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The Coronavirus has made it not only to travel out to any place but the fact that when we look at a new place or a new person, we get that feeling of being scared of catching the virus that our willingness to travel is also gripped. Such an extreme feeling has become really common and the fact that a new place or a new location might have a higher chance of getting a person infected restricts a traveler to even go out of their house. Making this feeling a new normal, traveling to a new place, and staying at that place is going to change for good to push towards safer means of travel.
When we think of staying and sleeping at an accommodation that is not our home, the first thing we think of is how many people have actually been here and used it? Is it really been cleaned after their stay? Or is it even safe from any disease that the person might carry? All of these questions are not just going to be our simple thoughts but a grave concern, a concern that will be needing complete addressing and safety measures that will make sure that these doubts vanish as quickly as they come inside a traveler’s mind. Leading hoteliers believe that these concerns and risks can be simply taken care of with a few safety precautions and wearing a mask at all times when outside the accommodation.
You can check out the guidelines by the government of India to make face masks at home here and make a mask for all your needs to be safe from Coronavirus.
Travel includes staying at a new place(obviously!) and a traveler could have a preference for staying at a posh location that has all the amenities and a person need not even go out of the property to have fun, and a traveler could even have a preference of going with the cheapest closest option to stay for the night or the day and be gone the next morning. However extreme a traveler would want their accommodation preference to be, the coronavirus is set to bring a few changes to all of them.
Checking-in to accommodation is the first thing that a traveler has to do to start their stay at a new place. During check-in, there can be several violations of social distancing norms, like touching each other’s documents, handling cash, staying close to the attendant at the reception, standing close to other guests, etc. Having a digital, contact-less check-in will be the new normal in each accommodation, where a traveler will just walk into a hotel and head directly for their room that will be pre-allocated to them before even their check-in. A possible tech-travel solution for this could be, no need to show any documentation or a booking voucher, just QR or bar code on the phone that enables the door and unlocks it for a traveler to enter the hotel premises or the accommodation premises and head straight for their rooms.
Escalators, lifts, or staircases, which one to prefer? It is pretty much clear that lifts are our worst enemies when it comes to social distancing. Staying in close proximity to a person for longer than 10 seconds is always a factor of risk. So, stairs might be safer than lifts and you can even eliminate the bulk of the threat by not touching anything like the railing or handles and walking at a distance from anyone walking close to you.
The common areas like lobby, gyms, pools, spas, etc. will have to be tackled with utmost safety. Since these areas attract a lot of visitors, there is not only a chance of catching the virus from coming in contact with an infected person but from a surface that was in contact with an infected person. These areas will be limiting the number of guests on the floor and ensuring that each area is cleaned off at regular intervals. Swimming pools are much safer when it comes to Coronavirus because chlorine does not let the virus sustain. You can have a chill time at the pool but make sure that there are not a lot of people present and you are still steering clear and swimming at a distance. Although not a lot of hotels have opened swimming pools, it is something to look out for.
Eating at a restaurant is going to be a little problematic. Not exactly problematic but very different. There will be a lot fewer customers that would opt to eat out, and even if they do, restaurants need to have a strict policy of how many foodies can even be present at once in the vicinity. The best solution to eating a meal at your favorite restaurant would be to order room service. Sanitizing your hands and eating a meal in your room is the best way to stay safe and eat during a trip when the pandemic is still at large.
Getting to the accommodation and checking-in is fine but how do you really stay? Remotes, handles, faucets, toilets, surfaces, room keys, etc. All can carry a potential risk to infect a person from this highly contagious virus. Now we have two options, either you go berzerk and start sanitizing every corner of the room you’ll be staying in, from the handles to the TV, or you make sure that you keep your hands clean every time you want to eat something or do an activity that might involve you touching your face repeatedly. If you’re really paranoid, sanitize the hell out of the entire room.
Another solution to the above problem is to make sure that the traveler that stayed in that room had no health conditions. If we try to determine how can we even get infected by staying in a room, it is most likely to happen if the person staying before had the coronavirus. The simple solution is to know their health status as well. Also, knowing that the room had been cleaned thoroughly after the traveler left the room and left untouched for at least a day as the virus can not sustain for long on surfaces. Many accommodations are going for this idea to make travel and stay safe, and also make travelers feel safer about their stay.
Coronavirus has made human interaction to a bare minimum. To actually have bare minimum contact during a travel excursion is going to be a tough ask. When it comes to staying in outside accommodation, the main interaction is done with the staff present at the hotel or stay. Housekeeping is the major point of concern. To tackle this, hotels have reduced the number of staff in their property and also are keeping checks of whoever is coming to work to ensure this virus is not spread through the staff. A possible solution for you during your stay would be to have the cleaning done before your arrival and try to keep the room clean until it’s time for your checkout.
The biggest problem that I think I would have addressed will be whether the linens and the blankets have been washed or not. Some stays have a bad reputation of not cleaning the linens properly, they just wash them in simple water and are done with it. When it comes to trusting a hotel for the same, I would recommend going to the hotel that you have already been in. It just brings that factor of trust and you can always say that they put their customer’s safety first. Another solution is to inquire first about the cleaning process of the accommodation and ask them what kind of cleaning product they use to wash the linens, I’m sure that if they know the answer to this and tell you the same, it will be a safe place to live in.
The last thing that I would be concerned about would have to be the parking measures or arrangements in the accommodation. It might sound really weird but the fact that traveling will soon be shifting towards personal road trips and which means a ton of cars at a single accommodation. This parking concern also brings in the factor of valet parking and whether that is a safer option rather than walking towards a group of people that just came from another state. The problem with valet parking would be to trust a person that handles a lot of cars and hence meets a lot of people too, to counter this, make sure to sanitize your cars completely when you get it back from the valet.
Another point is regarding hostels, how will hostels even undergo such drastic changes? Hostels have also come up with a few solutions of their own. First, not more than 50% occupancy in dorms will be allowed. Each dorm bed will be assigned alternatively to ensure social distancing. Common kitchens and bathrooms will have not more than 2-3 people at max at one time in them. Finally, making travelers aware of all the safety norms and basic rules of the hostel and social distancing will be their top priority.
There’s this one thing that my friend asked me recently, what if a traveler falls sick during their stay in a hotel? It caught me off guard but I managed to ring-in a few hoteliers and asked what is their take on this, their replies. First, the person will be quarantined inside their room at the time of showing symptoms. Second, the concerned hoteliers will provide everything for their essential living and cordon off the entire floor. Third, they will have to contact the concerned authorities of the situation. Lastly, if the person is found positive for Coronavirus, they’ll be shifted to an appropriate place and the accommodation will be closed off for further stays and the guests living there will be tested and quarantined.
Today, travelers are getting impatient over getting out of their houses and are looking for safe options to just go somewhere and relax. To make this possible, the accommodation managers have come up with unique solutions making this “dream” of vacation come true.
Now, the question is, is it safe to stay in hotels or any other accommodation during the Coronavirus outbreak? Simple answer, it is safe but with a lot of implications. You’ll need to be safe too and take safety precautions in order for your own safety and even the safety of others. Since we have to live with this virus as we live with any other disease, we have no option but to accept it and find solutions to different problems. In terms of stay, I would personally recommend staying in homestays as they are the safest bet of not having the virus anywhere near them but hotels are safe too with proper measures.
Another safe and convenient option for any traveler would be to stay out in their camps at places with less to no traveler at all. A number of travelers have already started going out in their self-driven cars with camps in their trunks to stay out for a night. The Tarzan Way has come up with even a better solution, stay in Caravan. Caravans are motor homes that can be driven to any place that has a road and can be parked somewhere.
A Caravan comes with a kitchen, a bathroom, chairs that double up as beds to sleep at night, and obviously, that has wheels to take you places. A caravan, also known as a Recreational vehicle(RV), and also know as a motorhome is like a car on steroids. You won’t need to really go out when traveling in a caravan, you can obviously get out, if there are not a lot of people around but it’s the wholesome travel experience you would need in a world where there still looms the risk of getting infected by the coronavirus.
You can check out our Caravan experience here and our advisory for COVID-19 and traveling around India here - https://www.thetarzanway.com/experiences-caravan-india
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The Tarzan Way
posted a blog.
The global Coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of lives directly or indirectly and has changed the whole course of many industries, careers, and companies. Many countries are, however, seeing life come back to normal, if not for every citizen, then certain pockets of states and cities. As life resumes in a different way for thousands of people, we have started to gather our best research and data on what we can do to change travel for the better, adapt and help others adapt.
For those who are traveling or planning to travel soon or in the future (for practical, urgent, business, or leisure purposes), we've put together our best and researched tips on staying safe while traveling, because this threat will be prominent for months and maybe years to come.
