History of Tourism

The earliest forms of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of “historic antiquities” was open to the public in the sixth century BC in Babylon, while the Egyptians held many religious festivals attracting not only the devout, but many who came to see the famous buildings and works of art in the cities. The local towns accommodated tourists by providing services such as: vendors of food and drink, guides, hawkers of souvenirs, touts and prostitutes. 

From around the same date, Greek tourists travelled to visit the sites of healing gods. Because the independent city-states of ancient Greece had no central authority to order the construction of roads, most of these tourists travelled by water, hence seaports prospered. 
The lands of the Mediterranean Sea produced a remarkable evolution in travel. People travel for trade, commerce, religious purposes, festivals, medical treatment, or education developed at an early date. 

Guidebooks became available as early as the fourth century BC, covering a vast area of destinations, i.e. Athens, Sparta and Troy. Pausanias, a Greek travel writer, produced a noted “description of Greece” between AD 160 and 180, which, in its critical evaluation of facilities and destinations, acted as a model for later writers. Advertisements, in the form of signs directing visitors to wayside inns, are also known from this period. However, under Romans rule is where international travel became first important. With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with the seas safe from piracy due to the Roman patrols, conditions favoring travel had arrived. Roman coinage was acceptable everywhere, and Latin was the common language. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes, and Troy, Egypt and from the third century AD, to the Holy Land. 

Domestic tourism also flourished within the Roman Empire. Second homes were built by the wealthy within easy travelling distance...

2000 years Before Christ, in India and Mesopotamia

Travel for trade was an important feature since the beginning of civilisation. The port at Lothal was an important centre of trade between the Indus valley civilisation and the Sumerian civilisation.

600 BC and thereafter

The earliest form of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in Babylon. The Egyptians held many religious festivals that attracted the devout and many people who thronged to cities to see famous works of arts and buildings.

In India, as elsewhere, kings travelled for empire building. The Brahmins and the common people travelled for religious purposes. Thousands of Brahmins and the common folk thronged Sarnath and Sravasti to be greeted by the inscrutable smile of the Enlightened One- the Buddha.

500 BC, the Greek civilisation

The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The Greeks also enjoyed their religious festivals that increasingly became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens had become an important site for travellers visiting the major sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were established in large towns and seaports to provide for travellers' needs. Courtesans were the principal entertainment offered.

  
This era also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds' first travel writer. Guidebooks also made their appearance in the fourth century covering destinations such as Athens, Sparta and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing people to inns are also known in this period.

The Roman Empire

With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with safe seas from piracy due to Roman patrols, the conditions favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with staging inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes, Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also became very popular. The Romans introduced their guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to identify quality.

Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied primarily during springtime social season. The most fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples attracted the retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down market tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and all- night singing.

Travel and Tourism were to never attain a similar status until the modern times.

In the Middle Ages

Travel became difficult and dangerous as people travelled for business or for a sense of obligation and duty.

Adventurers sought fame and fortune through travel. The Europeans tried to discover a sea route to India for trade purposes and in this fashion discovered America and explored parts of Africa. Strolling players and minstrels made their living by performing as they travelled. Missionaries, saints, etc. travelled to spread the sacred word.

Leisure travel in India was introduced by the Mughals. The Mughal kings built luxurious palaces and enchanting gardens at places of natural and scenic beauty (for example Jehangir travelled to Kashmir drawn by its beauty.

Travel for empire building and pilgrimage was a regular feature.

The Grand Tour

From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism was developed as a direct outcome of the Renaissance. Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court were encouraged to travel to continent to finish their education. Later, it became customary for education of gentleman to be completed by a 'Grand Tour' accompanied by a tutor and lasting for three or more years. While ostensibly educational, the pleasure seeking men travelled to enjoy life and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalised in the gentry. Gradually pleasure travel displaced educational travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline of the custom of the Grand Tour.

The development of the spas

The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in Britain and a little later in the European Continent as awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water increased. Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in character as pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an important centre of social life for the high society.

