Chapter 8 - Tourism and History
1. (A) Choose the correct option from the given options and complete the statement.
(1) Thomas Cook established a travel agency selling …….
(a) handicrafts
(b) toys
(c) food items
(d) tourist tickets
Ans: Option (d) – tourist tickets
(2) Bhilar is known as the ‘Village of …….’
(a) books
(b) plants
(c) mangoes
(d) forts
Ans: Option (a) – books
(B) Identify and write the wrong pair in the following set.
(1) Matheran – Hill Station
(2) Tadoba – Rock-cut Caves
(3) Kolhapur – Pilgrim Centre
(4) Ajanta – World Heritage
Ans: The wrong pair is:
Tadoba – Rock-cut Caves
Explanation: Tadoba is an animal sanctuary.
2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) The number of people travelling back and forth from India has increased considerably.
Ans:
(i) Nowadays it has become easier to travel because of the easy availability of a number of options of railway, marine and air transport.
(ii) Marine transport has linked the coastal regions.
(iii) There is a trans-European railway route.
(iv) Aviation has brought the entire world closer.
(v) Because of the economic liberation policy of the Indian government the number of people travelling back and forth from India has increased considerably.
(vi) They include people travelling for studies, relaxation, sightseeing, and professional assignments, i.e., meetings and agreements, as well as for filming, etc.
(2) It is important to take a few primary precautions in order to preserve the historical heritage sites.
Ans:
(i) It is important to take a few primary precautions in order to preserve the historical heritage sites.
(ii) It is essential that few things should be avoided at any instance, for example vandalizing or defacing the heritage monuments and sites.
(iii) In order to avoid it everybody should refrain from activities like writing on walls or carving on trees, painting ancient monuments in garish colours, lack of good amenities in the precincts of the heritage sites causes filthiness.
3. Write short notes :
(1) Tradition of Travelling
Ans:
(i) Tradition of travelling is quite old in India.
(ii) People used to travel for various reasons like pilgrimage, going to local fairs and festivals, in search of renowned and good education, travelling for trade etc.
(iii) In brief, from ancient times people took pleasure in travelling.
(iv) Buddhist monks were ordained not to stay at one place but to keep travelling continuously to various places.
(v) Jains Monks (Sadhus) also were on move constantly.
(vi) The Chinese monk Yuan Shwang travelled to India in 630 CE.
(vii) In the medieval period Saint Namdev, Saint Eknath, Guru Nanak, Ramdas Swami moved from one place to another.
(viii) Benjamin of Tudela, Marco Polo, Ibn Batuta, Gerardus Mercator navigated around the world.
(2) Marco Polo
Ans:
(i) Marco Polo was born in a business family in the Italian city of Venice in 1254 CE.
(ii) He was the first European traveller to reach China by taking the silk route.
(iii) His travelogue introduced Asia, especially China, to Europe.
(iv) He wrote about the rich flora and fauna, social life, and information on culture and trade systems in Asia.
(v) His writings initiated trade between Europe and Asia.
(3) Agro-tourism
Ans:
(i) Agro-tourism, which is also known as agri- tourism is rapidly developing, especially meant for the urban population, which has very little exposure to rural life and agriculture.
(ii) Now, Indian farmers are also visiting far away places like agricultural research centres, agricultural universities, countries like Israel where experimentation in advanced technology of agriculture.
4. Answer the following questions in detail.
(1) What are the crucial issues in the development of tourism?
Ans:
(i) The crucial issue in the development of tourism is providing proper guidance to national and international tourists about various aspects of the actual travel, proper social conduct during the tour and during their stay at the destination places.
(ii) Giving priority to ensure safe transport and security facilities for the tourists, amenities of reasonably good standard, availability of good accommodation, good washroom facilities on the travel routes is of great significance in promoting tourism.
(iii) It is very important to pay special attention to the special needs of handicapped tourists.
(iv) It is important to take primary precautions in order to preserve the historical heritage sites.
FoR example: Vandalizing or defacing the heritage monument and sites.
(v) In order to avoid it everybody should refrain from writing on walls or carving on trees, paint ancient movements in garish colours, lack of good amenities in the precincts of the heritage sites etc.
(2) In what way tourism becomes a major source of their livelihood?
Ans: Tourism becomes a major source of livelihood in various ways:
(i) Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are hill stations with thousands of tourists visiting.
(ii) These tourists are accompanied by guides who provide relevant information on sightseeing and tour.