1. Research on different ways to travel
We know that when you think travel, the same few avenues pop up in your head - by airplane, by train, by bus, etc. Although these are the main ways and won't ever go out of style, try doing something different. There are many curated lists of different ways to travel in specific countries, like horse-pulled houses in Ireland, floating boathouses in Kerala, India, or even airships in the US. This is the time to explore new places and methods because you'll be pushed out of your comfort zone. Our chosen picks include road trips, rural village exploration, caravan travel, and many more - check out our curated experiences - https://www.thetarzanway.com/travel-experiences
2. Where should you travel?
One essential question, of course, is the destination you should travel to. Your travel location is obviously fixed if you're going for business/practical purposes, but for leisure travel, once you decide the method of traveling, decide a location after doing all your research. There are many government websites and WHO trackers that can tell you the exact cases in each city, outbreaks, location of outbreaks, etc. Accordingly, you can select your destination to a precise location.
3. Hotel safety measures
Hotels can be a scary thing to consider during a pandemic like this, but if you can take the necessary precautions there's no reason to be hesitant. First of all, research about the city you're going to and ensure it doesn't have any major outbreaks. Locate a hotel in an area that preferably hasn't seen any cases, or very less at least a month or more ago. When you book the hotel, call them in advance and tell them you want a full room clean when you get there, in your presence, so you can ensure the pillows are changes, bedsheets and blankets fresh, and the whole room properly disinfected. When considering room service, make sure you're confident the kitchens are clean and safety protocols followed, and whatever cutlery you get, wipe and wash it before using.
4. The Five keys to food safety
The five keys to food safety are a set of food safety regulations/rules that households and kitchens should follow, found on the WHO website. The core messages of the Five Keys to SaferFoodare: (1) keep clean; (2) separate raw and cooked; (3) cook thoroughly; (4) keep food at safe temperatures; and (5) use safe water and raw materials. These are important to follow in households of course but should be definitely followed in industrial/restaurant kitchens too. When you go out to eat, which can be inescapable when traveling, ask that they follow the basic food safety guidelines and observe if sanitation practices like a clean kitchen, gloves, masks, caps are worn, etc.
5. Bottled Water is the way to go!
This is an obvious but surprisingly less followed tip by travelers - it was relevant before the pandemic, and still is. We know that it's easier and cheaper to just drink water at a hotel or restaurant that is loosely available, but it can be unsafe. Although virus particles are not proven to travel or transmitted through water, it is a possibility that someone with the virus comes into contact with the water in any way - it's better to be safe than sorry.
6. Air travel measures
We know that traveling by air may sound daunting, but it still is safe and of course, the most convenient way to travel. You can take some basic precautions that can fortify safety measures already in place at airports: wear gloves and masks at both airports and in planes, make sure to carry wet wipes and sanitizer that you can use to disinfect the airline seat handles, and avoid drinking the loose water available in airports. The most obvious tip is to always maintain distance - most airlines are currently blocking off middle seats for social distancing purposes, but it goes without saying you should maintain distance in a waiting line, restroom, etc.
7. Keep track of the news - do your research!
This is something people have now gotten into the habit of doing since the pandemic was declared, but it is equally important to keep a track of news when things have cleared out in your country/area, even two months from now. This is because outbreaks are still being declared, and areas are often completely sealed within a certain radius for everyone's safety. Keep track of which areas/cities/states are seeing outbreaks, singular cases, high recovery rates, etc. so that whether you're traveling for leisure or need you're protected and informed.
8. Money, money, money
Money is important when traveling, and most people prefer cash to cards and other forms of payment when traveling because it's just more convenient. Carrying cash and cards is all well and good, but since virus particles are known to stay on notes and coins easily and for long, this isn't the safest way to transact. Cards also require an exchange of hands and finding ATMs (that could be contaminated) to withdraw is just adding to the risk. Try using online payment as much as you can - we know it can be daunting and difficult to both learn how to use it and get into the habit, they are the best, safest way to pay.
9. Do NOT consider Cruises
cruises have been feeling the spotlight for the past few months because of the many virus mishaps and situations that have taken place in the early weeks of the virus. It is quite risky to travel by cruises - you're trapped in one vessel in the middle of the ocean with limited resources to treat an outbreak, were it to happen. Adding to this the fact that many cases are asymptomatic/don't show signs till much later, a cruise isn't exactly the best idea. However, do consider boathouses and other smaller water vessels you can travel and unwind in.
10. Traveling for/with elderly, children or seriously ill individuals
This is something you should avoid if you intend to go to places in your country which are even a little affected by the virus, but if you do your research and stay safe, you'll be fine. These tips are especially important if you're traveling for urgent purposes - first of all, don't choose methods of transport where any crowd is inescapable - try road trips for a change. Make sure everyone is following proper guidelines for safety, opt for motorhomes/caravans where you can cook your own food, and keep helpline numbers handy, always. As far as you can, find boutique hotels/inns to stay with less crowd and extra attention given to guests. Most families won't consider traveling until much later, especially ones with younger kids, but either way, extra precautions should always be taken for the elderly, children, or seriously ill persons.
The Tarzan Way
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Picture green hills, snow-capped mountains, foggy roads, little cottage houses, and clean air - that's what beautiful Uttarakhand is all about. Uttarakhand or the ‘Land of Gods’ is a state situated in the north-east part of India with 13 districts, sharing borders with both Nepal and China. The state is known for its extensive and scenic beauty, history, yogic and ayurvedic practices, and soaring surrounding mountains. Uttarakhand is one of the most popular destinations for both Indians and foreigners alike due to the always-present stunning beauty that just changes and shifts, never disappears.
Within the state, there are many cities and spots most visited by travelers. This includes Dehradun, Kausani, Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital, some of the more popular cities with more population than the smaller communities spread out in the valley. We should also not forget Rishikesh, a city made popular by The Beatles’ 1968 visit and consequent stay, known for its scenic beauty and the many adventures it offers to travelers. Uttarakhand is also known for being the entry point of the Ganga or Ganges River, where all the tributaries join to make one of the largest widths of the river in India.
Uttarakhand is popular for having various different opportunities for volunteering. Volunteering in India itself is something made easy by many NGOs, schools, communities, hospitals, etc. in the country, and many travelers opt for this while exploring India. Travelers are often plagued with the question of low-cost travel in India, and often volunteering is the way to not only explore the country but also help in the process.
You can find crowded schools in Rishikesh or isolated rural tribes in the mountains of the state, large yogic ashrams, or small farming-driven communities widely across the state to volunteer in. It is important to note that all these options differ in their volunteering process. Some will provide housing and food in exchange for dedicated volunteering, others will expect volunteers to find their own housing, although will guide them in the process, due to less area and funds. There are some NGOs and communities with strict guidelines and processes for selecting volunteers, other villages yet that may not have even experienced the joy of selfless giving that is volunteering and may welcome visitors with open arms.
1. Volunteering for Women and Community Empowerment
Women’s education, development, and empowerment are lacking in Indian society and most communities. In order for the country to grow, prosper, and respect each citizen, this is an undertaking needed to bring about equality between the sexes and ensure independence within women. Many organizations and independent villages/towns have specific volunteering programs focused on the development of communities, in particular the empowerment of women and girls. In these programs, volunteers usually focus on developing basic skills amongst the women of the community so that they may earn and support their families. Sometimes specific skills such as coding and writing are taught; other times general education and betterment of the societies are focused on. Either way, the goal of the volunteer is to help out communities where female education is severely lacking and there is a need for the development and empowerment of girls and women. These programs may also focus on pre-teen and teen girls who are educated and empowered so that they are more educated, independent, skilled, and therefore successful.
If volunteers are interested in this specific area of volunteering, there are many small villages and communities in Uttarakhand such as Chopta, Kalsi, Mana, etc. where women and schools can be approached for volunteering opportunities with girls and women. Although this is not a full-proof approach, it can be tried out.
2. Volunteering in Rural Areas
Rural villages and areas in India are often plagued with problems concerning even the most basic necessities. Uttarakhand is no different – the state is filled with independently running, mostly self-sufficient communities, often isolated from one another amongst the mountains. The same set of problems are present in all – lack of electricity, education, hygiene, ease of living, etc. There are many small projects volunteers can take up to improve the way of living in these places – for example, better-invented toilet systems, solving basic problems, teaching, helping with construction and odd jobs, etc. There is an immense opportunity for development in these places – and in the end, volunteers can feel satisfied they helped better a community.
There is always scope to approach villages and areas where such tasks are always appreciated and there is no lack of hospitality. If you prefer organizations, there are many that allow for homestay and local food during the time you work as well as ample time to explore places nearby.
3. Volunteering in Ashrams
Ashrams are institutions made for the specific purpose of studying and practicing certain ancient arts and lifestyles (sometimes centered on a specific religion) in a meditative way, done through living in peaceful, less-crowded, sometimes isolated, self-sufficient campuses and areas. Uttarakhand is rich with many ashrams, temples, and institutions operating with and for communities with many different volunteering programs for visitors. In these ashrams, volunteers can opt for teaching yoga, teaching children in the ashram, doing jobs of specific skills such as carpentry, or even teaching children and adults swimming. There is no lack of opportunities in these institutes and every skill has a place and can be used. In these ashrams, there are often many Indians and foreign nationals who stay for weeks for yoga programs and other ayurvedic related courses. Learning from them, volunteers can apply this knowledge to teach groups and individuals who often don’t have the resources to opt for such programs.
