For years it seemed like this huge conundrum. A country as vast, culturally rich and varied as India drew less international tourists than tiny Singapore. For the record, India’s still way behind the tiny city-state. But things are definitely looking up. The general ‘feel good’ factor surrounding the Indian travel industry received a shot in the arm at the recently concluded Conde Nast Traveller (world’s leading travel magazine) annual awards in London. India was voted the top destination. Readers picked India ahead of Italy, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.
India’s big draw was its culture (scoring 97.17 out of 100), value for money (94.78) and variety of attractions (96.30). Opined the editor: “I’m delighted that India scored so well in our Readers’ Travel Awards. To achieve the accolade of our discerning readers’ favourite country in the world is fantastic.” New Zealand scored highly for its scenery and Italy has the best food and climate in the world while Thailand was singled out for its friendliness.
An age old way of life by the Ganga, Varanasi (photo by: Anshuman Sen)
Colour defines India, Pondicherry (photo by: Lalit Atal)
Boat race at Alleppey, Kerala (photo by: Sanjay Arora)
I bounced this result off a long time journalist friend based in Berlin. This is her view:
“It is certainly the lack of spirituality which leads Westerners longing for India. Thailand, although a Buddhist country is also reined by business, at least the tourist-spots, so it is not a real alternative – despite its lovely beaches and beautiful girls. Travelling through Europe means mostly the happiness of experiencing art – architecture, paintings, sculpture, but the spirit (for the most of us) is doesn’t exist anymore – we remember what we don’t live. Travelling in the USA is about landscape and casualness. But Asia is really different. And India is even more different. In all its prudishness it has a unique freedom for the individual – at least for a foreigner – and in this freedom you smell the faith with every breath. The friendly way of doing pujas in a rickshaw, a shop, or in your house as if you say hello to a family member in the morning always makes me glad when I watch it.”
“For European people it is very relieving to see strange rites because they do not feel the burden of their own lost spiritual history in these temples, surrounded by simply believing people. It is as if they try to gain it back through a completely different experience.”
“But it is also the normal life on the streets which we love in India. The lively chaos which makes things more complicated than in neat and ordered Europe cities, but also so much more easy (might sound a bit paradoxical, but if you’ve visited India you’ll figure this out). Everything depends on friends, or at least people you know.”
“Indians are very friendly especially with foreigners. Europe used to be arrogant and cold. But it’s slowly changing – maybe because of people who went to Asia and brought something back which was forgotten here. Sometimes, I am afraid that India could lose it too. One can sense the growing new middle class getting caught in this global fancy for mindless consumerism. But India is always surprising – maybe they’ll make it better.”
Meeting the challenge of letting the world in while preserving what’s uniquely local is the challenge India will have to effectively deal with. Even as it hurtles along the fast lane of development! Striking this balance is imperative to keep it on top of the global tourism charts.
Renee represents the hardcore backpacker who believes in experiencing cultures up close. But India is emerging as hot destination for travelers at the other end of the spectrum too. Its draw for the luxury traveler is also on a high. Some years back National Geographic Traveler (another top publication) released its list of ‘50 Places of a Lifetime’. Kerala and Taj Mahal found a mention in the list. Ananda in the Himalayas (near Rishikesh) & Oberoi’s Udai Vilas (Udaipur) have been voted the world’s Best Spa and Hotel respectively in the recent past. However, amidst all the hoopla came a reality check. A few months back a US based NRI came visiting India’s National Parks. A drive from Delhi to Ranthambhore busted some of the romantic notions about India’s infrastructure. While the highways are getting better, state highways still need a lot of improvement. A lot needs to be done yet, but make no mistake the upswing is no more mere hype. Renuka Chowdhary (former minister for tourism), Amitabh Kant (Sec. Tourism) and their team can take a bow for projecting contemporary India in the right light in the international media.
Last year India attracted close to 5 million tourists. An estimated 10 million are expected to visit in 2010 when Delhi hosts the Commonwealth Games. Just to round off – Singapore received 10 million visitors last year.
