilnadu

Explore the cities of Tamil Nadu like Chennai, Madurai, Mahabalipuram with Tamil Nadu tourism. These cities of Tamilnadu are treasure trove to numerous colonial structures built in Dravidian style of architecture. Plethora of ancient monuments and temples has its own story of artistic and cultural achievement. Pristine beauty of hill stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal leaves the visitors mesmerized. The mosaic festivals like Karthigai Deepam, Pongal and lot more describes the mystique believe of the Tamil Nadu people. Tamilnadu tourism also offer info on popular dance form like Bharat Natyam which talks a lot about the Tamilnadu culture. The longest Marina Beach, Kanyakumari beach, Rameshwaram beach awaits the beach seekers to enjoy memorable beach vacations here. Henceforth, take some time out from your busy schedule and plan for Tamilnadu tour to explore the exquisite Tamilnadu tourism places with Tamil Nadu tourism.

Tamilnadu Cities

- Ooty - Kodaikanal - Kanyakumari - Rameshwaram

Tourism

... more

Tamilnadu Beaches

- Marina - Mahabalipuran - Kanyakumari - Rameshwaram Beach

Beach Beach Beach ...more

Tamilnadu Temples

- Meenakshi - Chidambaram - Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari Temple

Temple Temple Temple ...more

Tamilnadu Hill Stations

- Ooty - Kodaikanal - Coonoor - Yercaud ...more

Tamilnadu Monuments

- Arjuna's - Rock - Valluvar - Thanjavur Palace

Fort

Penance Temple Kottam ...more

Tamilnadu Travels

- Tamilnadu - Tamilnadu

Tourism

Dev. Weather

- Tamilnadu - Tamilnadu District Map

Map ...more

Wildlife in Tamilnadu

- Vedanthangal - Calimere - Crocodile - Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary

Bird

Birds Sanctuary Bank ...more

Tamilnadu Festivals

- Pongal - Natyanjali - Kavadi - Jallikattu Bull Fight

Festival Dance Festival ...more

Tamilnadu HotelsView more...

Kodaikanal Hotels Chennai Hotels Madurai Hotels Mamallapuram Hotels Tamilnadu Hill Station Trip Kodaikanal Hotels Tamilnadu Pilgrimage Tours Exotic Tamilnadu Tour Thanjavur Hotels Trichy Hotels Kanyakumari Hotels Coimbatore Hotels Rameshwaram Hotels Ooty Hotels

Booking Information/Reservation

Tamilnadu Tourism
'Temple State of India', Tamilnadu has lot to offer its visitors. Bestowed with picturesque hill stations, golden sandy beaches, century old Tamil Nadu temples and jazzing cities, Tamilnadu tours takes you to a totally unique world. Tamilnadu is combo of historic culture and contemporary attraction, which will surly rejuvenate your mind and soul during your vacations. One of the most urbanized state in the country is developed with luxury

hotels, restaurants, shopping arcades, and lot more. Tamil Nadu Tourism offers best customized Tamilnadu Tour Packages to capture the incredible charm of this temple city. Avail yourself with travel plans, prepared by Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation (T.T.D.C) and enjoy excellent services and facilities offered by Tamilnadu Economic Hotels. Tamilnadu tourism offers an excellent opportunity to explore famous tourist places in Tamil Nadu and attractions in Tamilnadu. Powerful dynasties like Cholas, Cheras, Pandyan and Pallavas have adorned the state with their outstanding creations. Each corner of Tamilnadu is sprinkled with pre-historic cultural legacy and has preserved its ancient Dravidian culture. The amalgam of vibrant culture and traditions gives an unique identification to this majestic land of Tamilians.

