This
article is about World Tourism Day today, the 27th of September 2017 and also
about an Essay Writing Contest held by the Telangana Tourism Department and The
Hindu Newspaper for some chosen school students.
World
Tourism Day (WTD) is held annually on this day. Its purpose is to foster
awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and
its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address
global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and
to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these
goals.
It
was at its third session at Torremolinos, Spain, in September 1979, that the General
Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) decided to
establish World Tourism Day, beginning from 1980. This date was chosen to
coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the
adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970.
WTD
is celebrated by events around the themes selected by the UNWTO General
Assembly, on the recommendation of the UNWTO Executive Council.
While
UNWTO invites people of all ages and backgrounds to hold and take part in
celebrations in their respective country or holiday destination, official WTD
celebrations take place in a UNWTO Member State, on the basis of geographic
rotation.
The
theme chosen by UNWTO for this year is “Sustainable Tourism – a tool for
development”. I have listed all the themes chosen since 1980 towards the end of
this article.
The
Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation is conducting a number of
programs, especially at tourist places to celebrate World Tourism Day. In
association with the Hindu Newspaper, it has conducted an Essay writing contest for students, in all schools spread over the entire Telangana State. The topic is “My favourite tourist place in Telangana
State”. My granddaughter studying in 7th Class has participated in
the contest. Here is her essay, the results are awaited. Below is the
manuscript in three pages, followed by the typed text:
My
favourite tourist place in Telangana State.
My
favourite tourist place in Telangana State is the temple town of Bhadrachalam
and the historical and beautiful places around it. We go there often, because
of our family’s long association with this area and love for it.
Secunderabad
is our ancestral native place and my great-grandfather too was initially living
in Secunderabad. Later, for better opportunities, he sought a job at Kothagudem
town which is very close to Bhadrachalam and resided there for 27 years. During
those years, apart from a frequent pilgrimage to Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple
at Bhadrachalam, they enjoyed visiting several places around this temple town
mostly along the two rivers here, Godavari and Kinnerasani. My
great-grandfather owned a five-acre Mango groove en-route to Bhadrachalam and
there were weekly picnics to this place. My grandfather and great-uncle have
fond memories of this place so it has become a tradition in our family to visit
Bhadrachalam and places near it often.
Bhadrachalam
is one of the most famous pilgrimage places in Telangana State. It has the
ancient temple of Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy (Lord Sri Rama). It is 320 km from
Hyderabad. It is on the fringes of the largest forest in our country, the
Dhandakaranya, and on the left bank of the mighty and sacred River Godavari,
the second-longest river in our country. This entire area is very beautiful. The
temple was developed in the 17th century by Kancharla Gopanna (Baktha Ramadasu)
the Tehasildhar (Revenue Officer) of that area by using the local taxes for
which he was imprisoned by Tana Shah, the Sultan of Golconda kingdom. After a few
years of imprisonment, he was released as it is believed that Lord Rama along
with his brother Lakshmana visited the Sultan and paid back the money spent by
Ramadasu.
Thirty
kilometres away is Parnashala, where Sita Devi, Lord Rama and Lakshmana lived
for a few years, during the last phase of their Vanavasam - 14 years exile from
their kingdom, Ayodhya. The drive to this place along River Godavari is along the
dense Dhandkaranya forest, full of greenery, forest trees and fertile lands. This
area is a feast to the eyes. Many interesting signs of Sri Sita and Rama’s
livelihood here are still in existence. This is also the place from where King Ravana
in the disguise of a beggar; abducted Sita Devi to his kingdom, Lanka.
There
are other places around Bhadrachalam which are all very interesting. There is
this place called Yetapaka located 2 km from Bhadrachalam where the bird
Jatayuvu, an ardent devotee of Rama tried to obstruct Ravana from abducting
Sita Devi. There is a place called Dummugudem where Lord Rama is said to have
killed 14,000 demons. And there is this place where River Sabari joins River
Godavari. It is at this place that a devotee Sabari gave shelter to Sita, Rama
and Lakshmana on their way to Parnashala and offered fruits to Rama after
tasting them out of affection towards Rama. This River is named after her.
