LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.
India is really vast in size and culture and across the world, the nation is known to be a great amalgamation of dozens of culture in one place flourishing and spreading the message of harmony. In recent years, the exploration of the cultures in India has become a major contributing factor for not just locals, but also foreigners to explore the off-beat paths of the country and bear witness the vividness of culture and society diversity existing in the very roots of the country. There are several discussions among our own society about the impact of socio-cultural tourism in India bringing out both good and bad points about the country and I have tried my level best to bring out the unbiased versions of these arguments.
Many organizations and natives during the evaluation of socio-cultural tourism in India came with the point that such tourism is commodifying the culture. This means, people visiting India to explore the culture and society are forcing people to make the heritage, culture and social values in a way of earning profits and calculating everything related to the heritage and culture into money which ultimately cause the insult of the culture. However, on the contrary, this reason is giving the natives chances to make their livelihood better and get going towards a much better and economically stable lifestyle that will eventually bring a more stable and happening standard of living.
Many societies have expressed their fears that the socio-cultural tourism has been contributing as a major factor of reducing the cultural value of the native region and getting it mixed with the culture and lifestyle of the tourists. They have suggested that such interferences are causing people to leave the root culture behind and adapt new ways of living and hampering the cultural integrity of the native region. On the other hand, some organizations have stated that this factor is causing a betterment of the natives to adapt new ways of living and enhancing the knowledge of various cultures to become a better host for guests coming from variety of cultures and backgrounds.
In recent years, the local/native communities are actively participating in boosting the socio-economical tourism to get ahead in achieving common goals instead of standing behind and taking benefits. This has resulted in gaining the confidence of the tourists and marking the significance of the respective city/culture on the global map. Furthermore, this has been a key factor in bringing a specific culture/community/ideology on the global platform and making the world a better place for us all. Additionally, participation of the communities are making world smaller for us all and giving us the opportunity to travel without being awkward due to an unknown culture or lifestyle that is not recognizable for various regions in distinct parts of the world.
There are several disagreements with the socio-cultural tourism on the basis of the acculturation causes that somewhere are becoming a theoretical reason. Many organizations believe that socio-cultural tourism can lead to the acculturation process where the lesser known or weak societies can begin to adapt or borrow the cultural significant attributes from the dominating cultures. Be it places or cultures that are getting more exposure or the culture of the guests. However, on the contrary, these can be beneficial to strengthen the integrity of the culture by covering the fewer appreciated factors and bringing out the best of the culture/society and giving people a hospitable environment on many levels.
Another major benefit of socio-cultural tourism is the prime cause that has been giving us all the reason to travel the world and that would be spreading the cultural knowledge. In the era when people are collaborating in various ventures whilst coming from different backgrounds, it is very important for us all to stay open to expand the reach of our culture and get some bigger platform to demonstrate the customs and social beliefs which may lead to a global harmony and a better team building in various parts of our lives. Socio-cultural tourism has given us all some perspectives that are not so easy to gain unless we go through similar experiences and learn the hard way, but with this way, you can actually learn so much about various societies, cultures, lifestyles, traditions, religions and worldly factors that will help you grow on both personal and professional fronts.
Socio-Cultural tourism in India is both sin and boon with different optics and depending on your point of view, it can impact negative or positive. However, the real change comes from the natives who are actually in the action and witnessing the difference it is making. Luckily, it is always a great idea to consider socio-cultural impact on tourism as it is often said that travelling is the best way to learn so much about the world and life. There are several travel agencies in India itself that are taking the positive sides of the socio-cultural tourism and promoting it to the best of their extent and if you have been considering to create your own optics with a personal experience there are lots of options out there to watch and learn about everything that is happening in the real world.
What is Cultural tourism? Why Cultural tourism is significant in India? What is being done to promote cultural tourism in India? Read further to know more
Cultural tourism is a kind of tourism that enables visitors to take part in local cultural celebrations like festivals and traditions. The traveller can thus have genuine cultural contact with the people.
Furthermore, because cultural tourism is a significant development engine, it enables local societies to embrace their culture. Communities, therefore, make a point of praising and supporting their culture since it sets them apart from other communities.
As nations recognise the value of cultural tourism and how it can boost local economies, they are focusing on developing cities and villages that will captivate tourists from across the world to experience and observe the culture in a way that has never been possible before.
Our courses and training methods are different from traditional coaching. We give special emphasis on smart work and personal mentorship. Many UPSC toppers thank ClearIAS for our role in their success.
I have conducted ethnographic fieldwork in India and Bali where my primary area of focus has been on the contemporary practices of Hindu temple construction and use, both for locals and visitors, in traditional religious functions as well as cultural tourism. My research explores the ways that diverse contexts of production and use condition the validity of interpretations that can be applied to specific configurations of Hindu visual culture. I am currently working on the contemporary framing of ancient Hindu monuments by the institutions of cultural tourism in India.
I teach undergraduate courses on the interdisciplinary cultural studies of Asia (India, China, Japan) and the Pacific (Indonesia, Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia). In addition I teach graduate and undergraduate courses on values, evidence, the history and contemporary uses of the culture concept, semiotics and the social construction of realities and meanings through visual languages and material culture.
My primary area of focus has been on the contemporary practices of Hindu temple construction and use, both for locals and visitors, traditional religious functions as well as cultural tourism. My research centers on the ways that diverse contexts of production and use condition the validity of interpretations that can be applied to specific configurations of Hindu visual culture. I am currently working on the contemporary framing of ancient Hindu monuments by the institutions of cultural tourism in India.
India has a rich cultural heritage which can be seen in the myriad attractions in the country. Laced with some splendid heritage sites, India allures travellers from all around the world. Cultural tourism in India has taken people to some scenic hills, pretty beaches, historical temples and royal palaces.
The cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore is all about museums and temples and all things beautiful. The kingdom of Mysore had been ruled by some brave kings in the past. When here, Amba Vilas Palace (Mysore Palace), Chamundi Hilltop Temple and Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion are a must visit.
One of the most ancient cities in the world, Varanasi holds a significant spot in the cultural tourism sector of India. From ancient temples and historic ghats, the holy city is all about spirituality. The evening Ganga aarti is an unmissable attraction here.
The City of Nawabs, Lucknow is one of the prominent cultural cities to experience the royal culture and rich heritage of India. The city is brimming with attractions that have are a beautiful amalgam of Hindu and Muslim cultures. Bara Imambara, Chhota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza are among the famous attractions in the city.
The whole of Rajasthan is one beautiful cultural hub of the country. The grandeur of brave Rajputs can be seen in every nook and cranny of the state. The 5000 year old culture of the colourful state is simply splendid. Some of the significant cultural cities in India are in Rajasthan. From Amer Fort and Mehrangarh Fort to Jaisalmer Fort and Chittorgarh Fort, you can never run out of pretty cultural attractions in Rajasthan.
795a8134c1