Tamilnadu Travel Packages

Navagraha
Duration:- 03 Nights / 04 Days

Temple

Tour Holidays

Tamilnadu
Duration:- 23 Nights / 24 Days

Tamilnadu
Duration:- 10 Nights / 11 Days

Travel Hill Pilgrimage Tamilnadu Holiday With Nadu Kerala Tour Station

Package Trip Tours Tour Packages Holidays Packages

Tamilnadu
Duration:- 8 Nights / 9 Days

Tamilnadu
Duration:- 8 Nights / 9 Days

Exotic
Duration:- 04 Nights / 05 Days

Tamilnadu
Duration:- 07 Nights / 08 Days

Tamilnadu
Duration:- 13 Nights / 14 Days

Tamil
Duration:- 07 Nights / 08 Days

Plan Your Tour Now

m Development Corporation (TTDC) was incorporated in 1971 with the main object of promoting tourism in Tamilnadu by building tourism r ities on commercial basis. TTDC made a modest begining by taking over 5 Govt. bungalows and operated 2 coaches. It has made rapid stri arned the proud distinction of owning the longest chain of hotels in south India numbering 55. The fleet of coaches has increased to 20. TTD ties for the benefit of the tourists covering all the major tourists destination in the state.

otels outh Hostels estaurants oat House elescope Houses ake park etrol Bunk.

Youth Hostels, Wherein dormitory accommodation is provided to the budget tourists. This has helped the tourists to avail low cost accomm eason in Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud.

at present having 78 outlets as indicated below: Hotels 54

Boat Houses Restaurants Snack Bar Telescope Houses Landscaping & Gardening Tourists Service Centre Total

11 3 3 4 2 1 78

els under the control of TTDC, two hotel units have been handed over on long term lease of 30 years during the year 1995. The Governm small Hostels hotels cater to with the 5 needs rooms of budget and 15 tourists with years very in low respect tariff of of

oved proposal of franchising 30 hotel units of TTDC and 7 Restaurants. Efforts are being taken to franchise these hotels on long term ba

oth Rs.50/-

hotel units would improve the overall profitability of the hotels division and help TTDC to concentrate on the major hotels at Ooty, Kod Thanjavur, Coimbatore, of Rameswaram, Kanniyakumari TTDC and

has already permitted TTDC to franchise 31 Hotels and 10 restaurants. TTDC has franchised 11 Hotels and 4 Restaurants till date. In addit and Thanjavur (Unit-II) were already given on long term lease in the year

1994

ision is at present having a fleet of 22 coaches, of which 4 coaches are AC. TTDC is offering wide range of package tours covering the entir of Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttarpradesh. The coaches are maintained by the garage at

ates

Gover

les Counter at No.3, EVR Salai, Chennai, TTDC is also having Sales Counters at New Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Bangalore. Se appointed at nine CUM States to sell our hotel ROAD rooms and

pack

d Rail-cum-Road tours from Mumbai, Kolkatta, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Lucknow during the year 2002-2003 wherein confirmed rail tickets, at Chennai Central for return

oach, accommodation in TTDC hotels and Guides services are provided. The tourists are accorded a warm reception at Chennai Central St

conducted by TTDC for a period of 90 days from January to March. The Fair division has proved to be a major money spinner for TTDC w

phasis has been laid on conduct of Industrial Exhibitions by exhibitors like Auto Fest, Business India, Chemtech, ICE, etc. during the no

Details Nadu Tourism

Please Development

Tour Packages ng Tours

Special Package Tours

s Sight seeing package TTDC offers optional package tours for in and around Chennai the convenience of tourists. Tourists can cost. choose their package tours.
Pilgrimage Tours

ours

s package tours which TTDC arranges Pilgrimage package eeing and pilgrimage in tours covering the temples in and South India at an around Tamilnadu. Different packages are available at affordable cost offering wide selection for the tourists.
Train Tours

s LTC Tours in and TTDC arranges 3 Days Rameswaram nadu which include Tour by train on 1st and 3rd week of seeing and Pilgrimage every month at an affordable cost which e cost for Government makes the tourists enjoy their trip.

ad, (near Kalaivanar Arangam),

n.213 389857, 25360294, 85, 25381567. 00, 9840290990 snl.com

Tourism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about travel. For other uses of Tourism and Tourist, see Tourist (disambiguation).

Common sights of backpacking tourism: Guidebooks, train ticket, money and passport.

