Book Review

India - Incredible ‘Divine’ Destination

Ashish Tiwari - Mumbai

Want to make an instant connection and have a lasting impression on your guests (expats, NRIs etc)? Start your discussion telling them about India, its rich culture and heritage, its diverse nature and the spirit of life and warmth possessed by every Indian. Tell them what makes your motherland a great nation. That is what I suggest every hospitality and tourism aspirant. And once you have done that, the guest will remember and ask for you every time s/he stays with the hotel.

Aruna Deshpande’s book christened ‘India - A Divine Destination’ helps the reader do just that. Brought out by Crest Publishing House (A Jaico Enterprise), the book is a commendable effort by the author and touches upon every crucial aspect that showcases India as a divine destination. Deshpande has managed to use her experience with the travel trade very effectively in bringing out this wealth of knowledge. As goes the popular saying, ‘there is no future if we forget our past/history’ the author while writing the book has taken into consideration every single event in the Indian history, religion, culture, gods and goddesses, festivals, art and craft making it a valuable possession for every Indian. While the language used is reader-friendly, including phonetics (while using non-English terms like Sanskrit and complex Hindi, Urdu etc) would have been of great help - particularly for the younger generation who are not well-versed with these terminologies. Use of visuals and charts make connecting with the content easier. The book is very ideal for those looking at making a career in the hospitality and tourism industries, particularly those who frequently interact with expat guests and tourists - for example guest service executives, tourist guides and service staff amongst others.