22 A Continental/Subcontinental Region – India Government
The Indian Tourism Development Corporation is the government agency responsible for the construction and management of hotels and the promotion of tourism. Its Incredible India campaign has had huge success in raising the profile of the country.
Challenges facing tourism
Tourists can often have negative experiences in the major cities: zz
zz zz visitors are targeted by street beggars (Fig. 22.27);
piles of rotting rubbish generate foul smells and look unattractive;
traffic congestion results in noise and air pollution.
CHECK YOUR LEARNING
1. Name two physical factors that have influenced the development of tourism in India. 2. List four socio-economic factors that have influenced tourism development. 3. Name two ways in which the Indian government influenced tourism development. 4. Explain one challenge facing tourism in India.
Transport The development of the Indian transport network is due to a number of factors.
Historical factors
From 1850 to 1947, India was a British colony. Three main ports were established at Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata) and Madras (Chennai) to handle imports and exports. Railways were constructed to transport raw materials from production areas to these ports for export to Great Britain, while imported manufactured goods could be transported to inland markets.
Physical factors Relief
While the gentle relief of the Ganges Plain facilitated the construction of railway lines, similar construction in the foothills of the Himalayas has been limited by the region’s steep slopes and deep valleys. In East Bengal, difficulty digging rail foundations in the deltas of the Ganges and Brahmaputra resulted in a lower density of railways.
The development of the road network has been affected by the steep gradients in mountain regions. Building protection and supports to minimise the impact of landslides due to mass movement, and constructing bridges to cross rivers and gorges, have also added to cost.
Roads can still be blocked and damaged by landslides due to earth tremors, causing disruption to communications and involving costly repairs.
The Indian road network extends over four million kilometres, and is the second largest in the world after the USA.