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization definestourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".[1] Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2011, there were over 983 million international tourist arrivals worldwide, representing a growth of 4.6% when compared to 940 million in 2010.[2][3] International tourism receipts (the travel item of the balance of payments) grew to US$1.03 trillion (740 billion) in 2011, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 3.8% from 2010.[2] In 2011, international travel demandcontinued to recover from the losses resulting from the late-2000s recession, where tourism suffered a strong slowdown from the second half of 2008 through the end of 2009. After a 5% increase in the first half of 2008, growth in international tourist arrivals moved into negative territory in the second half of 2008, and ended up only 2% for the year, compared to a 7% increase in 2007.[4] The negative trend intensified during 2009, exacerbated in some countries due to the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus, resulting in a worldwide decline of 4.2% in 2009 to 880 million international tourists arrivals, and a 5.7% decline in international tourism receipts.[5] Tourism is important, and in some cases, vital for many countries. It was recognized in the Manila Declaration on World Tourism of 1980 as "an activity essential to the life of nations because of its direct effects on the social, cultural, educational and economic sectors of national societies and on their international relations."[1][6] Tourism brings in large amounts of income in payment for goods and servicesavailable, accounting for 30% of the world's exports of services, and 6% of overall exports of goods and services.[2] It also creates opportunities foremployment in the service sector of the economy, associated with tourism.[3] These service industries include transportation services, such as airlines,cruise ships and taxicabs; hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts; and entertainment venues, such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, music venues and theatres.

Contents
[hide]

1 Etymology 2 World tourism statistics and rankings

o o o o

2.1 Most-visited countries by international tourist arrivals 2.2 International tourism receipts 2.3 International tourism expenditure 2.4 Most-visited cities by international tourist arrivals

3 History

o o o o

3.1 Leisure travel 3.2 Winter tourism 3.3 Mass tourism 3.4 Adjectival tourism

4 Recent developments

o o o o o o o o o

4.1 Sustainable tourism 4.2 Ecotourism 4.3 Pro-poor tourism 4.4 Recession tourism 4.5 Medical tourism 4.6 Educational tourism 4.7 Creative tourism 4.8 Dark tourism 4.9 Doom tourism

5 Growth

o o

5.1 Sports tourism 5.2 Latest trends

6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links

[edit]Etymology Theobald (1994) suggested that "etymologically, the word tour is derived from the Latin, 'tornare' and the Greek, 'tornos', meaning 'a lathe or circle; the movement around a central point or axis'. This meaning changed in modern English to represent 'one's turn'. The suffix ism is defined as 'an action or process; typical behaviour or quality', while the suffix, ist denotes 'one that performs a given action'. When the word tour and the suffixes ism and ist are combined, they suggest the action of movement around a

circle. One can argue that a circle represents a starting point, which ultimately returns back to its beginning. Therefore, like a circle, a tour represents a journey in that it is a round-trip, i.e., the act of leaving and then returning to the original starting point, and therefore, one who takes such a journey can be called a tourist."[7] In 1941, Hunziker and Krapf defined tourism as people who travel "the sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, insofar as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activity."[8][9] In 1976, the Tourism Society of England's definition was: "Tourism is the temporary, short-term movement of people to destination outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each destination. It includes movements for all purposes."[10] In 1981, the International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism defined tourism in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home. [11] In 1994, the United Nations classified three forms of tourism in its Recommendations on Tourism Statistics:[12]

Domestic tourism, involving residents of the given country traveling only within this country. Inbound tourism, involving non-residents traveling in the given country. Outbound tourism, involving residents traveling in another country.

[edit]World

tourism statistics and rankings

countries by international tourist arrivals

[edit]Most-visited

Main article: World Tourism rankings In 2011, there were 983 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 4.6% as compared to 2010. The World Tourism Organization reports the following ten countries as the most visited in terms of the number of international travellers. In 2011, Turkeyovertook the United Kingdom to become the sixth most visited country. International tourist arrivals (2011)[3] International tourist arrivals (2010)[3]

Rank

Country

UNWTO Region

Change 2010 to 2011

France

Europe

79.5 million

77.1 million

+3.0%

United States

North America

62.3 million

59.8 million

+4.2%

China

Asia

57.6 million

55.7 million

+3.4%

Rank

Country

UNWTO Region

International tourist arrivals (2011)[3]

International tourist arrivals (2010)[3]

