Ways Through Which Tourism Unites us All

By Ananya Gupta

Tourism has been a major global phenomenon since time immemorial and continues to foster major

positive impacts socially, economically, culturally and mentally. Tourism is not a complex concept

inherently, however, increased discussions regarding its utility and role in the growth of economies,

civilizations and mindsets present a multifaceted cause-effect arena pertaining to it.

People usually travel for professional purposes or to satisfy personal pursuits, imbibing novel values,

cultures and practices in the process of rejuvenating themselves. Historical, anthropological and

linguistic testaments corroborate the argument of tourism having been instrumental in changing the

course of civilizational developments. Myriads of practices and cultural beliefs which exist today are

presumed to have stemmed out of prolonged positive tourist experiences of individuals or

communities.

The historical presence and active reformational role of tourism lays down the foundation of the

modern-day discourse on Tourism. Governments and economists across the board have been

advocating tourism as a wheel of economic growth, social changes and uniting the diverse sets of

population especially in a country as variegated and diversified as India.

Tourism has grown manifold in the past few decades, owing to the research and promotional

campaigns instituted in this area. Governments are offering provisions and schemes to boost tourism as

the growth of tourism sector eventually generates employment and income of local population.

However, the disguised boons of this phenomenon are awareness in the minds of common ethnic

groups regarding other states of the country and regard for other communities, religions and diversity

of our country India, systematically dismantling the discernible socio-economic differences and

discrimination to a certain extent, whilst instilling a sense of unity.

As quoted by the eminent Indian novelist, Anita Desai, “Wherever you go becomes a part of you

somehow." When a person or a group of people, say a family or a professionally or intellectually like-

minded group or community travels to a place, it brings along with it several experiences and beliefs,

having met various people with different interests and socio-economic background, throughout the

journey. This further develops into a mixed outlook towards various issues and life, in general.

However nonchalant or interpersonally inept a person may be, it is an inborn trait for a human to be

inquisitive about alternative perspectives and further reflecting upon them, thus, when we travel and

meet people having a different set of critical faculties and thought mechanisms, we tend to absorb their

ideas leading to a chain of thoughts. These ideas are consequently shared with a larger set of

acquaintances repeating the said process and ultimately leading to a cultural shift in the mindsets. This

process of exchange and development of unified beliefs and notions, albeit is not as simple and quick

as it may seem to be in words, it entails a vast set of masses and geographies.

Even a single person can be the root of positive change impacting the unity of a country and when

multiple people are elements of uniting through Tourism by virtue of informative platforms, it evolves

into a much wider form of itself ameliorating the condition of disharmonious and conflicting sections

of the society. For instance, the North-Eastern constituents of India still remain primarily isolated from

the rest of the country due to its geographical disadvantage, inaccessible areas and racially different

inhabitants, however, with the advent of social media and internet, people are discovering the rich

heritage of this jewel, involving its indigenous cuisine into their diet and visiting popular tourist spots,

thus leading to an informed, non-stereotypical and respectful attitude towards the North-East Indians.

Recapitulating, tourism is about, but not restricted to discovering and observing people, ideas, points

and places which pique the interest, and being an instrument of uniting people, the innumerable and

indisputable pool of benefits will continue to solidify its significance in future.

By Ananya Gupta