1. Write the four noble truths of Buddhist Philosophy. [4×1⁄2=2]
Ans: Right belief, right conduct, right speech, and right knowledge.
2. Mention any two types of managerial skills. [2×1=2]
Ans:
Technical skills include knowledge of and proficiency in certain specialised fields such as engineering, computers, finance, manufacturing, etc.
Human or interpersonal skills refer to the ability to work with, understand, and motivate other people; the way the individual perceives his superiors, equals, and subordinates, and the way he behaves with them.
3. Explain the role played by the water transport in the development of tourism.[2]
Ans: Water transport thrills the people/tourists, and cruises are arranged for such tourists. It is the cheapest mode but takes the longest duration and consumes less energy. Very heavy items are transported very easily by paying a lesser amount. Nowadays, cruise trips are becoming very popular.
Water transport is also used for tourism promotion as the West Bengal Tourism Department introduced special tourist programmes to carry tourists to the Sunderbans.
Goa Tourism Department organizes sea cruises for half or full day bookings for tourists.
Tourists enjoy a lot cruising on the Ganga, Brahamaputra and Hoogly rivers.
River rafting is already in operation between Rishikesh and Haridwar.
Lakes and backwaters like Dal Lake in Kashmir, Naini Lake in Nainital, Nakki Lake in Mount Abu, Chilka Lake in Orissa, etc., are attracting a great number of national and international tourists.
4. Explain the importance of Trekking route map for tourists. [2]
Ans: The trekking route map shows the treks in mountainous areas along which trekking is possible. It indicates the trekking path, height at different locations, and camp pitching ground, along with the river and mountain systems.
5. Explain the concept of ‘culture’. [2]
Ans: Culture is the expression of our nature in our modes of living and thinking. It may be seen in our literature, in religious practices, in recreation and enjoyment. In very simple terms, we can say that it is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do things. It is also the things that we have inherited as members of society. Culture thus refers to a human-made environment which includes all the material and non-material products of group life that are transmitted from one generation to the next.
6. Name the most important religious monument for the religious as well as for secular tourist in Kashmir. Explain its significance. [1+1=2]
Ans: Hazratbal (Kashmir). It is the most important religious monument for religious as well as secular tourists, who wish to see the beautiful architecture of the building. It is the only bulbous domed mosque in Kashmir. For Muslims, it is significant because it contains the Prophet Mohammed’s sacred hair.
7. Why has ‘adventure tourism’ been gaining popularity in the recent times in India? Explain. [2]
Ans: Adventure tourism is one in which tourists are involved in some exploration of less-known areas or places, particularly in a hostile environment. It can involve some degree of risk or physical damage to them. This type of tourism is more concentrated in the rugged mountainous terrain. In India, these are more popular in the Himalayan and plateau regions.
Adventure tourism has been gaining popularity in recent times. Many such programmes have already been prepared, while television channels like National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery Science, etc., are making them popular.
8. Explain the meaning of tapping external manpower sources. [2]
Ans: When an organization grows rapidly and diversifies into newer areas of operation or when it is not able to find people internally to fill the vacancies, it has to resort to external sources of manpower supply. The need for tapping external human resource supply arises primarily through recruitment, which is necessarily meant to augment internal supply.
9. “Management development programmes are long-term efforts to train and develop the manager his or her fullest potential”. Support the statement. [2]
Ans: Management development programmes are long-term efforts to train and develop the manager to his or her fullest potential. Such development is considered a lifetime process, designed to maximise managerial performance throughout the manager’s career. The term development is a broad one. It includes both training and education. It aims at improving the overall personality of an individual. The term is mostly used in the context of executives only.
10. Write any four characteristics of ‘folk music’. [4×1=4]
Ans:
Folk music is a part of the common masses and local tradition. With the passage of time Folk music got refinement, sophistication and elite patronage. These were given the names of Hindustani and Carnatic music.
Folk music can be identified with a region or professional communities.
