WHAT ATTRACTS THEM? A STUDY ON PREFERENCES OF TOURISTS IN KARNATAKA STATE SINCE THE PANDEMIC

Perhaps no other industry was so badly affected as the Tourism industry due to the pandemic. The pandemic had spelled a doom on the tourism industry and people who are engaged in it. But thankfully the pandemic has ended now but we still feel its impact and influence even now. All governments recognize tourism is an important industry which contributes to the GDP of a nation. Every state government in India has recognized the importance of Tourism and so are promoting their respective states tourism in their own way. Many states have even brand names and terms like “God’s own Country” or” Incredible India”. But the Global Pandemic called Covid-19 has adversely affected the tourism industry. Tourism was directly affected as people have been forced to confine themselves to their homes as part of the Lockdowns imposed at various times. The World Tourism and Travel Council in a report on the future of the industry said the pandemic has shifted travelers’ focus to domestic trips or nature and outdoor destinations. Travel will largely be “kickstarted by the less risk averse travelers and early adopters, from adventure travelers and backpackers to surfers and mountain climbers,” the report says. In the end, the return of full-fledged tourism will likely hinge on what will be a deeply personal decision for many people as they weigh the risk of falling ill against the necessity of travel. This study is confined to the respondents from Bengaluru in Karnataka district. This study is also confined to the middle classes and the upper middle classes from the society of the region. The Indian tourism and hospitality industry have emerged as one of the key drivers of growth among the services sector in India.