However, you must take care when finding NGOs and other organizations offering programs for volunteering in ashrams – their legitimacy can be lacking and they could be scrupulous. Do your research or go by recommendations so that your options are safe and verified. Many ashrams are often isolated, away from cities and areas to be explored. If you intend to volunteer through the week and explore the area and surrounding villages on the weekend, it is better to find ashrams near main cities such as Rishikesh and Dehradun or opt for a different volunteering experience.
4. Volunteering Through Teaching
Uttarakhand has a literacy rate of around 80%, which, while relatively good for an Indian state, is lacking in many districts and often unfocused in terms of differences in female and male literacy rates. Arguably, growth in a community and society is best done through the schools – by changing one generation’s skills, mindset, and education, generations to come are benefited and a chain reaction of positive change can often be observed within these groups. Volunteers can teach a number of skills and basic subjects such as maths and English to bring lifelong change to these children’s lives. If smaller schools are what you would prefer, reach out to community-based organizations and villages themselves to teach at their schools. There are also many NGOs that can place you in schools, centers, and universities specially focused or generally specializing in education and development. Most of the time these programs do not provide for in house stay but people will guide you to find hotels or hostels for staying nearby to the schools.
5. Volunteering through Yoga and Wellness Activities
As many may know, Uttarakhand is known as the center of yoga and yogic activities in India, owing to the many centers, ashrams, and organizations focusing on yoga and wellness in the state. Yoga is taught, practiced, and studied in many kinds of institutions in Uttarakhand – not just ashrams, but also independent mountain villages, small centers, even hotels and spas that offer short yoga programs. The art of practicing yoga has gained a strong following due to the inexpensive, meditative, and calming effects on the body, often helping cure serious diseases in people. Volunteers can find numerous programs and places practicing yoga and approach them if suitable organizations cannot be found. Ayurveda is a form of ancient medicine, an Indian art often associated with the similarly ancient practices of yoga – this is a practice volunteers can learn in ashrams by volunteering in any way and in exchange learning and practicing Ayurveda.
There are many ways to volunteer in the areas of yoga and Ayurveda. One can pay for yoga programs in Uttarakhand that often run for weeks and then teach what they learn in schools and communities, or teach different skills during the day and either during the night/early mornings learn and practice yoga from experts for their volunteering. There are also ways to teach yoga if volunteers have past experience and knowledge in it; these kinds of programs often offer stay and meals along with teaching. Some programs can have strict selection processes, so be clear with your intent and passion.
6. Volunteering as a Health Worker
There are various hospitals and clinics in Uttarakhand that allow for volunteering. Tasks range from treating serious patients and performing surgeries to doing basic nursing duties. Often small communities have fewer medical resources in terms of both workforce and equipment, so even the simplest of volunteering tasks help out these villages tremendously. It isn’t just small communities but also larger hospitals in big cities such as Rishikesh that offer and need medical assistance by way of doctors and nurses. Many hospitals specialize in low-cost treatments for poorer families, and these will always welcome volunteers. Hospitals, clinics, and doctors can easily be approached independently (not through an organization) for volunteering, providing, of course, volunteer’s legitimacy as doctors or nurses. Many hospitals even provide stay within their premises with meals and often tours to explore nearby places of interest. Especially in times when certain infections and ailments are more likely to spread (such as during the monsoon seasons), volunteers are needed in medical institutions.
7. Volunteering for Environmental and Sustainable Development purposes
In a state full of beautiful natural resources, sustainable development is important to preserve and maintain those resources as well as shape a growing population in the state to be environmentally aware and their surroundings protected. Volunteering related to environmental issues has many possibilities – some programs are centered on the cleaning and preservation of lakes and small rivers (even the Ganga itself), others yet on sustainable development in towns.
These programs are rarely found in Uttarakhand but are still present. There are various environmentally conscious NGOs and smaller organizations that focus on developing awareness about certain problems and driving for positive change and making a difference in the state. For example, one prominent NGO campaigned against the presence of hotels and camps near the banks of the Ganga, which was leading to the fast pollution of the clear Himalayan water. There are many small farms and villages where some organizations focus their efforts on, promoting a sustainable method of living and sustainable solutions to problems that don’t harm the environment. Programs under this category do not usually have stay and meals provided to volunteers, but this is easily found and many times program leaders guide volunteers to the best and budgeted places to stay as well as sights to see in their free time. This is no doubt an enormous and very generous cause to volunteer for and should be considered.
There are many NGOs and smaller causes run by fewer people related to the environment listed on Workaway, a tool that can be used to find other kinds of volunteering programs and options available as well.
Aside from all the causes outlined above, there are many other kinds of volunteering that can be done throughout India, not just Uttarakhand, by considering different options and doing your research on each before making a decision. There are ways to volunteer in farms, monasteries, mountain villages/tribes, art institutions/workshops, etc. Whatever the form of volunteering you chose is, we at The Tarzan Way advice you to proceed with caution – search for legitimate places, always do your homework on opportunities, and if you are independently approaching a school, community, hospital, etc. for volunteering, make sure you are careful, respectful and very clear with your intentions. Uttarakhand is a beautiful and large state, with many opportunities to volunteer. The best part about these many programs is that it allows volunteers to devote their time and effort (sometimes money) to something of consequence and cause, and at the same time explore the beautiful sites, cities, and towns in the Land of Gods. Whether you chose to volunteer in a mountain village and learn how to live as a nomad, or volunteer in a crowded school to teach kids how to code, the experience will definitely pay off when you know you’ve done some good and affected many lives, whether in a short or long period.
The Tarzan Way has many culturally immersive programs with a range focusing on volunteering in specific cities and in isolated communities. You can check out our diverse volunteering experiences and our curated Rishikesh volunteering immersion at https://www.thetarzanway.com/experience-volunteer-rishikesh
The Tarzan Way
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Since independence, all of India's successive governments have worked on building better relations, particularly in trade, with its neighbors and other countries. This policy was pushed on more with the advent of the Modi government in 2014, with a major focus placed on creating better and stronger ties with other countries.
In the past few months, however, India has been facing a major challenge in its northern borders with China, an issue that started in May and continues still, getting more and more worrisome. Historically speaking, this relation has always been rocky at best, but placed mostly in the backburner for the sake of trade, because India does, after all, trade goods worth millions with the country. With the rising border tensions concentrated in the Ladakh region and the death of Indian soldiers due to a face-off with Chinese troops, there has been a wave of nationalism that has affected the country. With a prominent boycott of Chinese goods and software still taking place within the country, the process is slow but successful. This wave of nationalism has brought to attention the other fragile relations India is dealing with consistently with its neighbors like Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc. that can, in fact, be traced back to China.
What does this have to do with the tourism industry? It's important to keep in mind, firstly, that a large number of countries in Asia, predominantly smaller ones, have debts to China and India, two of the fastest-growing economies in the world who can afford large loans to other countries, which establishes them as two giants, not just economically but also through land space, in Asia - relations between the two affect a number of countries. Secondly, and most importantly, multiple countries in the continent are dependent on tourism as a revenue generator, for example, Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Bhutan, India, etc. They are dependent financially and/or for employment on tourism, whether it is a big chunk or a small sector.
With these facts established, let's get into the 3 most important ways that China-India relations can affect the tourism industry, either directly or indirectly.
1. Border tensions and land disputes
China is, of course, one of the countries India is currently having a land dispute with in terms of claimed territory and borders, concentrated towards the border in Ladakh which India shares with Tibet, officially a part of the republic. Did you know, however, that India is also facing land disputes with Nepal and Pakistan? the two countries earlier released new political maps of their countries which claimed regions in India as theirs, with Pakistan claiming the whole of Kashmir and sections of Gujrat as a part of the country and Nepal releasing a new map with towns and sections of Uttarakhand (Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh areas) as Nepal's territory.
Many political experts believe both had been influenced in some way or the other by the Chinese government to carry out these changes. Whether this is correct or not, the fact is that these map changes are not only complicating relation issues for India but also hinting to more disagreements that can cause land loss. While it is unlikely these maps will be accepted, it still means that the land being fought over may just get more dangerous and even cordoned off for tourists. Ladakh, Kashmir, and Uttarakhand are some of the most tourist-heavy destinations in India and an escape from the densely populated southern cities for many. These issues, whether remaining stagnant or becoming more problematic, will cause many problems to the tourism industry. Small vendors and shops in the areas dependent on tourism, already hit hard enough by COVID-19, will suffer even more due to these border issues.
Potential Problems: A hit to tourism in the areas where there are land disputes with other countries, mainly Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. This can cause a hit to revenue, increase in danger, and possibly lesser enthusiasm in travelers to these spots.
2. The Indus Water treaty
The Indus river is one of the main sources of water for many states of India. It originates in Tibet, which is a part of the Republic of China, and runs in Pakistan, India, and Tibet. The treaty has, for years, made sure of fair usage and distribution of the water between the countries, mainly India and Pakistan, who have upheld the treaty now for close to 60 years. Next to the town in Tibet closest to India, there is a giant hydroelectric dam built on the Sengge Zangpo River (Indus), just 80 km from Demchok, a Ladakhi village that sits on the undefined Sino-Indian (China-India) Border.