In the nineteenth century they were gradually replaced by the seaside resort.

The sun, sand and sea resorts

The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point

Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the west

 The rapid urbanisation due to industrialisation led to mass immigration in cities. These people were lured into travel to escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to the countryside they had come from change of routine from a physically and psychologically stressful jobs to a leisurely pace in countryside.

Highlights of travel in the nineteenth century 

·        Advent of railway initially catalysed business travel and later leisure travel. Gradually special trains were chartered to only take leisure travel to their destinations.

·        Package tours organised by entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook.

·        The European countries indulged in a lot of business travel often to their colonies to buy raw material and sell finished goods.

·        The invention of photography acted as a status-enhancing tool and promoted overseas travel.

·        The formation of first hotel chains; pioneered by the railway companies who established great railway terminus hotels.

·        Seaside resorts began to develop different images as for day-trippers, elite, for gambling.

·        Other types of destinations-ski resorts, hill stations, mountaineering spots etc.

·        The technological development in steamships promoted travel between North America and Europe.

·        The Suez Canal opened direct sea routes to India and the Far East.

·        The cult of the guidebook followed the development of photography.

Tourism in the Twentieth Century

The First World War gave first hand experience of countries and aroused a sense of curiosity about international travel among less well off sector for the first time. The large scale of migration to the US meant a lot of travel across the Atlantic. Private motoring began to encourage domestic travel in Europe and the west.  The sea side resort became annual family holiday destination in Britain and increased in popularity in other countries of the west. Hotels proliferated in these destinations.

The birth of air travel and after

The wars increased interest in international travel. This interest was given the shape of mass tourism by the aviation industry. The surplus of aircrafts and growth of private airlines aided the expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for overseas travel. With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air travel for the masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered flights boosted the package tour market and led to the establishment of organised mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a 400 seat craft, brought the cost of travel down sharply. The seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.

A corresponding growth in hotel industry led to the establishment of world-wide chains. Tourism also began to diversify as people began to flock alternative destinations in the 70s. Nepal and India received a throng of tourists lured by Hare Krishna movement and transcendental meditation. The beginning of individual travel in a significant volume only occurred in the 80s. Air travel also led to a continuous growth in business travel especially with the emergence of the MNCs.

Tour Guide and their Role

The terminology of a tour guide its self can be defined as : a person who is hired to conduct a traveler or tourist and point out objects of interest ( general sense of term ). The other definition, state that a tour guide is a person employed , either directly by the traveler, an official or private tourist or organization or a tours and travel agency, to inform, direct and advise the tourist before and during his journey ( the tourist point of view ).

According to the definition of a tour guide, we know that duty and responsibility of a tour guide include all activities related to the tourist activities started from tourist arrival to a country, tour activities until departure activities. In this case off course according to the tour package which is ordered and reserved by a tourist. If we talk about tourist, actually it can be divided into individual tourist ( more familiar with terminology FIT or free individual tourist ) and group tourist ( more familiar with terminology GIT or group inclusive tourist ). In giving this category, we can use an instrument type of transportation is used by tourist. For example, if we use private car, we can say that it is an individual tourist. But if we use bus with many capacities ( 28 seats, 40 or 45 seats, and 54 seats ) we can say that they are group tourists. In this case, actually many consideration, to determine a certain tourist included in individual or group. For example, according to the airliner rules : a total of passenger can be said as a group if fulfill number of passengers are 15 person or more. Even the airliner policy of group category is changed, from 15 persons to 20 person. And this policy is different between one airliner and other airliner.