Change 2010 to 2011

Spain

Europe

56.7 million

52.7 million

+7.6%

Italy

Europe

46.1 million

43.6 million

+5.7%

Turkey

EuroAsia

29.3 million

27.0 million

+8.7%

United Kingdom

Europe

29.2 million

28.3 million

+3.2%

Germany

Europe

28.4 million

26.9 million

+5.5%

Malaysia

Asia

24.7 million

24.6 million

+0.6%

10

Mexico

North America

23.4 million

23.3 million

+0.5%

[edit]International

tourism receipts

International tourism receipts grew to US$1.03 trillion (740 billion) in 2011, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 3.8% from 2010.[2] The World Tourism Organization reports the following countries as the top ten tourism earners for the year 2011, with the United States by far the top earner. International tourism receipts (2011)[13]

Rank

Country

UNWTO Region

United States

North America

$116.3 billion

Spain

Europe

$59.9 billion

France

Europe

$53.8 billion

China

Asia

$48.5 billion

Rank

Country

UNWTO Region

International tourism receipts (2011)[13]

Italy

Europe

$43.0 billion

Germany

Europe

$38.8 billion

United Kingdom

Europe

$35.9 billion

Australia

Oceania

$31.4 billion

Macao (China)

Asia

$27.8 billion[14]

10

Hong Kong (China) Asia

$27.2 billion

[edit]International

tourism expenditure

The World Tourism Organization reports the following countries as the top ten biggest spenders on international tourism for the year 2011. International tourism expenditure (2011)[3]

Rank

Country

UNWTO Region

Germany

Europe

$84.3 billion

United States

North America

$79.1 billion

China

Asia

$72.6 billion

United Kingdom Europe

$50.6 billion

France

Europe

$41.7 billion

Rank

Country

UNWTO Region

International tourism expenditure (2011)[3]

Canada

North America

$33.0 billion

Russia

Europe

$32.5 billion

Italy

Europe

$28.7 billion

Japan

Asia

$27.2 billion

10

Australia

Oceania

$26.9 billion

[edit]Most-visited

cities by international tourist arrivals

Top 10 most visited cities by estimated number of international visitors by selected year

Rank

City

Country

International visitors Year (millions)

Notes

Paris

France

15.6

2011

Extrapolation, excluding outer suburbs visitors[15]

London

United Kingdom

15.2

2011

[16]

Antalya

Turkey

10.5

2011 May include same-day visitors[17]

New York City

United States

10.3

2011

Projection, may include same-day visitors[18]

Singapore

Singapore

9.2

2010

Excluding Malaysian citizens arriving by land[3]

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

9.0

2011 Only hotel guests[19]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (China)

8.7

2011 Excluding Mainland Chinese visitors[20]

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

8.1

2011 Only hotel and hotel apartment guests[21]

Istanbul

Turkey

8.1

2011 May include same-day visitors[17]

10

Bangkok

Thailand

7.2

2010

[22]

[edit]History See also: Grand Tour Wealthy people have always travelled to distant parts of the world, to see great buildings, works of art, learn new languages, experience new cultures and to taste different cuisines. Long ago, at the time of the Roman Republic, places such as Baiae were popular coastal resorts for the rich. The word tourist was used by 1772[23] and tourism by 1811.[24] In 1936, the League of Nations defined foreign tourist as "someone traveling abroad for at least twenty-four hours". Its successor, the United Nations, amended this definition in 1945, by including a maximum stay of six months.[7] [edit]Leisure

travel

Englishman in the Campagna by Carl Spitzweg (c. 1845)

Leisure travel was associated with the Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom the first European country to promote leisure time to the increasing industrial population.[25] Initially, this applied to the owners of the machinery of production, the economic oligarchy, the factory owners and the traders. These comprised the newmiddle class.[25] Cox & Kings was the first official travel company to be formed in 1758.[26] The British origin of this new industry is reflected in many place names. In Nice, France, one of the first and best-established holiday resorts on the French Riviera, the long esplanade along the seafront is known to this day as the Promenade des Anglais; in many other historic resorts in continental Europe, old, well-