I
have enjoyed short boat rides on the Godavari at Bhadrachalam but many members of
my family have enjoyed daylong cruises more than once on motorized ferries on River
Godavari. They have explained to me how they have enjoyed the scenic beauty of
Papikondalu and the river on these large ferries passing amidst a very long stretch
of serpentine hills on either side of the mighty River Godavari.
And
not far from Bhadrachalam is the Kinnerasani Dam. Kinnerasani River is a
tributary of River Godavari. The construction of the Dam has resulted in Kinnerasani’s
catchment area becoming a huge and beautiful lake with hills and trees all
around making it a very popular picnic spot for local people and tourists. At
almost the centre of the Lake is a huge island filled with trees, adding beauty
to this place. And there is a huge Deer Park here, which is a big attraction.
During
this journey, we get to see the largest Thermal Power Generating Plant of
Telangana State in Paloncha and the Coal Mines at Kothagudem which are within
30 km from Bhadrachalam.
We
visit Bhadrachalam once in a few years and I have always enjoyed my visits as
much as my elders, who are very strongly connected with this place.
THEMES
OF WORLD TOURISM DAY
The
theme of 1980 was “Tourism’s contribution to the preservation of cultural
heritage and to peace and mutual understanding”.
The
theme of 1981 was “Tourism and the quality of life”.
The
theme of 1982 was “Pride in travel: good guests and good hosts”.
The
theme of 1983 was “Travel and holidays are a right but also a responsibility
for all”.
The
theme of 1984 was “Tourism for international understanding, peace and
cooperation”.
The
theme of 1985 was “Youth Tourism: cultural and historical heritage for peace
and friendship”.
The
theme of 1986 was “Tourism: a vital force for world peace”.
The
theme of 1987 was “Tourism for development”.
The
theme of 1988 was “Tourism: education for all”.
The
theme of 1989 was “The free movement of tourists creates one world”.
The
theme of 1990 was “Tourism: an unrecognized industry, a service to be
released”.
The
theme of 1991 was “Communication, information and education: powerlines of
tourism development”.
The
theme of 1992 was “Tourism: a factor of growing social and economic solidarity
and of encounter between people”.
The
theme of 1993 was “Tourism development and environmental protection: towards a
lasting harmony”.
The
theme of 1994 was “Quality staff, quality tourism”.
The
theme of 1995 was “WTO: serving world tourism for twenty years”.
The
theme of 1996 was “Tourism: a factor of tolerance and peace”.
The
theme of 1997 was “Tourism: a leading activity of the twenty-first century for
job creation and environmental protection”.
The
theme of 1998 was “Public-private sector partnership: the key to tourism
development and promotion”.
The
theme of 1999 was “Tourism: preserving world heritage for the new millennium”.
The
theme of 2000 was “Technology and nature: two challenges for tourism at the
dawn of the twenty-first century”.
The
theme of 2001 was “Tourism: a toll for peace and dialogue among civilizations”.
The
theme of 2002 was “Ecotourism, the key to sustainable development”.
The
theme of 2003 was “Tourism: a driving force for poverty alleviation, job
creation and social harmony”.
The
theme of 2004 was “Sport and tourism: two living forces for mutual
understanding, culture and the development of societies”.
The
theme of 2005 was “Travel and transport: from imaginary of Jules Verne to the
reality of the 21st century”.
The
theme of 2006 was “Tourism Enriches”.
The
theme of 2007 was “Tourism opens doors for women”.
The
theme of 2008 was “Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change and
global warming”.
The
theme of 2009 was “Tourism – Celebrating Diversity”.
The
theme of 2010 was “Tourism & Biodiversity”.
The
theme of 2011 was “Tourism Linking Cultures”.
The
theme of 2012 was “Tourism and Energetic Sustainability”.
The
theme of 2013 was “Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future”.
The
theme of 2014 was “Tourism and Community Development”.
The
theme of 2015 was “Millions of tourists, millions of opportunities”.
The
theme of 2016 was “Tourism for All – promoting universal accessibility”.
The
theme of 2017 will be “Sustainable Tourism – a tool for development”.