Total of participants of a tour, have influence for facilities and services that is offered and given to the tourist. Beside that some step in giving service also different although in general there is not different in service. It is caused all of company which related to the tourist industry focus in client satisfaction so they never differ between individual or group tourist on condition that the tourist is satisfied. Talk about tourists, it can be divided into domestic and foreign tourist. A domestic tourist can be defined that all persons who do traveling to tourist objects either part of them or whole tourist objects that spread out in a region, city, province or country of tourists them self. A foreign tourist can be defined that all persons who do traveling to tourist objects either part of them or whole tourist objects that spread out in a region, city, province or country out of tourists them self ( or with a simple term : tourists who visit tourist object which is in other country ). Either this domestic or foreign tourist, constitute a main aspect in developing a tourism industry with all components related such as transportation, accommodation, tourist object, tours and travel agency and others.

A tour guide as a part of a travel agency also a tourist object, have great roles in developing tourism in any scale either in regional or national. A tour guide has duty to inform about tourist objects and any point of interest in certain regions which spread out in whole country. In this case, he is also as a front liner in developing tourism who is expected to give the best services to the tourists so that they are feel satisfied and have willing to come back to this tourist object in other time. It is hoped that they can come back to the tourist destination not only come alone but also invite their friends, families or colleagues as a prove that they are really satisfied and impressed with the tourist destination that they visit. This is a real duty of a tour guide and this is not an easy duty but a heavy duty.

Role of tour Guide Tour guides are referred as tourist guides in some country. A tour guide is a person who guides the visitors in the language of their choice. He leads a group of people around the museum, town, and important venue. Guides are representative of the cities for which they are qualified and they interpret the culture and heritage of the area. Guide helps travelers to understand the culture of the region and the way of life its inhabitants. On one hand their role is to promote the cultural and natural heritage and on other hand making the visitors aware of its importance. Guide provides full information about the features and history of the location. As the importance of places is known by the guide, he will educate and narrates you all the local stories, history and culture as and when the location comes. The importance is placed on the guide's knowledge; he will try his best to explain you in language you know. While traveling to next location guide entertain you, and gives you relevant information about the place where you will land up next. On visiting any historical place, a guide with complete knowledge of that place is required. So that he narrate the history of that place in detail. If you move without a guide you will not come to know anything about the place and you will not understand what you are seeing and what does it means. Guide answers all your questions and you can gain lot of knowledge from him. Many times it happens that we ignore small things, but always a small thing contains a big story, so only guide can educate us about the place. Before going for a trip you can ask your friends and relatives about the place who have been there. But to get the whole insight information it is better to appoint a guide. A guide helps you to know about the climatic condition, culture, language, specialty of the place and also helps us to buy the famous thing available there.

Organisation

What is An Organisation???

When a group of people work together to achieve specific target, the context in which they work is referred to as an Organisation. Organisations can be small, involving only a few people in one location or they can involve thousands of people scattered through out the world. They can be very simple in structure, or they can be extremely complex. What separates organizations from other activities is that organizations usually operate within a defined structure and have a socialization process that is determined by the people who control them. Organizations can also be defined in terms of the products and services they offer to consumers. For example, corporations such as Ford Motors and the American Ex-press Corporation provide us with both products and services. General Motors builds and sells cars while American Express provides us with credit cards and financial ad-vice. Each is an organization but they are vastly different in what they do. Another way to define an organization is by the particular roles individuals playing them. This type of definition implies that understanding what an organization is depends on knowing how and where individuals fit into the organization.

Definition of Organisation:

An organization is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its own performance, and which has a boundary separating it from its environment. The word itself is derived from the Greek word Organon meaning tool. It’s a “Social unit of people systematically arranged and managed to meet a need or to pursue collective goals on a continuing basis.” All organizations have a management structure that determines relationships between functions and positions, and subdivides and delegates roles, responsibilities, and authority to carry out defined tasks. Organizations are open systems in that they affect and are affected by the environment beyond their boundaries.

