The Role of Museums in Promoting Tourism: Ex...

The Role of Museums in Promoting Tourism: Exploring the History and Culture

Author Name : Dr Jayaram Shettigar

Museums- an institution that conserves its collection of artefacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance, and exhibits its collection of objects for public viewing that may be permanent or temporary at the same time it attracts tourists The museum is an important attraction for the tourists today. It acts as an information centre for its community. In India, the concept museum came during the late 18^th Century after the formation of the Asiatic Society in 1793. Museums preserve cultural values, exhibits of evolution, and details about nations and communities decades ago. By visiting the Museum, the travellers get an opportunity to learn about historical events, bridge the gap between traditional and modern eras, and connect and experience the art and stories of the past. Museums are the most important part of the tourism industry.  Louvre Museum Paris is at the top rank in the world which recorded the visit of 8900000 tourists in 2023. The share of the museum to the tourism industry in the United Kingdom is 4.7%, China is 5.3% and India is 4%. National Science Center, Delhi, a science museum attracts a large number of Tourists and in April 2022, 23379 tourists visited and in March 2023,109360 tourists visited.  Tourism is one industry that has emerged as the largest global industry in the 20th century and is projected to grow even faster during the current century. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 ranked India 34th out of 140 countries overall. India improved its ranking by 6 places over the 2017 report which was the greatest improvement among the top 25% of countries ranked. It mentions that India has quite good air transport infrastructure (ranked 33rd), particularly given the country's stage of development, and reasonable ground and port infrastructure (ranked 28th). The country also scores high on natural resources (ranked 14th), cultural resources and business travel (ranked 8th). The World Tourism Organization reported that India's receipts from tourism during 2012 ranked 16th in the world.  Tourism in India is probably as old as its 5000-plus-year-old culture. But Tourism, as it is known today, began in India only after 1946, following the recommendations of the Sargent Committee. It was only after the 1980’s tourism activity gained momentum in India. It was only in 2002 that the New National Tourism Policy was formulated. The Ministry of Tourism maintains the Incredible India campaign focused on promoting tourism in India.