China has, in the last few years, rapidly ramped up development along the river, with satellite images showing multiple projects that have sprung up in Tibet funded by the Republic. Although the government says these are for faster development of the region, multiple experts share concerns about the nature of the development. Many say this is one way China is trying to impact India - and this will leave a huge scar. The river runs through Ladakh and provides water for irrigation and other purposes to provinces in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab. These states will be directly impacted, and so will tourism - with the flourishing tourism industry in Himachal and Ladakh, as well as the role of water sports in these attractions, any changes made by China such as controlling the water source through built dams, redirecting within Tibet, or more dams and hydroelectric projects that can majorly impact the water flowing into India will hit these states hard in multiple industries.
Potential problems: Any control or hold back of the river to even the smallest extent can drastically hit infrastructure based along the river and in the states hit the hardest. Agriculture will be hit the hardest, leading to a search for possible alternative water sources. An increase in pollution due to mass development along the Tibet - India border can also drive down tourism.
3. Positive relations with the Maldives
Amongst all these tensions India is maintaining its relationship with the Maldives very well, and mostly always has. Although some tensions are subsiding and getting marginally better (such as India-Russia relations), there are multiple challenges India will continue to face within and outside Asia. India recently paid a large amount to the Maldives for recovery funds (around 400$ million), as the country, predominantly tourist-based, was hit hard by COVID-19. The move, along with India's increasing pitch to the country, seems to be strategically done against China, which uses the ports of the country and its waters for trade. The southern neighbor of both countries is placed in an essential way in trade routes and tourism.
India has also been funding multiple tourism projects within the Maldives, such as fishing villages and centers, attractions based on the culture of the country, etc., totaling 9 projects for higher development. These tourism projects will not only further the two country's' relations but also boost tourism between both. More number of Indians will visit the country and the increased heritage tourism projects will promote the exchange of art and culture amongst the countries.
Potential Advantages: Increased revenue through tourism for the Maldives, better tourism experiences for travelers across the globe due to India-Maldives joint projects, and possibly lower costs or better deals for Indian tourists. There may also be the development of channels to travel to the Maldives, and a stronger tie between the two can be the step India has been looking for to hit the Republic of China back hard.
These were the three main ways that relations with China are affecting India. Although we can't say for sure what is the result of pressure from the Republic and what is just a country's doing, it is safe to say that all these steps taken in the last few months have impacted India strongly and will continue to. It is also worth mentioning that other tensions with countries not border-related will also impact tourism - for example, Sri Lanka's increasing moves against Japan and India said to be, again, under pressure from China.
We really hope you liked this blog and all the information it provides, as we did our best to frame the complicated foreign relations with the most fact-backing and diplomacy. Read some of our other blogs on our feed page at https://www.thetarzanway.com/blog
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Corporate travel, especially corporate travel in India, is underrated, less invested in, and often ignored because of the lack of benefits that many managers and companies see, although there are multiple. There are many benefits of corporate travel - leadership development, team bonding, self-development, and many more. We know that there are many questions related to corporate trips and team-based travel, such as what are corporate trips, is corporate travel expensive, corporate travel trends, the importance of corporate travel, etc. There are multiple alternatives when it comes to corporate travel - you can hire an agent, a travel agency, self plan a trip, or have an in-house HR/front desk employee taking up a relatively new positing now popular in companies as a corporate travel manager.
So why is corporate travel and taking group trips so important? We know that in these times of coronavirus and the pandemic it's really hard to think of travel - but from a business perspective, the investment is well worth the time. Corporate trips, post-COVID-19, will be even more important than before after months of working from home and no office/personal interaction. The future of travel is uncertain, but a corporate trip/business travel post-COVID-19 is going to be extremely essential. Stressful times call for fixes in motivation, and corporate travel is just as important for improving employees' psychological state as it is for company culture and improved productivity. So why exactly is a corporate trip so important?
1) Self-understanding and self-development
One of the keys to better corporate culture and a strong bond between employees, managers, and executives of a firm, is to consider each employee in equal regard in terms of the importance of their self-development and mental safety/satisfaction. When employees are treated as long term family instead of short term replaceable assets, there is not only an increase in productivity and loyalty towards work but also a long-standing idea of the goodwill of a company that sustains through and even after their term with you.
The first step to this is an emphasis on self-understanding for the furthering of everyone's mutual targets and goals. Self-understanding involves the usage of simple activities, conversations, time off, etc. that furthers the person's understanding of who they are and their ultimate goals. A company should always promote this, both for the development of an employee and to place itself in higher regard in an employee's mind. Travel plays a huge part in this - corporate trips allow employees to reflect on what it is they are working towards, the role they play in a company, their ultimate opinion of it, and how they can utilize their time and efforts best to impact everyone's lives and time as well. It is easy to get into the rat race, but to stop and think is a luxury often very few can take - a company should make corporate trips and team bonding a part of the culture so that there is higher retention and people in the company understand themselves, and therefore their contribution, better. Plan for trips that place an emphasis on doing menial tasks that allow for deeper thinking and conversations between all departments and levels of employees to encourage deeper self-understanding and development.
2) Travel is a stress buster
The Tarzan Way has hosted more than 1,100 travelers and in our lengthy experience, we've seen people travel for many reasons, but all agree that travel makes them happy, content, and see the big picture of life. Your executives, managers, and employees may not be passionate travelers, but it is undeniable that going far from normal life and to a relaxed setting can monumentally help stress and large workloads. Keep in mind that travel isn't an escape or respite from that workload, but a more slowed downtime that allows for employees to gain perspective over the usual race for success. This is extremely helpful to reduce stress and combat anxiety and other mental health problems your employees may be facing (and often don't tell their managers about). It also allows them to return to their jobs energized, motivated, productive and having a better, clearer picture of where their focus should be and currently is.
Corporate trips, no matter how short they are, are focused on building rapport, improving on relations, and doing exercises/simple activities that can reduce stress, which can negatively impact work in a corporate setting and lead to major problems for employees. Companies have a responsibility towards their employees (no matter their rank and status) to treat them passionately, with empathy and understanding, and keep in mind their sufferings or situations. An article by Forbes supports this claim, and if you want destination ideas or more inspiration on planning a trip.
3) Teams understand each other better
We know you've heard this before, but this is something essential - team bonding is extremely important for the team to function smoothly and issues dealt with well and smoothly. Corporate trips can be focused on particular teams as well as the company as a whole - you can achieve this by incorporating different activities, be it an adventure /physical session, reflective sessions, calming group activities like yoga or painting, and even simple evening game periods that concentrate on playing as a team, understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses. Many innovative corporate travel packages incorporate fun activities like rafting, pitching teams against each other, ziplining/adventure sports in teams, etc.
Why is it so important for teams to understand each other and bond? It isn't just about knowing one another well for the purpose of working and adapting to all circumstances, but also recognizing who is better for what position or work and how managers/co-workers should treat each other and talk with each other. Communication, workload, and task management depend heavily on personality and the specific characteristics of employees. Traveling and bonding as a team is one of the most important ways to bring out the team spirit and honesty within a team setting.
4) Relaxed settings bring out honest feedback
When people feel comfortable, honest thoughts and opinions usually emerge in conversation, and corporate employees are no different. In fact, due to a restrained, formal, and often autocratic office atmosphere that encourages discipline and timeliness but suppresses creativity and honesty, this show of opinion is extremely important and often rare - especially when it comes to opinions being said about those in higher status or to more high-level employees/executives. Corporate trips are the one thing that suspends all forms of organizational barriers to communication, making honesty all the more apparent.
The relaxed environment in itself makes feedback more apparent and voiced out, but one thing companies can do is have activities for teams and departments that involve them working together and having to solve problems by understanding one another - that kind of atmosphere encourages honesty and real feedback within the setting, and although the circumstance might be temporary, it builds the setting and openness for further open communication. Feedback is essential to improvement, and through well-planned activities and corporate trips, companies can easily make sure both that the high-level managers and lower-level employees have an equal playing feed and receive feedback honestly and openly that sets the base for further rapport. Regular criticism grounds employees and emphasizes on the role of feedback for superiors.
5) Creating a feeling of motivation and appreciation
In the age of millennials and increased expectations from employers, hiring and retaining the best employees requires more investment of both time and effort now than it did before. One essential part of this is corporate travel because it is viewed as a prospect of growth and development far from office settings. Gratuity, company perks, and good insurance are just some of the factors that good employers make sure they offer, but the best ones need something to top that, just like Google's excellent work environment and complete organizational openness that makes it the best company to work in.
So why are corporate trips so important in this sense? because these trips and team bonding exercises prove to employees that this isn't just another organization, and it isn't just another 9 to 5. Trips prove appreciation - they are a loud message to employees, both current and prospects, that this is a company that will appreciate each employee, see them singularly, make efforts to motivate them, and above all, recognize their talents, fears, etc. outside of the scope of who they are identified as at work. Motivation in this sense is extremely important - to further this, try having activities that include both singular and group participation, so each employee can be separately focused on and motivated. One idea for this that has recently been gaining traction due to the fear of post-COVID-19 travel (and is now a glorified travel trend 2020) is road trips - they are easy to arrange, can cover a large variety of locations and activities, allow for social distancing and team bonding, and require less investment.
