From the mummy of the Spiti Valley to our recent trip to Konkan, what a person unconsciously seeks in an off-beat journey is a sense of having been a part of something unique. This is what experiential  tourism is all about.

To some extent, it exists as adventure getaways or outbound training. What is the great thing about learning rappelling techniques? It isn’t as though you will use it again. Abseiling training is one of the most popular experiences asked for. Why? My guess is because it is dramatic, hands-on and something they can only have done through their own effort.

The bane of tourism is relentless passivity. Endless hordes of people travelling in herds and looking and marvelling at things that have little to do with them. Its safe, it takes little effort and no one knows if you have been asleep in the lecture.

Outdoor trainers in India know this well, and engage the experiential aspect of travel to help clients develop a better understanding of themselves. It is no surprise that the immediacy of the experience makes it hugely popular. Outdoor India is a growing source of adventure revenue.

As more and more people tune in to the experiential aspect of tourism, we can expect a shift in tourism itself from “Wow! See, the Taj Mahal” to more and more unique experiences where the tourist has a stake and a responsibility in creating the experience itself.

Coming up, is the era of that elusive trip to Lahaul Spiti, Tibetan journeys in search of the Buddhist teachings, rural cottage resorts near Mumbai, the pursuit of unclimbed peaks in India, adventure and nature trails, ……

The glorious era of life affirming, expanding, creative tourism that holds deep meaning to the tourist!