As always,
sleep eluded me on this flight too. During most trips, I would order a couple
of drinks and hope for the ‘shut-eye’ in vain. I would then look around, envying all those who were either snoring or lying limp in the cramped
cocoon of cattle-class seats, enjoying their forty winks. My wife would have slipped comfortably in her slumber, undisturbed by my fidgeting. There will be those
insomniacs like me with earphones plugged in, gazing into the tiny screen
fitted on the head-rests. I could neither tolerate earphones nor did I enjoy
watching those movies on small screen. By the time of landing, I would invariably be
enveloped in melancholy lousy feeling that I will carry the next
day.
For our childhood we had a permanent destination- Meerut in UP. It was our de facto native place. Our Nanaji’s had adopted it has hometown after partition. As soon as our exams got over, we were packed off to the same
destination year after year. In spite of that we were happy. We would reach Bombay Central station well before the train was brought onto the platform. 'Reservation' was non-existent. Porters would jump onto the running train as it slithered in on prescribed platform. He would physically occupy a berth by lying down on it. As train came to a halt, we would hop onto it and take control of the berth occupied by the porter. Those days tourism for seeing places was meant either for the white skinned foreigners or for upper-crust Indians only. Rest all were too happy to visit their mama ka ghar (maternal uncle's house) wherever it happened to be
Travel Agents meant guys who during peak demand period will go to the booking office and buy tickets on your behalf. They would retain an assistant or two to share the burden during vacation season. Then Sleeper coaches arrived and 'reservation of berths' became necessity. For 4 annas we could fix a berth for ourselves. It was big relief for families and became instant hit. With picking up of the trend small businesses cropped who would save you the bother and deliver tickets in your hand.
Indian tourist had arrived.
As the economy improved travelling acquired new meaning. Vacationing or pleasure travel came into being. Now, people wanted a service not only for booking tickets but also to give guidance about places, modes of travel etc. Formal Travel Agencies were born.
Well-heeled had already taken to visiting nearby hill stations
like Khandala, Matheran and Mahabaleshwar. These locales were validated even by
film industry by shootings at these locales. Pictures shot on picturesque hill stations were direct advertisement for attracting people. Later, in their quest for fresher locations, film crews discovered distant places such as Kashmir, Simla, Massouri, Nainital, Ooty, Kodaikenal and other hill stations. Our highbrowed gentry took to these with enthusiasm. Agents now braced up to arrange for your travel by bus, train, air or any other mode. They would also book a hotel room for you.
Tourism had gained a toe-hold in
hills and valleys.
Economic
reforms of nineties brought in ‘disposable incomes’ which had a positive impact
on every aspect of life. Tourism got wings in the wake of economic surge.
Vacationing acquired a new meaning. Infrastructure saw unprecedented growth and
travelling was no longer as grueling or cumbersome as before. Travel, tourism
and vacations had become a part of our vocabulary.
Few
multinational travel & tourism companies did exist prior to this phase but
were engaged more into ticketing than organizing group tours. An upswing in
tourism resulted in springing up of indigenous tourist companies. Initially, they
aped the multinationals, taking up ticketing which gave them a client- base. Before
long, both groups had started organizing conducted tours to popular
destinations. Their efforts yielded rich dividends. Attractive marketing
campaigns enticed the middle class into this new-found hobby of tourism.
Indian tourist had arrived.
Massive
surge in the fortunes of IT industry, coupled with overall economic prosperity went
onto fuel the tourism boom. It also received indirect impetus from increased
levels of travel for work. IT personnel even from humblest roots were on ‘continent-
hopping spree’. Many of their colleagues were stationed ‘on-site’ for long
durations in US & Europe. Factor of 45 (1 $= Rs 45) was the new magic wand that
taught them the science of splurging with self-assurance. Back home, every
urban and many rural house-holds boasted of computer and internet which had
shrunk the world. Foreign shores no longer were inaccessible or unfamiliar
areas that intimidated Indians. Western world had willy-nilly diluted their
contempt for Indians with new-found respect for our intellect and diligence.
On Indian
terrain, salaries had shot up and so had the savings. Average executive by now had
pockets deep enough to afford decent living with a vacation or two thrown in. Organized
group tours providing ready solutions to their logistic needs were merely a
click away.
The young India was on tourism roll.
Retired and
senior citizens represented another segment of society that heartily took to
group travel. These are the people with decent pension incomes and substantial
savings. Rising life expectancy has ensured that most are keeping good health
for their age. They only lack emotional back-up due to defunct Joint Families and
absence of children who may be away. Tourism has provided them with much needed
emotional release. In addition, many a young executive working abroad try to balance
their guilt of not looking after their parents by funding their trips to exotic
destinations. Organized group tours come in handy for all of them.
It was a
golden opportunity, too good to be missed and our tour companies lapped it up
with all it took. Beginning with local tours across the country, they comfortably
and convincingly graduated to foreign destinations. Today, their hands are full
on both levels. Local companies have an edge here. They went on to modify the
business models of multinationals to suit the needs of Indian travelers who is
not all that easy to handle. Food is the biggest weakness of Indian traveler
and no compromise will ever be accepted. Pandering to Indian palate is toughest task,
especially on foreign shores. Our tour operators took up this challenge with
audacity. Some of them took Indian cooks along on trips. Others have created a
network of Indian Restaurant / Caterers to feed their flock.
In short, our
tour operators have showed uncanny ability in coming up with smart solutions. Tourism
Industry has taken off in style and sky is the limit for them.
Indian Tourist is now equally at
ease on Indian as well as foreign terrain.
I will
continue second part of the blog as ‘European Odyssey’