An organization is defined by the elements that are part of it, its communication, its autonomy and its rules of action compared to outside events. In sociology "organization" is understood as planned, coordinated and purposeful action of human beings to construct or compile a common tangible or intangible product. Sociology distinguishes the term organization into planned formal and unplanned informal (i.e. spontaneously formed) organizations. By coordinated and planned cooperation of the elements, the organization is able to solve tasks that lie beyond the abilities of the single elements. The price paid by the elements is the limitation of the degrees of freedom of the elements. Advantages of organizations are enhancement, addition and extension. Disadvantages can be inertness and loss of interaction.

Role of organisation:

Most of us don’t realize the importance that organizations play in our lives, but they continually affect us, as you will see. Although there are many people who work alone, most of us work with others. We are usually conceived in the most basic of all organizations — the family. Our birth usually takes place in another organizational environment — the hospital. We are certainly affected throughout our lives by a large organizational structure called “government” that passes laws to keep us organized and collects taxes to pay for services. And, during our lifetimes, a majority of us spend our time studying, working, and playing in organizations. For example, most of our formal learning takes place in an educational organization, such as the University of Kolkata; we may work for organizations like Microsoft, KPMG, Proctor and Gamble Corporation, or the US Bank; and we play in organizations such as the YMCA, the tennis club, or the local softball league. Obviously, it is impossible to list all of the ways in which organizations affect us. It is important, however, for you to realize that organizations play a dominant role in our lives. If we were to ask, what single activity fills most people’s time more than anything else? The answer besides sleep for most is the dreaded four-letter word: WORK.

Organizational context, an idea:

The organizational context refers to the scope of an entity, such as

} parent organization (organization owning one or more entities)

} enterprise (an entire organization)

} division or department (a sub-organization within the overall organization)

} work unit (a sub-sub-organization)

} Work role (one person’s job or part of a job).