6) Inter-department socialization
Office settings don't allow for something that is essential within corporations - departments socializing and working together on things that don't center around normal work. Often there are departments completely removed from each other or with less interaction, and this is something companies have to move to fix. Why is inter-departmental socialization important? it obviously does affect how team members interact with each other from different departments but also helps managers identify which members work best/worst with different departments, some may have a knack for working in another department, and others yet will show leadership promise in terms of merging together and effectively communicating between departments. Collaboration between different departments makes members work towards a common goal, develop leadership skills, learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, and participate in character-building activities.
Now that we've established that interdepartmental socialization is very important, let's get into how you can promote and support this. Plan for trips that make different departments interact more - try for caravan trips where you place different members from each team together in one caravan, try for adventurous activities like stranded in a forest and working towards a goal, etc. Check out our Caravan (https://www.thetarzanway.com/experiences-travel-caravans) and Volunteer in Varanasi (https://www.thetarzanway.com/travel-experiences) experiences for more inspiration and information - we have various other volunteering experiences too that can help and let members give back to the community while traveling.
7) The importance of pushing comfort zones
Last but not the least, corporate trips and team bonding exercises allow for employees, managers, executives, to push their comfort zones and explore more of both themselves and their teammates, which is essential, especially since the formal, structured corporate environment doesn't allow for creative adaptation and exploring new perspectives and activities. Comfort zones are good for mental safety and provide a good base to lean on, but there is no growth prospect or possibility to learn more from others within those comfort circles. Companies have to push people in their organization to try new things, both for the employee's self-development and for more creative ideas and implementation of different things within the company.
Corporate trips can greatly help in this because they are a way to design activities, have sessions, and create conversation outside of a formal setting about things out of one's comfort zone. Through trips, you can make shy employees group with unknown (to them) members from other departments, make fearful, always constrained employees to do adventure activities that can give them a mental push, design activities that are very creative - like murals and painting - for employees who do monotonous data or number based jobs for hours, etc. Pushing comfort zones is a test for both the ones doing the pushing and the ones being pushed. Managers can further test and developed their leadership abilities, and employees can realize within themselves potential they can use in their personal and professional lives.
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COVID-19 has been devastating for the world. The small things we used to take for granted are coming into focus and making us more appreciative, and one of those is travel - travel isn't just the vacations we take, its the commute from home to the office, its the spontaneous weekend plans and drives, the freedom to pull up in a highway restaurant and eat without worries. It's also the business trips we take, commuting between cities, meeting new people, going to new places.
Of course, travel is taking a back seat now in these times, and rightfully so. But as the world starts to open and everyone begins cautiously stepping out, it's important to keep in mind the various risks associated with the same. One of these is traveling post-COVID and being exposed to the coronavirus, to the risks that come with it. After the pandemic, travel will be safer, and all the more important - for this reason, even in times of uncertainty, advance booking will be extremely important post-pandemic, and a part of this is also traveling insurance, finding the right places, and knowing when and how to do prebooking/advance booking.
What is advance booking, the benefits of advance booking, when to book in advance, and how to save money while doing the same - all these questions will be answered in this blog, your guide to the advantages of advance booking. Generally speaking, advance booking/prebooking involves confirmation and payment for the different stages of travel - traveling, accommodation, intercity travel, and other related services. So why should you book your tickets and plan out your trip in advance? Here are some reasons.
1] Travel Insurance, the new Holy Grail
Travel insurance is an insurance policy that offers compensation for any travel-related losses, personal /medical and delays and cancellations of flights during your travel within India or internationally. Many people lost a lot of money when countries and cities started shutting due to COVID, because of thousands of booked flights, tours, hotels, etc. canceled last minute. This risk is still prominent - outbreaks of the virus and hotspots crop up every day, and for whatever reason you may be traveling you need to be protected from the same. Not only does it provide financial security, but it also allows for medical security in possibly unknown and new places you may be in, in case of an outbreak or possible infection from the virus.
So what does booking in advance have to do with this? Travel insurance is often offered for flights and trains only initially and gets much more expensive the more you delay it. There are also more options available when you opt for travel insurance earlier on your trip, from different companies and different deals. Another benefit of opting for travel insurance earlier on is having the safety net for longer, so if you need to travel earlier than expected or have unexpected cancellations from the flight or accommodation or any other service, you can get a full refund from the insurance. There are 3 kinds in general - medical, luggage, and cancellation based insurance. The main benefit is that travel insurance, in particular travel medical insurance, is a huge asset for traveling post-COVID.
2] Cheaper rates and better deals
When you book early, it is more likely that you will find deals that are better and cheaper, ones like you've never seen before because mostly everyone tends to book at the last minute due to uncertainties. However, if you combine travel insurance and early booking, chances are you'll find great deals and discounts to save money, get better offers, sometimes get upgrades. Why is that? because travel companies, especially in these times, want more people to book early so as to reduce their uncertainty and have a fixed possible income. They basically want you to book early, and they'll return the favor you've done to them generously.
You can also find cheaper rates by booking flights, trains, buses, etc. tickets earlier because it allows you to access discounts and coupons available for the time you are booking in as well as future deals offered to you. Another point to note is that many flight services let you buy memberships for lesser prices and access more early bird offers that way.
3] Flexibility in your itinerary
One of the biggest advantages of booking tickets and trips earlier is having more flexibility in case of different situations cropping up, the need to change plans, or even just a spontaneous shift in destinations for vacations and trips. This flexibility is especially important for people who like to go with the flow when it comes to travel, make it up as they go, or change different things in their plans. Flexibility is great not just because you can deal with new changes but also because it allows you to change last-minute based on unexpected circumstances, such as maybe a coronavirus hotspot discovered near to your destination or any other dangerous/risky situation that may crop up. So if you plan to take a family Christmas trip in the winter, but last-minute change your destination, you can cancel for that, and in the case of a COVID hotspot being warded off you can change for it as well - keep advance booking in mind the next time you need to or want to travel.
Advance booking/pre-booking your travel or destination or accommodation allows you to change things quickly and without any repercussion or fine because you would also be insured for it. Advance booking a business trip, say, 3 months before the trip would help because if something happens, say 2 weeks prior to your trip, you'll be able to deal with it easily. Not only that, but advance booking will also give you credits/points on cancellation which you can further use to push your trip forward or for another trip altogether.
4] Time to find the best options
Planning a trip in advance is really helpful in terms of having more options later. Having options is key for every traveler - you can browse more places, find better deals or accommodations in the time you get, and you don't need to depend on the one option you have. Especially in times like these, any and all travel needs a backup in case anything happens - you can't be too careful in a post COVID world. Advance booking helps with this a lot, as not only do you get the best options and time to browse for different destinations, you also have time to pick out different modes and kinds of travel. One example is traveling by caravan (check out our caravan travel in India experience - https://www.thetarzanway.com/experiences-travel-caravans), or maybe switching up your holiday to have a vacation in a boathouse. Advance booking allows you to consider each and every option in detail and properly before you commit to one - and this is important to have.
In terms of finding the best option, a few tips we can give you is to not only scour the internet for the same, but also ask friends and family for their experiences and reviews, or check websites for referrals on different modes of travel. Don't jump in too fast when you think you've found the perfect trip or tour - research more on different companies who can offer the same thing at a lower price, and use the Google advanced search option to find specific ways to travel. One very important tip - pay for the extra few dollars it takes to ensure your trip and get back your complete refund when you're booking.
5] Gives time for special requests
Bookings which are done in advance give you ample time to call ahead at accommodations and other restaurants, etc. you may be visiting and tell them to implement any changes or specific requirements you may have. This is a huge plus point in times like these, where having surroundings being safe is really important, and you often cannot ensure that to the fullest extent. Advance booking helps this along a lot - it allows you time to research, know what changes you want and what makes you comfortable.
Post-COVID it will be really difficult and intimidating to stay elsewhere, eat outside, go to foreign places even when it's necessary for business or other practical purposes. Therefore these kinds of special requests help a lot, especially when traveling with elderly, children, or vulnerable/ill patients. It adds an extra layer of security that is much appreciated. These special requests include making sure your accommodation is clean and everything is newly placed and replaced - you can read more about this in our blog about safety measures. You can call ahead and have them book specific rooms, have the room cleaned in your presence, have the mugs and cups removed or replaced in the room to minimize risks, etc. You can do this in modes of transportation as well - airlines may be less willing unless you request them on the spot for handle and seat cleaning or any other measures. You can call booking agencies prior to a trip and have them find a generally less crowded, more spacious train or bus ride to a place, or ask for thorough desensitization of your caravan in your presence if you chose to do so. There are many steps you can take - not just limited to travel, but really anywhere you go out of your home, by asking people to take more precaution and sanitize thoroughly.