established palace hotels have names like the Hotel Bristol, the Hotel Carlton or the Hotel Majestic reflecting the dominance of English customers. Many leisure-oriented tourists travel to the tropics, both in the summer and winter. Places of such nature often visited are: Bali in Indonesia, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Mexico the variousPolynesian tropical islands, Queensland in Australia, Thailand, SaintTropez and Cannes in France, Florida,Hawaii and Puerto Rico in the United States, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St.Lucia Saint Maarten, Saint Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Turks and Caicos Islands andBermuda. [edit]Winter

tourism

See also: List of ski areas and resorts and Winter sport Although it is acknowledged that the Swiss were not the inventors of skiing, it is well documented that St. Moritz, Graubnden became the cradle of the developing winter tourism; since that year of 1865 in St. Moritz,[27] when many daring hotel managers choose to risk opening their hotels in winter. It was, however, only in the 1970s when winter tourism took over the lead from summer tourism in many of the Swiss ski resorts. Even in winter, portions of up to one third of all guests (depending on the location) consist of nonskiers.[28] Major ski resorts are located mostly in the various European countries (e.g. Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, France,Germany, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Slovakia, Sl ovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey), Canada, the United States(e.g. Colorado, California, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire) New Zealand, Japan, South Korea,Chile, and Argentina. [edit]Mass

tourism

Reiseplne (Travel plans) by Adolph Menzel (1875)

Mass tourism could only have developed with the improvements in technology, allowing the transport of large numbers of people in a short space of time to places of leisure interest, so that greater numbers of people could begin to enjoy the benefits of leisure time. In the United States, the first seaside resorts in the European style were at Atlantic City, New Jersey and Long Island, New York.

In Continental Europe, early resorts included: Ostend, popularised by the people of Brussels; Boulognesur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais) and Deauville (Calvados) for the Parisians; and Heiligendamm, founded in 1793, as the first seaside resort on the Baltic Sea. [edit]Adjectival

tourism

For a more comprehensive list, see List of adjectival tourisms. Adjectival tourism refers to the numerous niche or specialty travel forms of tourism that have emerged over the years, each with its own adjective. Many of these have come into common use by the tourism industry and academics.[29] Others are emerging concepts that may or may not gain popular usage. Examples of the more common niche tourism markets include:

Agritourism Birth tourism Culinary tourism Cultural tourism Extreme tourism Geotourism Heritage tourism LGBT tourism

Medical tourism Nautical tourism Pop-culture tourism Religious tourism Slum tourism Space tourism War tourism Wildlife tourism

[edit]Recent

developments

There has been an up-trend in tourism over the last few decades, especially in Europe, where international travel for short breaks is common. Tourists have a wide range of budgets and tastes, and a wide variety of resorts and hotels have developed to cater for them. For example, some people prefer simple beach vacations, while others want more specialised holidays, quieter resorts, family-oriented holidays or niche market-targeted destination hotels. The developments in technology and transport infrastructure, such as jumbo jets, low-cost airlines and more accessible airports have made many types of tourism more affordable. On 28 April 2009 The Guardian noted that "the WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time."[30] There have also been changes in lifestyle, for example some retirement-age people sustain year round tourism. This is facilitated by internet sales of tourist services. Some sites have now started to offer dynamic packaging, in which an inclusive price is quoted for a tailor-made package requested by the customer upon impulse. There have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the September 11 attacks and terrorist threats to tourist destinations, such as in Bali and several European cities. Also, on 26 December 2004, a tsunami, caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, hit the Asian countries on the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives. Thousands of lives were lost including many tourists. This, together with the vast clean-up operations, stopped or severely hampered tourism in the area for a time.

The terms tourism and travel are sometimes used interchangeably. In this context, travel has a similar definition to tourism, but implies a more purposeful journey. The terms tourism and tourist are sometimes used pejoratively, to imply a shallow interest in the cultures or locations visited by tourists. [edit]Sustainable