National Tourism Policy 2002

In order to develop tourism in India in a systematic manner, position it as a major engine of economic growth and to harness its direct and multiplier effects for employment and poverty eradication in an environmentally sustainable manner, the National Tourism Policy was formulated in the year 2002. Broadly, the “Policy” attempts to:- > Position tourism as a major engine of economic growth; > Harness the direct and multiplier effects of tourism for employment generation, economic development and providing impetus to rural tourism; > Focus on domestic tourism as a major driver of tourism growth. > Position India as a global brand to take advantage of the burgeoning global travel trade and the vast untapped potential of India as a destination; > Acknowledges the critical role of private sector with government working as a pro-active facilitator and catalyst; > Create and develop integrated tourism circuits based on India’s unique civilization, heritage, and culture in partnership with States, private sector and other agencies; and > Ensure that the tourist to India gets physically invigorated, mentally rejuvenated, culturally enriched, spiritually elevated and “feel India from within”. Scheme for Product/Infrastructure and Destination Development The focus under this scheme is on improving the existing products and developing new tourism products to world class standards. For infrastructure and product development, the Ministry of Tourism has been providing Central Financial Assistance to the State Governments during the 9th Five Year Plan which resulted in strengthening of the infrastructure and product development in the country. The scheme has been restructured during the 10th Five Year Plan to meet the present day infrastructure requirements. The past experience had been that a large number of small projects had been funded under the Scheme, spreading the resources very thinly, which at times had not created the desired impact. The focus in the Tenth Plan has been to fund large projects of infrastructure or product development in an integrated manner.Under the revised scheme, the destinations are carefully selected based on the tourism potential. Master planning of these destinations is undertaken so as to develop them in an integrated holistic manner. The master plan is suppose to tie up all backward and forward linkages, including environmental considerations. Realizing the importance of destination development, the total outlay for this sector has been increased substantially. Important tourist destinations in each State, in consultation with the State Governments, are taken up for development. This include activities ranging from preparation of master plans to implementation of the master plans. The destinations are selected in consultation with the State/UT Governments. Scheme for Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits Under this Central Financial Assistance scheme the Ministry of Tourism Government of India has been extending assistance to States for development of tourism infrastructure. Experience has shown that in the past funds under the CFA have been used to fund a large number of small isolated projects, spread throughout the length and breadth of the country resulting in the resources being spread very thinly. Therefore, in order to provide quick and substantial impact, during the 10th Five Year Plan, these new schemes of Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits have been taken up. The objective of the scheme is to identify tourist circuits in the country on an annual basis, and develop them to international standards. The aim is to provide all infrastructure facilities required by the tourists within these circuits. The Ministry of Tourism aim at convergence of resources and expertise through coordinated action with States/UTs and private sector. Scheme of Assistance for Large Revenue Generating Projects It is recognized that the development of tourism infrastructure projects requires very large investment that may not be possible out of the budgetary resources of the Government of India alone. In order to remove these shortcomings and to bring in private sector, corporate and institutional resources as well as techno-managerial efficiencies, it is proposed to promote large revenue generating projects for development of tourism infrastructure in public private partnerships and in partnerships with other Government / Semi-Government agencies.Large revenue generating project, which can be admissible for assistance under this scheme, should be a project, which is also a tourist attraction, or used by tourists and generates revenue through a levy of fee or user charges on the visitors. Projects like Tourist trains, Cruise vessels, Cruise Terminals, Convention Centres and Golf Courses etc. would qualify for assistance. However, this is only an illustrative list. Hotel & Restaurant component will not be eligible for assistance under the scheme either on a stand-alone basis or as an integral part of some other project. Besides hotel & restaurants, procurement of vehicles and sports facilities like stadiums will also not be eligible for assistance under the scheme. Scheme for Support to Public Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Development of infrastructure require large investments that cannot be undertaken out of public financing alone. Thus, in order to attract private capital as well as techno-managerial efficiencies associated with it, the government is committed to promoting Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development. This scheme has been put into effect for