6] Online booking allows for cash backs and discounts
When it comes to advance booking, the only real options available are online, because agents and other travel agencies don't usually have as many options or as large a database. Even in today's digital world, there are many professionals and families who rely on travel agents to handle all their basic travel needs - while this may be efficient and time-saving, all it does is complicate the process and cost much more. Advance booking is something agents hardly offer, and it's just better to do it online. Why should you take the extra effort you may ask? For a variety of reasons. Firstly, there are multiple discounts, extras, and benefits available to certain groups of travelers, and chances are, you fall in those groups. Some include student discounts, elderly discounts, and help, as well as extra luggage allowances and other benefits - and sometimes, its easier to access them when you book in advance. It's easy to overlook them, but they save a lot of money and hassle long term, and are generally benefits your travel agents hold back from you.
Another huge benefit is cash backs - not only when paying through online payment methods, but also when you pay for tickets or bookings in advance - they offer great discounts and coupons or cash backs, which can often be taken benefit of together.
In conclusion, advance booking really is a great asset - a time saving, effortless booking system that also allows busy professionals and perfectionists to have one less thing to worry about when they book trips. It will be a great asset post-COVID-19 - because the thirst or need for travel won't go anywhere, but the need for safe ways to do the same will increase!
Check out our travel experiences for a better idea and brainstorming for your next vacation at https://www.thetarzanway.com/travel-experiences
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The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed things around the globe, some particular to countries and others felt all over. It continues to cause the loss of many lives and jobs all over the world but has also allowed the earth time to recover from human activities and families to spend more time together.
Travel, which is something we all probably took for granted before this pandemic, is going through a huge shift. There are many safety issues that have come into focus with traveling and many changes to come with the way we traverse between even the closest and most common destinations. Forget about that backpacking across Europe trip, because now even traveling between the grocery store and your house is a dangerous journey. Yes, there will be drastic changes in the way we live and travel from now, but are all of them bad? Are all these new changes necessarily as depressing as they seem to be?
Let's look at our handpicked 13 reasons why (pun intended) travel is going to change!
1. Masks, gloves, and sanitizer - the Golden Trio of essentials
The new alpha delta beta has arrived, and it's unfortunately not as exciting as it sounds. Masks, gloves, and sanitizers will now become literal essentials for all kinds of trips, be it to the local hardware store or a short business trip. You'll be hard-pressed to find people without their masks on for at least the next 8-10 months in all kinds of public spaces, whether internal or external. When we talk about air travel, this will be a definite show, and you should ensure that you carry at least your mask and a small size sanitizer when going anywhere - if there's one thing research and experience has proved, it's that personal hygiene and distance is a sure way to protect yourself from the virus. There's a blog on The Unicef website that has a lot of useful, research-based information on staying safe and keeping your family safe during the virus which we recommend everyone should read.
2. Old school road trips will make a comeback
A report published by The New York Times said that interest in RV and car purchases has risen exponentially due to Millenials preferring to hit the road. The interest in road trips has been on the rise for a while now as generations start to prefer the freedom and unrestricted nature of the same and this interest is only going to rise as people take to the most easily accessible way to travel and get out. Road trips are a built-in way to socially distance and explore uncharted territory, something you can't do in other forms of travel. They offer not just safety and health protection but also convenience and flexibility, although long road trips may not be feasible for some time to come.
3. Hotels will adopt higher standards
Many hotels and other hospitality companies in the industry are facing the heat of COVID-19, not just financially but also through the media - various hotels have been accused of not following proper protocol and existing hygiene standards for the safety of their consumers. Top hotel brands and chains such as Marriot, Taj, etc. have recently started announcing a string of measures they're taking in their properties to ensure not just current safety and precaution for guests staying in their hotels but also essential hygiene and safety for the months/years to come. These permanent changes are supposed to drive for change in the rest of the industry and experts predict major shifts in how hotels will be cleaned, managed, staffed, checked for safety and health precautions, etc. Guest interaction with staff aside from the essentials is said to reduce in the future and practices of personal hygiene and temperature checking (both of guests and staff) said to be strictly followed later on in hotels. However, it is always recommended you follow your own practices and methods to stay safe and healthy - check out this article on essential hotel hygiene for more information.
4. Villas and isolated ways to stay will be preferred
Experts predict a rise in the number of villa bookings in the future and a growing preference for isolated ways to stay, for example, homes to rent, cottages, luxury villa resorts, motorhomes, etc. There has already been a surge of pre-bookings for villas seen by many (mostly in the US) travel companies spread almost a year from now. It's easy to see why - isolated ways to stay, such as villas, not only allow for social distancing but also afford a larger space to stay for families and a place to cook their own meals to increase precautions and safety standards.
5. Air travel will become more secure and safe, but also expensive
Large changes are taking place when it comes to travel by air. Some of the expected changes include structural changes in planes for more distancing between passengers, widely placed security check-in lines for social distancing, multiple points for temperature checking, sanitizing baggage, etc. Some of the already implemented changes for domestic travel in India include no meals in the aircraft, marked points for baggage collection, no newspapers at airports, and thorough thermal screening. One thing is clear - there are going to be multiple changes in the way we fly and flying by air just won't be the same anymore, not to mention more expensive due to expected reduced passenger capacities and expensive safety and health measures being implemented.
6. Safety over budget - the new reversal
When we travel, we tend to stick to the cheapest and most convenient options available on the internet, and this has to drastically change once the pandemic is a lesser threat to travelers. Traveling will be more expensive, which is assured, but it will also be unsafe in many ways. The coronavirus spread like wildfire in countries initially because it lay dormant for days in patients, allowing it to spread far and fast. In a scenario like this, and with reports of asymptomatic cases increasing, it's extremely important to stay safe while traveling, even if it costs more. People will now opt for hotels with higher hygiene standards, more space in rooms, and smaller properties to avoid crowds. All these factors will make travel more expensive, but also less frequent - travel will be limited to essential trips only.
7. Unexplored, remote destinations will become the new hype
If there is one proven way to combat coronavirus, it's social distancing and avoiding crowds as much as possible. For this reason, experts predict that there will be an increased search for isolated, unexplored locations in every country and area and reduced demand for touristy, traditionally popular places. Remote destinations are easy to find with all the wealth of resources online - you can find destinations in your vicinity or in other states, other countries too when you begin venturing into international trips. When you're looking for destinations with less crowd, make sure you check if it is easily accessible in the season you're planning to travel (many destinations are closed for months due to long winters) and all the essentials are easily, closely available. For a list of some of the most isolated places in India, check out this great blog - https://www.thetarzanway.com/post/the-hidden-gems-of-india
8. Cruises will soon lose all their charm
Since the pandemic was declared and the virus started making itself known in many countries, one of the earliest events people can recount is cruise ships that were often carriers and fast spreaders of the virus due to confinement in a small space. Ships were forcefully docked and passengers not allowed to get off, and amidst all this panic one thing has become clear - cruise ships will indefinitely lose popularity after the pandemic. The $50 billion industry is going to suffer for months to come as people avoid continual stay at sea where the risks are many and the options few. Social distancing is near impossible in a situation like that and in the case of a virus breakout, resources will be limited to treat passengers for a longer time period.
9. So long, touristy spots
Avoiding crowds and people has been the only proven way to combat the virus - it, therefore, doesn't come as a surprise that most countries are choosing to close their most touristy, visited places. India sees an average of 10 million tourists every year - these numbers are bound to reduce drastically, not just in India, but all over the world. Tourist spots, concerts, music festivals, etc. will all become slowly redundant if not less in number. The virus will significantly change the way we usually chose to travel. The negative effect of this is that small businesses and vendors relying on their country's tourism business will be heavily affected.
10. People will prefer self-planned trips
Self-planned trips haven't gained any traction at all, especially in India. But post covid19, many people will start to prefer this new way of travel. Long gone will be the days of mass commercialized and rigid tour packages - these neither offer any sense of safety in large crowds or flexibility in travel. Self-planned trips, which could mean a properly structured trip for you and your family or a spur of the moment spontaneous plan to leave, will definitely begin to trend. They offer the perfect solution - self-planning allows for social distancing, living away from crowds, allowing families to cook their own meals, and be creative with where they go. Many reports in fact point to the fact that families are just itching to get out, to parks, in road trips, in any way conceivable.
11. Travel insurance will become a priority
Travel insurance wasn't a priority for many before the coronavirus changed the importance of such an essential element. Travel insurance refers to the purchase of any extra insurance for booked rooms, flights, train journeys, even road trips. Such an extra purchase ensures that you are safe, even on the road, from uncontrollable factors like hurricanes or last-minute cancelations. When the lockdown was announced across countries, many people panicked because they were stuck in cities/states/countries they traveled to and many others lost money on canceled bookings which they hadn't paid a few dollars of extra insurance for. It's therefore essential you start looking into travel insurance through any medium possible, especially for frequent travelers.
12. India will become more Incredible
The higher number of Indians returning to the country due to the pandemic has caused a movement of Indians now preferring to stay within India, a newfound preference caused by many factors, including the government's dedication towards Indian citizens both inside and outside the country. Many experts suggest that this could cause a higher number of Indians to settle in India and also stick to traveling within India. Check out this article by The Times of India for a list of the best, untouristy spots to visit in India that many Indians may not have explored either. Another thing to add - India's level of incredibleness, so to say, is predicted to rise also because the US and Europe are weary destinations for many at this point due to the high virus counts of these locations, and many Asian countries have been remarkably good at controlling the spread of the same, perhaps due to culturally prominent factors enabling social distancing and lower spread.
