Global and Indian Tourism Foundations and Growth: An Overview

Tourism has emerged as one of the growing and largest industries in worldwide. Today’s tourism has gained its socio-economic, technical and professional status and industrial prestige by passing through the various historical stages since ancient times. With passing of time, reasons of travel have changed from searching of food, shelter and clothes to trade and commerce, conquering land and expanding of empire, acquiring knowledge and education, preaching and pilgrim, inventing and knowing new world, relaxation and recreation, leisure, pleasure and entertainment. The invention of vehicles and its transformation had triggered the development of transportation which in turn helped to rise tourism demand and hence tourism industry. Many developing countries have been benefited due to the rapid increase in tourism demand in developed nations. From 1980s modern tourism got momentum and became a source of foreign exchange earnings, and social and economic development was augmented very rapidly through job and revenue creation. Today, it is more emphasised and highlighted for its immense contribution in generating business opportunities. The discussion on tourism history under the framework of western society, leisure and holidaying opportunities, colonialism, globalisation etc. has always been the theme of scholarly liking leaving the fact that it also has a long history. The traditional sense of tourism is largely associated with its historical and cultural dimensions. Before proceeding to grab its meaning and significance from various dimensions, it is important to understand the historical perspective of tourism to overcome the shortcoming and to help in making better plan for future development. The paper aims to discuss historical background of travel and tourism in the world and also under the Indian context, along with its development through the ages.