tourism

Main article: Sustainable tourism "Sustainable tourism is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems." (World Tourism Organization)[31] Sustainable development implies "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)[32] Sustainable tourism can be seen as having regard to ecological and socio-cultural carrying capacities and includes involving the community of the destination in tourism development planning. It also involves integrating tourism to match current economic and growth policies so as to mitigate some of the negative economic and social impacts of 'mass tourism'. Murphy (1985) advocates the use of an 'ecological approach', to consider both 'plants' and 'people' when implementing the sustainable tourism development process. This is in contrast to the 'boosterism' and 'economic' approaches to tourism planning, neither of which consider the detrimental ecological or sociological impacts of tourism development to a destination. However, Butler questions the exposition of the term 'sustainable' in the context of tourism, citing its ambiguity and stating that "the emerging sustainable development philosophy of the 1990s can be viewed as an extension of the broader realization that a preoccupation with economic growth without regard to its social and environmental consequences is self-defeating in the long term." Thus 'sustainable tourism development' is seldom considered as an autonomous function of economic regeneration as separate from general economic growth. [edit]Ecotourism Main article: Ecotourism Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights. [edit]Pro-poor

tourism

Main article: Pro-poor tourism Pro-poor tourism, which seeks to help the poorest people in developing countries, has been receiving increasing attention by those involved in development; the issue has been addressed through small-scale projects in local communities and through attempts by Ministries of Tourism to attract large numbers of

tourists. Research by the Overseas Development Institute suggests that neither is the best way to encourage tourists' money to reach the poorest as only 25% or less (far less in some cases) ever reaches the poor; successful examples of money reaching the poor include mountain-climbing inTanzania and cultural tourism in Luang Prabang, Laos.[33] [edit]Recession

tourism

Main article: Recession tourism Recession tourism is a travel trend, which evolved by way of the world economic crisis. Identified by American entrepreneur Matt Landau (2007), recession tourism is defined by low-cost, high-value experiences taking place of once-popular generic retreats. Various recession tourism hotspots have seen business boom during the recession thanks to comparatively low costs of living and a slow world job market suggesting travelers are elongating trips where their money travels further. [edit]Medical

tourism

Main article: Medical tourism When there is a significant price difference between countries for a given medical procedure, particularly in Southeast Asia, India, Eastern Europe and where there are different regulatory regimes, in relation to particular medical procedures (e.g. dentistry), traveling to take advantage of the price or regulatory differences is often referred to as "medical tourism". [edit]Educational

tourism

Main article: Educational tourism Educational tourism developed, because of the growing popularity of teaching and learning of knowledge and the enhancing of technical competency outside of the classroom environment.[citation needed] In educational tourism, the main focus of the tour or leisure activity includes visiting another country to learn about the culture, such as in Student Exchange Programs and Study Tours, or to work and apply skills learned inside the classroom in a different environment, such as in the International Practicum Training Program. [edit]Creative

tourism

Main article: Creative tourism Creative tourism has existed as a form of cultural tourism, since the early beginnings of tourism itself. Its European roots date back to the time of the Grand Tour, which saw the sons of aristocratic families traveling for the purpose of mostly interactive, educational experiences. More recently, creative tourism has been given its own name by Crispin Raymond and Greg Richards,[34] who as members of the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS), have directed a number of projects for the European Commission, including cultural and crafts tourism, known as sustainable tourism. They have defined "creative tourism" as tourism related to the active participation of travellers in the culture of the host community, through interactive workshops and informal learning experiences.[34]

Meanwhile, the concept of creative tourism has been picked up by high-profile organizations such as UNESCO, who through the Creative Cities Network, have endorsed creative tourism as an engaged, authentic experience that promotes an active understanding of the specific cultural features of aplace.[citation needed] More recently, creative tourism has gained popularity as a form of cultural tourism, drawing on active participation by travelers in the culture of the host communities they visit. Several countries offer examples of this type of tourism development, including the United Kingdom, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Spain, Italy and New Zealand. [edit]Dark

tourism

One emerging area of special interest has been identified by Lennon and Foley (2000)[35][36] as "dark" tourism. This type of tourism involves visits to "dark" sites, such as battlegrounds, scenes of horrific crimes or acts of genocide, for example: concentration camps. Dark tourism remains a small niche market, driven by varied motivations, such as mourning, remembrance, education, macabre curiosity or even entertainment. Its early origins are rooted in fairgrounds and medieval fairs.[37] [edit]Doom

