Geography is considered a very dull and uninspiring subject if it is read sitting in class rooms and just going through various books. The Great Ganga may be thought of a snake line running along the map. The Taj Mahal may be taken as a monument just like many others without actually visiting it. The dull subject of Geography will definitely become interesting and absorbing once these places of interest are visited by the students. History is very boring for students because they think of it as a story of dead kings and their period of kingdom and which is not going to pay student of today anything. However, if students are taken frequently to the sites of glories and defeats, architectural master – pieces constructed during periods of these great dead monarchs, the subject of History becomes more interesting and exciting than any other subject.

Really we can learn a lot more things when we actually come in contact or see such things or sites associated with such happenings. Sitting at home only will make our outlook a narrow one. Any student will fail to understand the effect of environment on the life of human beings. In day-to-day life, reading and getting lonely theoretical knowledge cannot make any student successful. They must know the habits, manners, cultures and way of living of people in other places. Traveling takes students to the sphere of practical knowledge. They come down to reality from the realm of dreams and imagination. While traveling, students learn to adjust to the changed conditions of living and foot-habits and the environment also. Different and varied difficulties encountered during traveling make the students readily adjustable. As such, tourism gives far more valuable lessons to students than the lessons of text books.

There was a time when crossing the seas to acquire higher education was considered highly sacrilegious. Foreign travel was not encouraged. It was this kind of ostrich mentality which brought about the worst type of intellectual stagnation and caused an ignominous fall in the country. However now in free India students have become alive to the need of learning more languages and acquire higher education in latest technologies. The latest method to learn a new language and understand the different culture is to live and more among the people whom we want to know. The learning of Chinese language and culture is best possible by living for a short duration in China than going through longer courses in institutions in our country only. The learning of a foreign language is the first step towards understanding of a nation. International understanding is possible for students of our country through taking tourism packages all over the world.

A student has to keep his eyes and mind open while on educational tours. Tourism provides an experience of the world and calls into action and practical use of various qualities of mind and intellect developed by education. Tact, engaging personality, firmness and lively conversation are some of the products of traveling across length and breadth of country and the world. A student need not initiate the habits, manners or fashions of other people whom he visits. Only good and proper attitudes must be adopted from others. The student must understand the economic problems faced by rural people when he goes to the villages and see how without proper schools and hospitals, people are surviving. The students may make a decision to serve the poor and innocent folks in villages after completing their studies.

Traveling must be made a part of the education system at each level of studies. Students will not only become more educated about their country’s all walks of life and culture but will be liberal in outlook. They will have maturity of judgment and clear in their understanding of people and their minds. Tourism is the quickest and the best if not the cheapest method of learning new things.

Rajesh Mohan is a Indian Poet and Freelance Writer. For more, check out Kerala Backwaters

Calicut University MBA [http://universityofcalicut.in/calicutuniversity/calicut-university-mba-admission-notification/117]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rajesh_Mohan

Though a huge revenue earner for a lot of countries, regular forms of tourism also causes much harm to tourist centers.  This includes exploitation of poor people, pollution, rise in prices, adverse impact on culture and minimal benefits to the local population (as most of the profits are appropriated by tour operators and hotels). An example is the popular tourist resort of Kovalam, in Southern India. This is a beautiful stretch of beach attracting a lot of foreign and domestic tourists, and a big revenue earner for the state tourism department. However a lot of poor people including women and children are exploited in the name of attracting tourists. A lot of unscrupulous people have also set up fake Ayurvedic massage centers near the beach, exploiting the fame of this traditional form of treatment.

This is where eco tourism can lend a helping hand. Not only would it be a source of income for the local population, tourists can positively contribute towards the maintenance and development of the places they visit. For local transport, you may choose from walking, cycling or public transport instead of using cars. Taking care not to litter, and not to damage the environment in any way by removing stones or plucking flowers and plants are also part of this movement. Learning a few important words in the local language would help easier communication with the local population. It is very useful to read and get more information about the culture and tradition of the people so that it is easier to understand and communicate with them.

In the state of Karnataka, where I stay, some of centers being developed for eco tourism include the national parks of Bandipur and Nagarhole and the hill station of Coorg. In my home state of Kerala, national parks including the Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary and the Silent Valley Forest, back waters in Alleppey and the Munnar high ranges are ideal spots. As most of these places attract a large number of regular tourists, too, it would only take a little effort to convince likely tourists to try this alternative.

If you are planning to go on an eco tourism holiday, however, it is advisable to check the credentials of the tour operator and the place to be visited. Due to the popularity of the concept, a lot of tour operators and businessmen try to cash in on the concept by organizing fake eco tourism ventures with scant regard for the preservation or protection of the site or benefit for the local people. By simply building a multi-storied hotel nearby natural surroundings, some operators advertise their business as eco tourism. A little bit of back ground check can eliminate these risks.

Considering the negative effects of  the present  form of  tourism on the environment as well as the local population and the numerous ways in which eco tourism can be beneficial to all concerned, you may consider going on an eco tourism holiday the next time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roshan_P._M.