An introduction to a different story

[Jense55]

Tourism has for some time qualified as the world’s largest industry. With an increase in both leisure time and disposable incomes, and with travel becoming easier and faster, more and more people are taking the opportunity to visit other countries. Between 1972 and 1992, the tourist trade expanded by 300% (Hanneberg, 1994). Today, this industry has a turnover corresponding to 6% of the global Gross National Product (GNP). As we approach the end of this decade, there is every indication that the worldwide tourist trade will continue to grow and expand.

With the decline in the primary economic sectors over the past few years, tourism has become a central part of the development activities in the highlands and even the isolated islands. The highland region in the country alone currently attracts over 2.6 million tourist visitors each year. One of the places in Kerala that has benefited much is the popular hill station, Munnar. The wide range of industries that benefit from this annual influx of visitors, include

• Retailing
• Arts and crafts
• Transport

However, since the late 1980s, the tourism industry in the highlands and the islands has stood still in terms of growth. Between 1989 and 1992 the number of trips by UK tourists to these areas fell by 28% (although there was an increase in the number of visitors). The present problems include,

• Continuing recession,
• Problem of poor accessibility and
• Increased competition from foreign markets

Even though the above factors are all contributing to make this a testing time for the tourism industry in the state of Kerala, the travel industry is expecting major changes. In places like Munnar tour packages have many takers even during times of recession because they offer more choices at affordable costs.