tourism

Main article: Doom tourism Also known as "Tourism of Doom," or "Last Chance Tourism" this emerging trend involves traveling to places that are environmentally or otherwise threatened (the ice caps of Mount Kilimanjaro, the melting glaciers of Patagonia, The coral of the Great Barrier Reef) before it is too late. Identified by travel trade magazine TravelAge West editor-in-chief Kenneth Shapiro in 2007 and later explored in The New York Times, this type of tourism is believed to be on the rise. Some see the trend as related to sustainable tourism or ecotourism due to the fact that a number of these tourist destinations are considered threatened by environmental factors such as global warming, over population or climate change. Others worry that travel to many of these threatened locations increases an individuals carbon footprint and only hastens problems threatened locations are already facing. [edit]Growth The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecasts that international tourism will continue growing at the average annual rate of 4 %.[38] With the advent ofe-commerce, tourism products have become one of the most traded items on the internet.[citation needed] Tourism products and services have been made available through intermediaries, although tourism providers (hotels, airlines, etc.) can sell their services directly. This has put pressure on intermediaries from both on-line and traditional shops. It has been suggested there is a strong correlation between tourism expenditure per capita and the degree to which countries play in the global context.[39]Not only as a result of the important economic contribution of the tourism industry, but also as an indicator of the degree of confidence with which global citizens leverage the resources of the globe for the benefit of their local economies. This is why any projections of

growth in tourism may serve as an indication of the relative influence that each country will exercise in the future. Space tourism is expected to "take off" in the first quarter of the 21st century, although compared with traditional destinations the number of tourists in orbit will remain low until technologies such as a space elevator make space travel cheap.[citation needed] Technological improvement is likely to make possible air-ship hotels, based either on solarpowered airplanes or large dirigibles.[citation needed] Underwater hotels, such as Hydropolis, expected to open in Dubai in 2009, will be built. On the ocean, tourists will be welcomed by ever larger cruise ships and perhapsfloating cities.[citation needed] [edit]Sports

tourism

Main article: Sports tourism Since the late 1980s, sports tourism has become increasingly popular. Events such as rugby, Olympics, Commonwealth games, Asian Games and football World Cups have enabled specialist travel companies to gain official ticket allocation and then sell them in packages that include flights, hotels and excursions. The focus on sport and spreading knowledge on the subject, especially more so recently, lead to the increase in the sport tourism. Most notably, the international event such as the Olympics caused a shift in focus in the audience who now realize the variety of sports that exist in the world. In the United States, one of the most popular sports that usually are focused on was Football. This popularity was increased through major events like the World Cups. In Asian countries, the numerous soccer events also increased the popularity of soccer. But, it was the Olympics that brought together the different sports that lead to the increase in sport tourism. The drastic interest increase in sports in general and not just one sport caught the attention of travel companies, who then began to sell flights in packages. Due to the low number of people who actually purchase these packages than predicted, the cost of these packages plummeted initially. As the number start to rise slightly the packages increased to regain the lost profits. With the certain economic state, the number of purchases decreased once again. The fluctuation in the number of packages sold was solely dependent on the economic situation, therefore, most travel companies were forced to set aside the plan to execute the marketing of any new package features. [edit]Latest

trends

As a result of the late-2000s recession, international arrivals suffered a strong slowdown beginning in June 2008. Growth from 2007 to 2008 was only 3.7% during the first eight months of 2008. This slowdown on international tourism demand was also reflected in the air transport industry, with a negative growth in September 2008 and a 3.3% growth in passenger traffic through September. The hotel industry also reported a slowdown, with room occupancy declining. In 2009 worldwide tourism arrivals decreased by 3.8%.[40] By the first quarter of 2009, real travel demand in the United States had fallen 6% over six quarters. While this is considerably milder than what occurred after the 9/11 attacks, the decline was at twice the rate as real GDP has fallen.[41][42]

However, evidence suggests that tourism as a global phenomena shows no signs of substantially abating in the long term. Much literature, especially that following the Mobilities paradigm, suggests that travel is necessary in order to maintain relationships, as social life is increasingly networked and conducted at a distance.[43] For many vacations and travel are increasingly being viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury, and this is reflected in tourist numbers recovering some 6.6% globally over 2009, with growth up to 8% in emerging economies.[44] [edit]References