Nomad Travels Promotes Activity-Based Tourism

Charmaine Fernz - Mumbai

Ajay Prakash

In a bid to enhance the potential of domestic tourism, Ajay Prakash, chief executive, Nomad Travels feels that India needs to have activity-based tourism. Incorporating this concept in its totality, Prakash on an annual basis organises the Desert Kite Festival in Rajasthan, which is also now being conducted in Goa popularly known as the Goa Kite Carnival. Explaining the concept further Prakash says, "In Mumbai, this festival is popularly known as 'Kites for Peace', which is also held world-wide in the second weekend of October, every year. The theme 'One Sky, One World' is targeted at bringing down visitors to India to experience the festival of Kite Flying, which is unique to the Asian culture. Though the number of visitors are not huge, but the festivals are gaining popularity nonetheless."

"This year, we hope to get in people from the SAARC countries as well as bring down Rajasthan kite makers to come and showcase their talent as well as teach children the art of kite making. These festivals certainly promote the concept the activity-based tourism, which is unique as it gets people involved in a particular activity, thereby getting them more involved with a country's and the destination alike. We are looking at talking to tour operators to promote these kinds of festivals as the target here are more sensitive kind of tourists or rather eco-friendly tourists."