Journal of Sport Tourism 10(2), 2005, 135138

Sports tourism in India

Vimala Ko Sasi
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Introduction Tourism is a basic and most desirable human activity deserving the praise and encouragement of all people in governmentsr (UNCITT, 1963). It is an industry concerned with attracting people to a destination, transporting them there, housing, feeding and entertaining them upon arrival and returning them to their homes. (Abbey and Sapienza, Tourism Today, p. 1). A quarter of a century ago, pleasure travel was limited to the wealthy and privileged. The earliest travellers were the explorers but like many today they frequently combined business interests with exploration. The most popular form of domestic travel was the pilgrimage, which became social and recreational events in addition to a religious commitment. In India, locations favoured with hot springs or mineral waters were strongly recommended for their therapeutic value by the medical profession. In recent years, the development of a wide variety of Special Events has become a central feature of the promotional strategy of many tourist destinations in order to retain tourist appeal. While there bay be a number of specic rationales determining the type of special event to be staged, generally they may be categorized as meeting one of three needs: to diversify the tourism product of a destination; to boost visitation in the off-peak periods by providing a novel attraction or activity; or to arrest a decline in the market. A special event is an opportunity for a leisure, social or cultural experience outside the normal range of choices or beyond everyday experience. Such special events include hallmark events which Ritchie (1984) described as follows the conceptualization and establishment of a major event which has the ability to focus national and international attention on the destination for a well-dened and usually short period of time. Sports Tourism emphasizes the primacy of tourist goals over sporting achievement and event not normally classied as sport may be designated under Sports Tourism. Tourism in India In the panorama of Indias history, wrote Jawaharlal Nehru, there were men who seemed to know life and understand it out of their wisdom they built a struc........................................................................................................................................................... Journal of Sport Tourism ISSN 1477-5085 print/ISSN 1029-5399 online/05/020135-4 # 2005 Sports Tourism International Council http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals DOI: 10.1080/14775080500223496

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ture which gave India a cultural stability which lasted for thousands of years. Such glorious traditions and rich cultural heritage of India are linked with the development of tourism. India has an exceptionally varied climate ranging from the extreme cold in high altitudes to the hot summers in the plains. These climatic conditions, the wealth of cultural traditions extending over thousands of years, the natural surroundings, the architectural master pieces, the music, dance, sports, paintings, customs and languages all these go to make India a tourists paradise.

Diversity of India India is a land of climatic contrasts from tropics to snow. India is the second most populous and sixth largest country in the world. Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, it covers an area of 37,870,000 square kilometres of different varieties of landscape (and stretching spatially from 8.4 degrees to 37 degrees 6, north latitudes and 68 degrees 7 to 97 degrees 22 longitude). Indias 5000 years of history offers many insights for the tourist. Compared to other Asian countries, India has more to offer tourists for many other reasons as well. From north to south and from east to west, the peoples languages and customs are different. There are few countries on earth with the enormous variety that India has to offer.

India as a Mosaic of Living Traditions India is more remarkable for it extreme diversity of Physical features. It offers everything in rich variety mountains and hills, valleys, highest peaks, sea beaches, landscape, scenic beauty, movements and memorials, traditional arts and dances, fairs and festivals and dozens of other precious things which make the country a mosaic of living traditions. Tourism needs variety and India with its vast dimensions and diversity offers to every class of visitor something not found elsewhere from the snake charmer to the eternal snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and from the system of the folk dances to the big game hills.

Sports Tourism The Sports Tourism phenomenon has been evidenced through world wide popularity of sports even such as the Olympic Games and professional Super Championships. Present day communication networking, in terms of roads, airways, waterways, computerized scheduling, maintenance communication world wide are contributing to and stimulating the mobility of sport-interested people regardless of language, culture, mores, beliefs or geographical location. India is a country of festivals and there a number of places and times that are not to be missed. During festival seasons, people used to have different type of sports activities which give fun and enjoyment. Apart from these, Indian Peoples follow a variety of sports including eld hockey, soccer and cricket. Kabbadi and khokho are played throughout India. Tourists in India can also experience the tra-

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ditional ways of competition. Among all these Sports Tourism activities, a few are mentioned below: a) Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race In Kerala, one of the big events of the year is the Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race on the back waters of Alappuzha (Allappey) which takes place on the second Saturday of August. On that day, scores of long, low-slung dugouts with highly decorated sterns and up to 100 rowers shaded by gleaming silk umbrellas compete for the cup. The race is watched by thousands of spectators. No other sport in India thrills the tourists and participants like these boat races. This mega-event motivates large scale domestic and foreign travel. b) Winter Sports Sport is among the many attractions of Kashmir. Winter sports are still in their infancy in India. One can however, skate in hill resorts and ski at Gulmarg, Kashmir and Kufri (10 miles from Simla). Sportsmen, anglers, lovers of skiing and trekking nd the valley of great interest and can spend a holiday in a house boat. Winter sporting activities brings many visitors and the Dal Lake houseboats serve as attractive accommodation. Skiing at the top of Mt. Apharwat, Kashmir is an interesting tourist sport. The slopes vary from beginner to intermediate and equipment could be hired inexpensively. All lifts are operated during the day. c) Trekking Treks in Kashmir are particularly popular and have been for some years. The Pahalgam to Amarnath Cave Trek is well known not only for its superb scenery, but also for the great religious festival that takes place in these caves. A trekking fee is charged based on the length of the trek. d) Golf Golf has always been a rich mans sport in India. Nevertheless, recent interest has caused a storm of activity. Golf courses are springing up over the country. For example, Sarvasti, a small town in Uttar Pradesh is getting a nine-hole course, since it is frequented by golf-crazy Japanese tourists. The Indian Tourist Corporation is the biggest sponsor of golf in India. With international interest in golf, have come international standards and Championship Courses for golf which are new catch phrases in India. Sports Tourism Concluding Remarks Sports Tourism can be a vital force for world peace and increasing understanding and interdependence.

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Throughout the world, Sports Tourism can contribute to the establishment of a new international economic order that will help to eliminate the widening economic gap between developed and developing Sports Tourism countries and insure the steady acceleration of economic and social development and progress in particular of the developing countries. References
Crowther, Geoff; Raj, Prakash A.; Wheeler, Tony; Finlay, Hugh; Bryn Thomas. INDIA A Travel Survivor Kit. India Today, January 15, 1995. Nair, Usha S. Sports and Its Management in Kerala: A Historical Overview. Soeld, Trevor H.B. and Sivan, Atara. From Cultural Festival to International Sport, Journal of Sport Tourism, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 5 22. The Handbook of India, The Tourism Department. The Sports Tourism International Council, Journal of Sport Tourism, Vol. 1, No. 4, 1993, pp. 43 50.