providing financial support to bridge the viability gap of infrastructure projects undertaken through Public Private Partnerships. Scheme for Market Development Assistance (MDA)The Marketing Development Assistance Scheme (MDA), administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, provides financial support to approved tourism service providers (i.e. hoteliers, travel agents, tour operators, tourist transport operators etc., whose turnover include foreign exchange earnings also) for undertaking the following tourism promotional activities abroad: > Sales-cum-study tour > Participation in fairs/exhibitions > Publicity through printed material Recent Initiatives During 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) Ministry of Tourism propose to continue supporting creation of world class infrastructure in the country so that existing tourism products can be further improved and expanded to meet new market requirements and enhance the competitiveness of India as a tourist destination. In consultation with the State Governments and UTs the Ministry of Tourism have identified several tourist circuits and destinations for integrated development. During the current financial year the Ministry has sanctioned so far Rs.323.00 crore for various projects throughout the country. This is an all time record and will facilitate timely execution of projects during the working season. Some of the important infrastructure projects which have been sanctioned in the current financial year are: Heritage Destinations/Circuits > MOT has recently sanctioned Rs.8.00 crore for the project of illumination/lighting of monuments in Rajasthan. > The tourist facilities at Sanchi and adjoining tourist places in Madhya Pradesh are being improved at a cost of Rs.4.64 crore. Tourist Facilitation Centre, Public Amenities, Parking and Landscaping and Beautification of approach roads will be done. > The project of Development of Mahanadi Central Heritage (Rs.3.94 crore) has been sanctioned. In this project Jetties, River Bank, Nature Trail, picnic area, etc. will be developed at various places along the river to enhance the experience of visitors to these destinations. > An Indian Freedom Circuit on Mahatama’s Park in West Bengal is being developed at a cost of Rs.2.27 crore. > The project Bijapur-Bidar-Gulbarg Circuit sanctioned at a cost of Rs.6.40 crore. > Art & Craft village at Goregaon film city has been sanctioned for an amount of Rs.3.86 crore. > Revitalization of Gandhi Thidal and Craft Bazar, Puducherry sanctioned recently for an amount of Rs.2.67 crore. > The project of Development of Srirangam Tamilnadu (Rs.3.72 lakh) has been sanctioned. > Development of Vallore fort area at a cost of Rs.0.89 crore. Sound & Talatal Ghar, Sivasagar in Assam (Rs.1.58 crore.) has been sanctioned. Beach and Sea Tourism > MOT has sanctioned a project of Rs.5.00 crore for development and beautification of Beach Promenade in Puducherry. > Another project for development of walkway along the bank of river Arasalar and Vanjiiar in Karaikal, Puducherry (Rs.4.78 crore) > The project of Development of Marina bach in Tamilnadu has been sanctioned (Rs.4.92 crore). Eco Tourism > A project of Eco tourism for development of Horsely Hill in Chittoor Distt. of Andhra Pradesh has been sanctioned. > The project of development of Satkosi in Orissa (Rs. 4.25 crore) has been sanctioned in which Interpretation Centre, Landscaping, Elephant camps, Trekking park, Watch Towers and parking facilities, etc. are proposed to be developed. > MOT has sanctioned a project for development of Eco tourism in Morni-Pinjore Hills and Sultanpur National Park in Haryana for which Rs. 2.63 crore have been sanctioned. > The project of Integrated Development of Tribal Circuit with special focus on Eco tourism in Spiti in Himachal Pradesh has been approved for Rs. 6.98 crore. > Development of Wayanad in Kerala for an amount of Rs.2.01 crore. > Development of Tourist Circuit (Western Assam Circuit) Dhubari-Mahamaya-Barpeta-Hajo has been sanctioned for an amount of Rs.4.97 crore. > Development of Mechuka Destination (Rs.4.41 crore in Arunachal Pradesh). > Development of Tourist Destination at Khensa at a cost of Rs.4.58 crore in Nagaland. Circuit - Udhyamandalam- Madumalai- Anaimalai, Tamil Nadu Rs.4.39 crore. Projects for NE Region > The INA Memorial Complex at Moirang in Manipur is being renovated and tourist facilities are being developed (Rs.82 lakhs). > Tourism infrastructure is being developed near Pakhai Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh (Rs. 5.00 crore) > Gayaker Sinyi Lake at Itanagar is being developed at a cost of Rs.5.00 crore. > Tourist infrastructure is being developed in Nathula-Memmencho-Kuppu tourist circuit in Sikkim (Rs.4.54 crore) > MOT has sanctioned a project for development of Tizu Kukha as Adventure Destination in Nagaland (Rs.4.99 crore) Projects for Jammu & Kashmir MOT has sanctioned a project for development of tourism infrastructure in Leh (Rs.4.95 crore), Bungus Valley (Rs.2.31 crore), Kargil (Rs.4.84 crore), Poonch (Rs.4.50 crore), various villages around Sonmarg (Rs.1.08 crore), development of Gurez and Telail Valley (Rs.3.66 crore), Patnitop (Rs.2.83 crore), Dandi Pora (3.45 crore), Anantnag (Rs.2.1 crore), Shri Amarnath Yatra Marg (Rs.7.00 crore), Bhaderwah (Rs. 4.12 crore), Kishtwar (Rs. 2.81 crore), Wullar Lake (Rs.2.06 crore) and Rajouri (Rs.4.34 crore). Tourist Information Centre, Public amenities, approach roads, shelters, etc. will be developed in these projects so that tourists who are visiting Jammu & Kashmir should have trouble free experience the beauty and bounty of the region.