It has its own charm and appeal for the people.
The folk tradition of singing runs through generations in a family. Thus, there are certain communities whose profession is singing.
11. Describe the importance of Darghas as the tourist attraction irrespective of religion and cultural differences. [4]
Ans: Musical offerings to dervishes and sheikhs in the presence of the devout at these shrines, usually on the occasion of Urs, gave rise to musical genres like Qawwali and Kafi, wherein Sufi poetry is accompanied by music and sung as an offering to a murshid, a type of Sufi spiritual instructor.
This makes Darghas a natural choice as a tourist attraction, irrespective of religion and cultural differences.
People from all parts of the world, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, visit the Dargah and pray for the fulfillment of their wishes by the blessings of the Saint. India is home to thousands of Darghas.
12. Describe the main features each of Bharatpur and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuaries.
Ans:
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan is one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India. It is also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Thousands of rare and highly endangered birds come here during the winter season. During the winter season, it is the most wanted site by the bird watchers who flock over here to see some of the most exotic birds in the world.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary, is situated in Kerala. It offers a home to a large number of migratory birds like flycatcher, teal, Siberian stork, crane, parrots and wood beetle. Riding on a houseboat is the best way for bird watching in Kerala. Other bird sanctuaries in Kerala are Mangalavanam and Thattekkad bird sanctuaries, situated on the banks of the Periyar River and famous for some of the rarest species of birds and other unique fauna.
13. Explain any two features each of “Lai Haraoba’ and ‘Garba’ folk dances.[2+2=4]
Ans:
Lai Haraoba
The literal meaning of Lai Haraoba is “The festival of gods”.
The festival is celebrated in Manipur with a variety of dances showing the creation and destruction of the Universe.
This dance was performed by special male and female worshippers known as Maiba and Maibi, respectively.
Garba
Garba is a popular dance of Gujarat.
The dance is performed during the occasion of the Navratri festival.
14. How are festivals related to sikhs and christians serve as tourist attractions? Explain.[2+2=4]
Ans:
Guru Purab is associated with the birth of Guru Nanak, etc., and other sikh gurus. These festivals are filled with religious fervour, faith, and are the time to not only worship their gods but also enjoy, have fun, and frolic. Families and friends get together, celebrate them with new clothes, good food, and make it a time to
visit each other. This unit contains the various festivals of our country along with the months in which they take place.
Days before Christmas, markets are packed with huge crowds. People buy new clothes, gifts, and decoration materials (for their family). People travel to their homes to celebrate them with their families, thus generating a lot of tourist activities in the country.
15. Distinguish between oral and written communication stating four points of distinctions. [4×1=4]
Ans:
Oral Communication
Written Communication
Messages are exchanged verbally
Messages are expressed in written words
Messages are exchanged quickly
Exchange of messages takes time
Easy to maintain secrecy
Difficult to maintain secrecy
More useful for short messages
More useful for long messages
Provides no record
Provides a record and reference
It may not be precise
Can be expressed precisely
16. Explain with examples any four negative socio-cultural impact of tourism particularly at the destination places. [4×1=4]
Ans:
The tourists are welcomed in a traditional style at certain places and hotels/airports. Sometimes, it leads to the commercialization of the traditional welcome and hospitality norms, making a mockery of them.
Intermingling with the people of various cultural groups leads to the loss of the culture of the destination area. Later on, it leads to a crisis of cultural identity.
Tourists are well off in comparison to the local unskilled people. Thus, it leads to the greed of the local people to extort money and equipment from the tourists. Greed of this kind leads to crime committed by the local people.
The moral conduct of the local people is deteriorating, particularly when local youth try to imitate foreigners. They try to adopt the habits of tourists by indulging in smoking, drinking, and gambling, etc.