13. An emphasis on Experiences, not products
Lastly, we believe that people will start to seek out experiences rather than products. This doesn't just apply to travel, but to everything, even something as simple as purchasing new furniture. Everything will hold value, and things once taken for granted have become essential to life and to living. This transformation, from mass commercialization to the simpler, more personal pleasures in life will hit the travel industry hard as people start to seek out something more fulfilling than the usual packages, touristy spots, planned tours - or an alternative is that these crowds will now become more special to travelers. Either way, a big change is sure to take place, and it will be felt everywhere. You should really visit our page for experiences - we at The Tarzan Way are dedicated to creating wholesome travel memories, not meaningless trips, and our experiences are flexible, transparent, and culturally immersive - https://www.thetarzanway.com/travel-experiences
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With beautiful architecture, deep history, multiple cultures, and natural beauty, India is a mix of different people and locations, providing a great background for different movie scenes and shootings. The people are loud and welcoming, the places historic and awe-inspiring. Many directors from the US, Canada, and Australia, among various other countries, have chosen India for the scenes of their movies due to the contrasts, history, and rich cultural background it provides. Some directors may play up this and make it a big part of their movies, others yet may choose to let the richness of the setting be, framing the characters well.
We've picked some of the best movies shot in India, some you may not have heard about and some you never knew were shot in India. Either way, we recommend you watch all of them, if not for their fabulous storylines then for the stunning Indian destinations they feature!
1. Salaam Bombay
This highly acclaimed popular film directed by Mira Nair broke many hearts and garnered international praise for her risky choice of plot and sensitive topics touched upon with all the expertise of brilliant direction. The film follows a little boy, Krishna, who is taken into the chaotic, brutal, and unforgiving slums of Bombay following a string of unfortunate events. Nair introduces a range of characters to the setting, centering them around the city's brothel, touching upon topics such as poverty, prostitution, child rape, enslavement, drug addiction, and child labor.
Although she does so smoothly, incorporating them into the setting, viewers get a brutal glimpse of the unforgiving streets of Bombay and its state in the 80s - 90s. The movie captures the rush and adrenaline of Bombay, its old streets, older monuments, and the ever-present poverty. This movie will give you shots of what Bombay is, and make you see the glamorous city in an entirely different light.
2. The Namesake
The Namesake directed by Mira Nair is a movie that touches upon Indian-Americans and the cultural identity crisis that is often experienced by them. The movie, screened in India, Japan, US, and Canada, did well in theatres and received praise for the topics it tackled. The story follows Gogol, a man born and brought up in the US and estranged from his Indian heritage unlike his parents, who then go on to explore and understand his culture through the city of Calcutta/Kolkata where his parents lived before moving to America.
The movie captures the contrasts of both cultures, depicting scenes of the beautiful, messy streets of Kolkata, with a focus on Howrah station and Shantiniketan. The scenes range from Gogol exploring the old city streets of his hometown to getting off an auto near the busy Howrah station. It also has short depictions of the city of Agra (filming the iconic Taj) and its busy streets, along with the older tuk-tuks used in some parts of Kolkata. The movie succeeds in capturing the best parts of Calcutta - its people, its culture, its language, and its history. Visit the locations of Kalighat, Howrah station, Howrah Bridge, Shantiniketan, Bengal markets, and the winding, rich streets of the city of Calcutta for a feel of the movie and the culture that eventually sways all Indians back.
3. Eat Pray Love
Elizabeth Gilbert's 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love was a game-changer for many readers across the globe and adapted into a film four years thereafter. Directed by Ryan Murphy, the blockbuster follows the journey of Elizabeth (played by Julia Roberts) across a journey of self-discovery where she 'Eats' in Italy, 'Prays' in India, and experiences the balance of 'Love' in Indonesia.
What we loved about this movie is that the director and producer chose locations, people, and lines with care while filming in India, not wanting to get details wrong or offend the culture in any way. Elizabeth sees in her journey Delhi, a city which's speed and chaos she is fascinated by. You'll spot famous places like the India gate and bustling Hauz Khas market, but only for a short time as Gilbert moves to the quiet village of Pataudi, Haryana, where she has her real spiritual experiences, exploring the town and its devoted residents, the famous Hari Mandir ashram, and other spiritual locations. The filming places special emphasis on the ashram, its quietness, the history of the architecture, and the beliefs of the people, respecting the details and importance of each. Some shots are also taken in the town of Mirzapur (yes, like the show) in Uttar Pradesh, showing its small local eateries, the chai stalls, and its small colorful buildings. We highly recommend you visit Delhi with its bustling markets and streets, then on to Pataudi, exploring the quaint town and the famous ashram, and Mirzapur, with its unique layout, busy roads, and colorful buildings for the complete Eat Pray Love experience.
4. Viceroy's House
Viceroy's House is a British-Indian historical film with multiple storylines running in its midst, following the last British Viceroy and his family as they oversee the separation and independence of the Indian states. Although its depiction of the painful separation of India-Pakistan and the cultural clashes still remaining today are well done, many criticize the depiction of the role of the British government in the same.
We picked this movie for its beautiful depiction of Rajasthan, mainly Jodhpur. The Umaid Bhawan was the palace used for filming, centered in most of the movie. Some old Jodhpuri courtyards and forts (such as Mehrangarh) were used for filming and multiple structures were recreated to resemble the architecture of that time period. The movie captures the beauty of the historic city perfectly, not playing down the many scars of the city and its structures either. Watch the movie for a look at what the past was like for this beautiful location, and visit Jodhpur, a stunning, historical, and sprawling city to know more about India's fight and the monuments that make it so majestic.
5. The Darjeeling Limited
The movie is chaotic, wonderful, and a humorous take on traveling in beautiful and confusing India. Directed by Wes Anderson, the movie follows the journey of 3 brothers across India (mainly Rajasthan) in a train (The Darjeeling Limited) as they travel, live, and explore together, mending a broken relationship.
Their journey takes us through the temples of Rajasthan, the stunning endless deserts of Jodhpur, and the streets of Udaipur. Although many scenes were supposed to be shot in Himachal Pradesh they were instead filmed in Udaipur, Jaipur, and Jodhpur. The way the movie depicts the rural parts of the sprawling state in contrast to the tighter, narrower roads of the metropolitan cities makes us want to take a trip to Rajasthan and stand in the endless dirt fields under the sun, the horizon stretching out of the eye. We hope you give this movie a watch and get inspired by the depiction of the chaotic culture, kind people, and stunning landscapes of Rajasthan, specifically the historic Udaipur and royal Jodhpur.
6. Jobs
Jobs is a movie based on the life of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, directed by Joshua Michael Stern. The movie is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, taking a dramatic look at the life of Jobs. In the movie, we see snippets of the many parts of his life, including a spiritual trip to India that Steve Jobs had taken in the 1970s, influenced by the writings of Indian authors and spiritual leaders and the apparent experiences from taking LSD.
The movie covers a short period of a long trip, going between New Delhi and the city of Vrindavan, where Jobs had spent quite a few weeks. Multiple famous locations of Delhi featured in the movie, including Hauz Khas, Jama Masjid, and Safdarjung Tomb. The movie is great for a look at some of the best spots in the city, and the reactions of someone completely new to the chaos, confusion, and vibrancy that is India.
7. Trishna
Trishna, directed by Micheal Winterbottom, is the splendid adaptation of Thom Hardy's classic novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles, set in modern-day India. The movie follows the story of Trishna, a girl swept away from her small town and into the big city by a dashing man, who soon turns out to be someone controlling and abusive.
The movie drives a hard point home about the duties of an Indian woman, and how she can never really escape them or society and its many expectations. We see the best of the two cultures of Rajasthan and Bombay, two states completely opposite to each other, in the movie, understanding Trishna's difficult transition from a meager life of hard work in sprawling, beautiful Jaipur to a fast-paced one in Bombay, a completely modern city. The best part about the direction of the scenes is that we see not just the setting, we see the people of the cities intimately and their hard lives. We realize the interplay between these two factors as the scenes show the small minds of a royal city, and the cunning attitudes of the bigger, faster Bombay. Everyone should give this movie a watch, not just for the stunning scenes of Jaipur and Bombay (including the forts, streets, and markets of the same)
8. Lion
This internationally acclaimed movie directed by Garth Davis is based on the book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley which tracks his journey of finding his birth mother, who he had been estranged from in India at the age of 5. The movie is heart-wrenching and well-told, with an honest portrayal of India.
In the movie, you'll see multiple snippets of some famous, some not so famous locations across India. You'll be able to spot the famous Howrah station in Kolkatta, Amherst street, Bowbazar, and various others, along with the Ganesh Talai area of Khandwa, a small town in Madhya Pradesh. The film is a very close adoption of the book, and readers of the famous novel will be able to tell the similarities and small details they got right. We recommend you watch this movie for its heartwarming story, the depiction of the plight of children in poverty, and the incredible journey of one five year old across the bustling streets of Kolkata, the crowded historic train stations, and the narrow streets of a slum in a small town.