Ministry of Tourism : Govt of India

Ministry of Tourism: The Organisation

The Ministry of Tourism, is the nodal agency for the formulation of national policies and programmes and for the co-ordination of activities of various Central Government Agencies, State Governments/UTs and the Private Sector for the development and promotion of tourism in the country. This Ministry is headed by the Union Minister for Tourism.The administrative head of the Ministry is the Secretary (Tourism). The Secretary also acts as the Director General (DG) Tourism. The office of the Director General of Tourism {now merged with the office of Secretary (Tourism)} provides executive directions for the implementation of various policies and programmes. Directorate General of Tourism has a field formation of 20 offices within the country and 13 offices abroad and one sub-ordinate office/project i.e. Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM)/ Gulmarg Winter Sports Project. The overseas offices are primarily responsible for tourism promotion and marketing in their respective areas and the field offices in India are responsible for providing information service to tourists and to monitor the progress of field projects. The activities of IISM/GWSP have now been revived and various Ski and other courses are being conducted in the J&K valley.The Ministry of Tourism has under its charge a public sector undertaking, the India Tourism Development Corporation and the following autonomous institutions: Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) and National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and the Institutes of Hotel Management. Role and Functions of the Ministry of TourismThe Ministry of Tourism functions as the nodal agency for the development of tourism in the country. It plays a crucial role in coordinating and supplementing the efforts of the State/Union Territory Governments, catalyzing private investment, strengthening promotional and marketing efforts and in providing trained manpower resources.

The functions of the Ministry in this regard mainly consist of the following:

i. All Policy Matters, including: Development Policies. Incentives. External Assistance. Manpower Development. Promotion & Marketing. Investment Facilitation. ii. Planning. Co-ordination with other Ministries, Departments, State/UT Governments. iv. Regulation: Standards. Guidelines v. Infrastructure & Product Development. vi. Human Resource Development: Institutions, Setting Standards and Guidelines. vii. Publicity & Marketing: Policy. Strategies. Co-ordination. Supervision viii. Research, Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluations

ix. International Co-operation and External Assistance. x. Legislation and Parliamentary Work.

xi. Establishment matters.xii. Vigilance matters.xiii. Implementation of official language policy.xiv. Budget co-ordination and related matters.xv. Plan-coordination and monitoring. The Functions of Attached Office viz. Directorate General of Tourism are as under [The office of DG (T) has now been merged with the office of Secretary (Tourism)]:

i. Assistance in the formulation of policies by providing feedback from the field offices.

ii. Monitoring of Plan Projects and assisting in the Plan formulation

iii. Coordinating the activities of field offices and their supervision.iv. Regulation: Approval and classification of hotels and restaurants. Approval of travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, etc. v. Inspection & Quality Control. vi. Infrastructure Development: Release of incentives. Tourist facilitation and information. Field publicity, promotion & marketing. Hospitality programmes. Conventions & conferences. vii. Assistance for Parliamentary work.

viii. Establishment matters of Directorate General of Tourism

IATA

IATA (International Air Transport Association) IATA is an international trade body, created some 60 years ago by a group of airlines. Today, IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic. The organisation also represents, leads and serves the airline industry in general. IATA (International Air Transport Association) was founded in Havana, Cuba, in April 1945. It is the prime vehicle for inter-airline cooperation in promoting safe, reliable, secure and economical air services - for the benefit of the world's consumers. The international scheduled air transport industry is now more than 100 times larger than it was in 1945. Few industries can match the dynamism of that growth, which would have been much less spectacular without the standards, practices and procedures developed within IATA.At its founding, IATA had 57 members from 31 nations, mostly in Europe and North America. Today it has some 230 members from 126 nations in every part of the globe.IATA was involved in establishing a sound technical and legal framework for the operation of the world’s airlines. It organized the first worldwide Traffic Conference in 1947 which worked out agreements related to air fare construction rules for multi-sector travel. IATA is also the coordinator of Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreements that allows the member airlines around the world to accept each others ticket. The modern IATA is the successor to the International Air Traffic Association founded in the Hague in 1919 - the year of the world's first international scheduled services.