(iii) At some places photographers are present to click nice snaps for the tourists.
(iv) Horsekeepers provide horse rides or horse cart rides.
(v) All the above activities and services are given by local people and in return they earn good money.
(3) What would you do to develop the surroundings of your village/town to help the growth of tourism?
Ans: We can undertake the following things to improve our village or town’s surroundings to promote tourism growth:
(i) Keep the area neat and tidy to draw tourists.
(ii) Launch some projects to help the community or town develop.
(iii) Educate and instruct the people of your village/town.
(iv) Obtain funding to install new, eye-catching components in your locality.
(v) Giving priority to ensure safe transport and security facilities for the tourists.
(vi) Making good accommodation available for tourists.
(vii) Good washroom facilities on the travel routes are of good significance in promoting tourism.
5. Complete the following Concept map :
Ans:
6. Give elaborate answers to the following.
(1) What are the professional fields associated with tourism?
Ans:
(i) Tourism and Hospitality is an industry with potential to create maximum employment opportunities.
(ii) It has tremendous scope for experimentation and innovation.
(iii) A good number of opportunities of employment are available in the tourism and hospitality industry.
(iv) The country which is a tourist destination begins to receive revenue even before a tourist arrives at the airport of that country.
(v) He has to pay for his visa, he spends for his travel, stay in hotels, food payment to translator, guide, buying newspapers, reference books, souvenirs etc.
(vi) Markets in the vicinity grow along with the development of tourist centres.
(vii) The local handicrafts and cottage industries also begin to develop.
(viii) The demand for locally processed food items and ethnic handicrafts increases. It results in better income for local artisans, business people and wage earners.
(ix) The taxi-drivers are trained to converse in more than one languages, they may also be trained as tourist guides.
(2) Describe any three types of tourism.
Ans: Tourism can be defined as travelling to visit places in distant regions for the specific purpose. The different types of tourism are:
(a) Local and interstate tourism:
(i) This kind of tourism is not very overwhelming because it is within one’s own country.
(ii) It does not cause difficulties of language and procuring currency and documents.
(b) International tourism:
(i) Now-a-days, it has become easier to travel because of the easy availability of a number of options of railway, marine and air transport.
(ii) Marine transport linked the coastal regions.
(iii) There is a trans-european railway route.
(iv) Aviation brought the entire world closer.
(v) Because of the economic liberation policy of the Indian Government the number of people travelling back and forth from India has increased considerably.
(vi) They include people travelling for studies, relaxation, sightseeing and professional assignments, for shooting films etc.
(c) Historical tourism:
(i) This is a leading type of tourism all over the world.
(ii) Tours to historical places are arranged to satisfy everyone’s interest in history.
(iii) It can be noted in this context that Gopal Neelkanth Dandekar, a Marathi writer used to arrange hiking tours to forts in Maharashtra, to explore the sights closely linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his achievements.
(iv) Tours are also arranged to important historical sites in India such as forts in Rajasthan, Ashrams of Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave, important places related to the Indian War of Independence in 1857 etc.
(d) Geographical tourism:
(i) This types of tourism involves visiting places to observe special geographical features of the region.
(ii) It includes various natural and animal sanctuaries places like valley of flowers, various beaches, unique geographical wonders like the Crater lake at Lonar and Ranjan Khalge (naturally carved out in rocks) at Nighoj in Maharashtra.
(e) Health tourism:
(i) People from the western countries find the health services and facilities in India comparatively cheaper and yet of good standard this factor is attracting foreigners to India.
(ii) Besides India is a tropical country where ample sunlight is available throughout the year.
(iii) This attracts tourists from cold climates to India.
(iv) Availability of facilities for yoga training and. therapies based on Ayurveda is one more reason to want to visit India.
(f) Agro tourism:
(i) Agro tourism which is also known as agri- tourism.
(ii) It is rapidly developing especially for the urban population, which has very little exposure to rural life and agriculture.
(iii) Now, Indian farmers are also visiting faraway places like agricultural research centres, agricultural universities and countries like Israel where experimentation in advanced technology of agriculture is carried out.
(g) Sports tourism:
(i) Sports Tourism was developed in the 20th century.
(ii) There are various events and sports organised on International level like olympics. Wimbledon, world chess championship matches and international cricket tournaments etc.
(iii) While there are events like Himalayan Car Rally on National level, events like Maharashtra Kesari Wrestling competitions are organised on state level.