BARKUR - an upcoming tourist place

"The art to satisfy the most diverse aspirations which invite man to move out of his daily universe."       

The attributes of tourism have changed rapidly as the years pass by. People obviously like being tourists, and the even more obvious reasons for that can be the need for something different to occur in one’s life, not always being stuck in the same old tracks, over and over again. Or, that we need to relax, which you apparently can't do at home.

One classic reason for tourism is of course that it is a social benefit. You’ll get a lot of attention from people back home both before and after the journey, which indeed can be just as much, if not more of a pleasure then the  holiday itself. Tourism, according to the Department of National Heritage, apparently outnumbers most any other line of business, from construction industry to raising cattle. Today, it is more or less well known to people that tourism has grown to massive proportions.

Resort is a place that provides recreation and entertainment particularly to vacationers. Resorts offer first class convenience, starting from indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sports activities and instruction, water recreation, top of the line customer rooms, and dining at place.

One of the most essential things for tourism to be successful in a particular place is the quality of the environment, both natural and man-made.

The Government of India is also doing its best to develop tourism in our country. Places of tourist-interest are developed in multifarious ways like lighting, water-supplying, beautifying and so on. The Government is publishing book-lets about these places of tourist interest and the Government's publicity-machine is geared up to attract tourists by distributing leaflets, booklets and by advertising in the leading papers, magazines and periodicals of different countries.

BARKUR  is a place which can be compared with KERALA, as it is called “GODS OWN COUNTRY”,BARKUR too can be called “A COUNTRY FULL OF GODS “ OR “CITY OF GODS” as there are lots and lots of temples...I can say nearly 365 and odd temples, two mosques and one church. All of these monuments do have their own history. Lots of historical spots, lots of river shores, hills, fields, and many more places are in our small Barkur, but still its not attracted by tourists. Why? What is the reason behind?

TYPES OF TOURISMS

There are different types of tourism: Adventure/outdoor and eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and heritage tourism, history tourism, adventure tourism, and very important one that is medical tourism(ayurveda and other forms of Indian medications), spiritual tourism, beach tourism are the other  types.

I will be concentrating on medical tourism which indeed will help to develop the other fields in tourism.

Medical tourism

Barkur is a place well known for its ancient medicines particularly ayurvedic healing. One famous personality in this field in Barkur is Dr.Nambiar. People from very far towns and cities come to him. And his heeling touch is amazing. Many such doctors are there in Barkur.

 If well planned, Barkur will be a centre for medical tourism in Udupi district. For that we require plenty of planning and work outs.

Some facts and information regarding medical tourism:

Medical tourism can be broadly defined as the provision of 'cost effective' private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. The process of healthcare tourism is jointly facilitated by the corporate sector involved in medical and healthcare as well as the tourism industry - both private and public.

Medical tourism has become a common form of vacationing, and covers a broad spectrum of medical services. Medical tourism mixes leisure, fun and relaxation together with wellness and healthcare.

A combination of many factors has lead to the recent increase in popularity of medical tourism. Exorbitant cost of healthcare and medical facilities in advanced countries, ease and affordability of international travel, favorable currency exchange rates in the global economy, rapidly improving technology and high standards of medical care in the developing countries has all contributed their share to this rapid development of medical tourism.

Not just cost savings or the high standard of medical care facility, but also the waiting time is much lower for any treatment in India than in any other country. Medical help is often an emergency and situations can turn worse if the treatment is delayed. While you might have to wait for several months to get a surgical operation done in the US, in India things can be arranged within a week.

Many types of medical treatment in India cost a fraction of what they do in the United States and other Western nations, and citizens from these countries are flocking to India by the thousands. Until recently, it was the other way around, as upper-income Indians commonly rushed to America and Europe for sophisticated treatment.

India is the most touted healthcare destination for countries like South-East Asia, Middle East, Africa, Mauritius, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Yemen with 12 per cent patient inflow from developing countries. And the most sought-after super-specialties are cardiology, neuro-surgery, orthopaedics, eye surgery and even dentistry.

India's National Health Policy declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally an "export" and deemed "eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export earnings." Government and private sector studies in India estimate that medical tourism could bring between $1 billion and $2 billion US into the country by 2012. The reports estimate that medical tourism to India is growing by 30 per cent a year.

Then why not Barkur made as a centre for medical tourism ?

Barkur as a Tourist Resource

The  appeal is based on eight general categories of  \attractions:

Business opportunities, both work and personal; recreation; cultural/educational facilities; Contact with people; amusement and entertainment; special events; shops; and atmosphere.

The pull of these attractions is in turn affected by five variables; reputation overall cost, quality of the environment, locations and climate.

The strength of appeal depends on a combination of some or all of these factors, measured against the allure of other cities or alternative destinations. The broader the range of attractions and the more positive the other variables in reinforcing them, the larger and more stable will be the scope of  Barkur’s tourist business. 

Infact Barkur has got all the raw materials for developing tourism industry.

FUTURE PLANS:

Many ways are there for developing tourism in barkur.Few plans jotted down:

Organizing a mega event in Barkur:

A symposium or a mega essay competition with topic of “opportunities for tourism in Barkur” should be conducted, where winner will be rewarded with a mega prize.

So we will be getting lots and lots of ideas and a group discussion can be held.

The next step is calling all likeminded people in Barkur who has got interest in this field as well as opinion builders for a meeting or a get together.

This meeting will be done for conducting the mega program, where the winner of the essay competition will be given the chance o display his essay using a LCD projector.

In this program celebrities or people having high post in department of tourism, like tourism minister in government, professors , etc can be invited.

Facilities by the government can be pulled over to Barkur.

The subsidies or any plans by the government for the purpose of development of tourism can be extracted.

Likewise future steps can be taken off.....

I have dreamt this event...... and look forward seeing BARKUR  a beautiful tourism spot..............

Kindly give your suggestions

-Dr. Manoj Maxim D’Lima