TOURISM, if it is managed sensitively, can be a miraculous catalyst for economic and cultural revitalisation; it not only enhances income but also establishes an identity of the country. Two Asian countries—Thailand and India—are among the top ten destinations in the world, and tourists to India increase by almost 15 per cent each year.
The nature of tourism itself has changed—with tourists travelling for leisure and pleasure, rather than culture and architecture. This new type of traveller is often looking to buy ethnic crafts or souvenirs as a memento of their travel experience. Which crafts do visitors to India buy? Where do they buy them from? These are some of the questions to explore.
India has over twenty million craftspeople, who create a very wide range of varied crafts. Is it possible to productively use the ever-growing tourism industry to explore approaches to craft merchandising that will benefit and sustain the crafts community throughout the country? Let us analyse present trends in crafts production and sale in the tourism sector.
Popular Souvenirs from India
• Carpets and durries
• Kundan, silver and semi-precious jewellery
• Block-printed fabric
• Embroideries
• Folk art—Madhubani paintings, Bastar metal work
• Silk—material, garments, scarves and stoles
• Embossed and embroidered leather
• Pashmina shawls from Kashmir which continue to be the most popular
Click on the below link to download NCERT Class 12 Heritage Crafts Craft Tradition Of India Carfts In The Age Of Tourism
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