Civil Aviation in India

History of civil aviation in India : The history of civil aviation in India began in December 1912. This was with the opening of the first domestic air route between Karachi and Delhi by the Indian state Air services in collaboration with the imperial Airways, UK, though it was a mere extension of London-Karachi flight of the latter airline. Three years later, the first Indian airline, Tata Sons Ltd., started a regular airmail service between Karachi and Madras without any patronage from the government.At the time of independence, the number of air transport companies, which were operating within and beyond the frontiers of the company, carrying both air cargo and passengers, was nine. It was reduced to eight, with Orient Airways shifting to Pakistan. These airlines were: Tata Airlines, Indian National Airways, Air service of India, Deccan Airways, Ambica Airways, Bharat Airways and Mistry Airways.In early 1948, a joint sector company, Air India International Ltd., was established by the Government of India and Air India (earlier Tata Airline) with a capital of Rs 2 crore and a fleet of three Lockheed constellation aircraft. Its first flight took off on June 8, 1948 on the Mumbai (Bombay)-London air route. At the time of its nationalization in 1953, it was operating four weekly services between Mumbai-London and two weekly services between Mumbai and Nairobi. The joint venture was headed by J.R.D. Tata, a visionary who had founded the first India airline in 1932 and had himself piloted its inaugural flight. Open-Sky Policy The Open-sky policy came in April 1990. The policy allowed air taxi- operators to operate flights from any airport, both on a charter and a non charter basis and to decide their own flight schedules, cargo and passenger fares. The operators were, however, required to use aircraft with a minimum of 15 seats and conform to the prescribed rules. In 1990, the private air taxi-operators carried 15,000 passengers. This number increased to 4.1 lakh in 1992, 29.2 lakh in 1993, 36 lakh in 1994 and 48.9 lakh in 1995.The 1996, private air taxi operators carried 49.08 lakh passengers which amounted to a 41.14 per cent share in the domestic air passenger traffic. Seven operators viz NEPC Airlines, Skyline NEPC, Jet Air, Archana Airways, Sahara India Airlines, Modiluft and East West Airlines have since acquired the status of scheduled airlines. Besides this there were 22 nonscheduled private operators and 34 private operators holding no-objection certificate in 1996. The number of plus 120 category aircraft in the private sector was 34 and the total fleet strength was 75 in June, 1996. Two out of seven scheduled air taxi operators suspended their operations in 1996 because of the non-availability of aircraft. Ministry of Civil Aviation, located at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi 110003, India, is the nodal Ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for development and regulation of Civil Aviation and for devising and implementing schemes for the orderly growth and expansion of civil air transport. Its functions also extend to overseeing airport facilities, air traffic services and carriage of passengers and goods by air. The Ministry also administers implementation of the Aircraft Act, 1934 and is administratively responsible for the Commission of Railways Safety, a statutory body set up under The Indian Railways Act. It has under its purview the following organisations: 1. Attached / Autonomous Organisations Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Commission of Railway Safety, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi 2. Air Carriers Air India Ltd. Indian Airlines Ltd. Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. 3. Airports Airports Authority of India

Ministry of Civil Aviation The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for development and regulation of civil aviation and for implementing schemes for systematic growth and expansion of civil air transportation. Its functions also extend to overseeing the provision of airport facilities, air traffic services and carriage of passengers and goods by air. The Ministry is also administratively responsible for Commission of Railway Safety, a statutory body set up under the Railways Act. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) DGCA is the regulatory organization for enforcing law and regulations. DGCA is responsible for: - [1] Regulation of air transport service both international and domestic. [2] Registration of civil aircraft in India. [3] Formulation of standards of aircraft in India. [4] Licensing of pilots, aircraft engineers and flight engineers. [5] Licensing of aerodromes in India. [6] Investigations and inspections of air accidents. [7] Implementation of bilateral air service agreements with foreign countries. [8] Supervision of training activities of the flying and gliding clubs in India. [9] Processing of aviation regulations. [10] Development of light aircrafts. DGCA is also responsible to coordinate with ICAO regarding all regulatory functions. BUREAU OF CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY (BCAS) The BCAS is the nodal body on all civil aviation security matters. It determines the standards of pre-embarkation security and anti sabotage measures in civil air transportation sector in India. It also monitors the application of security regulations at the airports. BCAS also imparts training in aviation security. It has four regional offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi, which have a bomb detection and disposal squad each.