9. Dark Night rises
We've all heard about this blockbuster, but did you know that the Christopher Nolan directed movie featured a scene from India, specifically the Indian city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan? Christian Bale, who plays Batman, found India to be captivating when he had visited before the filming, leading to the director choosing India for some of the scenes.
The last few scenes of Dark Knight Rises show Batman escaping from a prison that is built in a way that it is impossible to escape, with Bale crawling through tunnels and finally emerging in a desert-like space surrounded by a red-brick structure. That structure was actually the Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, a city known to have a deep history and architectural richness. The fort is a stunning sight, more so with the director's sharp eye and its portrayal as a prison. We recommend that everyone see the fort and the very famous Umaid Bhawan palace at least once - not only do they hold a history essential to India's, they are stunning sights to marvel at, and clearly Nolan thought so too!
10. Million Dollar Arm
This biographical sports drama directed by Craig Gillespie follows J.B., a failing sports agent, and his project to find the best fast bowlers in India and pick two to bring back to the US in order to make them Baseball players.
Not many of the scenes are shot in India, but the director has an interesting take on the perceiving of cricket in India, how it is worshipped and followed diligently. The movie has scenes filmed in cities across India as J.B. looks for the best candidates for his project in India. You'll spot the popular India Gate, Taj Mahal, and other famous monuments if you watch it - and the movie will also probably make you see India in a different way, through its people, as that is what Gillespie focused on. Either way, prepare to get stunned by the chaotic cities and spectacular sites of the streets of Bombay, monuments of Agra, and crowded markets and enthusiasm of Delhi.
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A little under a year ago, Greta Thunberg, a popular climate change activist, spoke passionately and strongly about the need for change, urgently and sustainably. Although this brought a lot of publicity to the massive youth movements against global warming, it did little in terms of real change that can be created and implemented. Greta would even refuse to travel by air when she was invited to different countries due to the large carbon footprint left behind by air travel and instead relied on a small boat with a small crew.
The effects of travel on the environment are far and wide, but also relatively unknown or ignored. Not only does travel speed up global warming, but it also causes harm to ecosystems, communities, and the use of finite resources. This issue is pressing, important, and something that needs to be understood and addressed before its too late.
We know that as a travel company, it may come across as odd that we speak about this. But awareness is important, and so is the promotion of sustainable ways to live and travel. At The Tarzan Way, all our experiences are targeted towards sustainable change in communities, small societies and villages, and individuals such as farmers and fishermen. But we still have a long way to go - and understanding and accepting the problem is the first step to making a change towards and for it.
Here are the main effects of Travel on the environment, that you can change and work towards fixing because even small steps matter in every way.
Global warming and Travel - the humungous carbon footprint
It is estimated that around 6-7% of total year-on-year global warming is caused by travel by flight, and a few points less than this number is the share of cruises in the same. The two methods of travel use up huge amounts of fuel, and not much is really going to change because fuel usage is convenient and cheap, although incredibly harmful for the environment. One average round trip from a place and back in a flight can cause the same amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution as 50 cars in a year, per person.
It takes a lot of fuel for flights to fly and land safely, and many companies get close to bankruptcy due to the expense of running planes that use so much fuel on a daily basis. Although some American airlines like Delta have pledged to use more sustainable fuel and change the way fuel is used by planes, long term change won't start until companies are pressurized into it and realize the cost of their actions. Fuel used to power flights is dangerous not just because of the carbon footprint but also the consequences of exhaust emitting carbon molecules into the stratosphere. Oil is a scarce resource - and the cost at which we guzzle it every day in all our activities is simply not worth the convenience it brings. There needs to be a shift towards green energy, and it needs to be fast.
Reduction in Biodiversity
We know you see it on the news every day, read about it frequently - some species or the other is endangered or extinct and this is increasing at a rapid rate. You may wonder, how does it really matter or impact me? It's a good question, and something to address first. Biodiversity is extremely important because of the ecosystems dependent on them - each and every species has a relation with multiple others and their existence, no matter where their position is in a food web or triangle. When one species reduces in number or goes extinct, it threatens the entire ecosystem - this is bad for us because we're dependent on a number of them for more things than you'd guess. Each species has its role and place - disturbing that can have devastating impacts. For example, take bees - their threatened existence is something to worry about not just in terms of our honey supply, but also for the essential process of pollination that bees carry out. Without them, seeds wouldn't get from one plant to another, our agricultural systems would collapse, and the ecosystem dependant on them (they control the population of small worms, pests, etc) would face the same fate.
So what does travel have to do with this? We bet you've visited a park or two in your travels, or seen the interactive zones in large ecosystems. More often than not, human encroachment actually results in reduced populations and a disturbance in their systems. Some parks do follow proper procedures, but many don't too. Moreover, those deep jungle resorts and hotels in forests mean clearing the land completely, damaging the ecosystems in the area, and draining the area of its natural resources. Again, climate change also plays a part in this - many animals face extinction due to global warming that we are speeding up, specifically in the extreme edges of the world, where new tourism combined with global warming is destroying less protected species and ecosystems.
Increase in Waste Disposal - especially single-use plastics
Think back to the last time you traveled - how many cartons and plastic/paper cups had you used and disposed of at the airport and flight? How many plastic food containers did you use? What number of towels did you throw for the wash in your hotel? How much did you litter? You'd be surprised at the answers you'll find. When it comes to travel, the purpose of companies is to bring leisure at low rates, find easy ways to make travelers comfortable. And the stark truth is also that we're just not as careful in different, new places as we would be at home. A lot of tourism is purposefully wasteful - those giant hotel napkins, the easily disposable and convenient plastic wraps, etc. The UN estimates that around 14% of the total waste generated annually is because of the tourism industry, and this isn't a one-time case. Every form of travel is designed to be convenient, and even if the materials used are biodegradable, they aren't recycled as often as they should be.
Single-use plastics in particular are harmful, wasteful, and used excessively. The usage of petroleum and other chemicals in the making of plastics make the materials harmful and use finite resources excessively. Plastics take thousands of years to disintegrate, and tourism uses this material more than should be necessary. Take the Everest for example - it is the highest mountain in the world but is also the most polluted one. Littered with plastics, jackets, nylon implements, etc. it is polluted to an alarming extent, and is an ode to the fact that we leave our trail wherever we go as humans. For more details on this topic, check out our previous blog on traveling sustainably!
The destruction of Indigenous Tribes
Many places you travel to can have scars that most don't know about and cannot see. These are the scars borne by the original tribes and people of lands who either get kicked out of their own land or get the bad end of the deal when corporates decide to set up shop for tourism in their villages and forests. Various fishing communities along beaches have been displaced by wide scaled luxurious beach resorts in countries like Thailand and Malaysia. In Burma, low wage workers are forced to work long hours for less on tourism projects for the apparent development of their communities, while the tourists who visit view these tribes much like zoo animals are through literal sightseeing of their territories. The sex tourism industry is a widely growing phenomenon in many countries.
All these examples illustrate one thing - the tourism industry that encroaches upon natural habitats and takes away isolated territories from the indigenous people is much like the modern-day colonization effort, except even worse because it is cloaked by claims of helping communities instead of the reality. Hotels, resorts, adventure parks and recreational areas built for tourists looking for the next exotic location destroy ages-old respected land, philander the natural resources of the people, take extreme advantage of these tribes and their culture passed down for generations and disrespect the indigenous tribes in a shameful and humanely degrading way.
The relation between construction, agriculture, and travel
We've established so far that the tourism industry is more wasteful than anyone can really see from the surface - and there are many indirect effects of travel as well, that we don't see or acknowledge because we don't know how harmful they are.
Take construction and agriculture, for example, the two industries that use the most water. Agriculture uses 60% of a community's freshwater on average, and construction uses 30%. Not only does construction absorb so much freshwater, but it also gives out some of the highest rates of toxic waste and effluents. Hotels, resorts, and recreational spaces for tourism involve a lot of construction, a lot of waste regularly generated that isn't disposed of properly either, and a lot of resource usage (hotels use up thousands of liters of water a day in wasteful ways). Agriculture, on the other hand, is a complex issue. Although it uses up a lot of resources, food security is a still-growing threat in the world. Agriculture includes livestock, in particular, beef, which is the highest contributor to global warming in agriculture and one of the highest in general. As beef consumption increases, more and more communities that previously didn't consume it have started buying livestock and crops for beef for the purpose of exports and tourism. Agriculture and livestock have to be done at an increased rate for tourism purposes in many countries (like Thailand), and construction too now takes place at increased rates.
As a travel company, The Tarzan Way has taken many steps to help communities, support them, and find a sustainable source of income for isolated and low-income communities. We provide eco-friendly experiences, eco-friendly merchandise/travel implements, and do our best to make a change to every extent we can. Check out our experiences to see what we do, why we do it, and how we support many local communities at https://www.thetarzanway.com/