17. Describe with examples the significant role of ‘Geography’ in enhancing travel and tourism at Global Level. [6×1=6]
Ans: Geography interprets the surface of the earth in terms of every phenomenon existing at a particular point in time as well as in chronological perspective. It portrays the surface through maps, diagrams, photograph and charts in visual form in addition to the written descriptions.
Geography plays a very significant role in travel and tourism. Some of the ways are as follows:
It helps us:
to locate a specific area on the globe/map
to find out the geographical time lag between source and destination,
to set the time of the clock from a global perspective,
to illustrate factual data through maps and charts,
to understand different types of maps,
to read maps with comprehension,
to understand different types of charts,
to study other useful maps and charts about tourists.
18. Explain any six important positive political impacts on tourism particularly at the destination places. [6×1=6]
Ans: There are many positive political impacts on tourism, particularly at the destination places. Important among them are:
Political stability is of foremost concern to the tourists. Safety and security at any tourist destination attract a large number of tourists.
Law and order are the concern of the government. If it is well managed, it helps in the inflow of tourists.
Political stability and protection for tourists from the government machinery is a tonic for the promotion of tourism.
Political willpower to establish infrastructure in tourist attraction areas encourages tourism. It facilitates easy access, accommodation, provision of guidance, and other facilities required for tourists.
Tourist-targeted planning further accelerates the effect on tourism.
Beautification of a site and safety provision without much alteration to the natural landscape also attracts tourists tremendously.
Risk perception can influence tourists’ decision-making about their destinations. It can severely affect tourist inflow to a destination.
19. Highlight the contribution of different rulers of the Mauryan period in the field of architecture. [6]
Ans:
During the reign of Ashoka, many monolithic stone pillars were erected on which the teachings of ‘Dhamma’ were inscribed. The highly polished pillars with animal figures adorning the top (capitals) are unique and remarkable. The lion capital of the Sarnath pillar has been adopted as the national emblem of the Indian Republic. Each pillar weighs about 50 tonnes and is about 50 ft high.
The gateways of the Sanchi Stupa, with the beautiful sculpture depicting scenes from Jataka stories, are specimens of the skill and aesthetic sense of the artisans.
The blending of Greek and Indian art led to the development of Gandhara art, which developed later. Life-like statues of Buddha and Bodhisattavas were made in the likeness of Greek gods and were in stone, terracotta, cement-like material, and clay.
The Gupta period marks the beginning of the construction of free-standing Hindu temples. An example of this is the temple at Deogarh (Jhansi district), which had a central shrine or garbhagriha where the image of the deity was placed. Another temple at Bhitargaon (Kanpur district) are two fine example of this period.
20. How does physiography of India promote the tourism activities? Explain. [6]
Ans: India is a vast country with immense geographical and cultural diversity. The diversity varies from the Himalayan Mountains in the north to the coasts in the south and from the Thar Desert of Rajasthan in the west to the humid forests of the North-East. With different climatic conditions from the equatorial in the south to the polar region in the higher slope of the northern mountain, there are several natural attractions for tourists to visit. People from these regions would like to visit the other areas in search of a different climate. This provides opportunities for the development of tourism in the country. Each geographical region has its own beauty, and people prefer nature to refresh themselves. Both domestic and international tourists prefer such beauty and help increase tourism.
21. How to face an interview? Explain any six valid points. [6×1=6]
Ans:
Pre-Plan: Successful delivery depends on preparation. Invest time and effort in rehearsals. Get your friend or partner to ask questions. Think about how you will respond to tough or hostile questions by developing and practising clear, honest and appropriate answers.
Be in control of the interview. Be the first to speak by assertively introducing yourself and initiating a handshake.
Minimize distractions. Turn off your cell phone.
Make eye contact with the panellist. Holding eye contact is critical to projecting a positive and confident image. Looking down can make you seem uncooperative.
Do not repeat an interviewer’s negative comment as you respond to a question. Always positively frame answers.
Avoid jargon, industry language and acronyms. It is important to speak in terms everyone can understand.
Never speculate. If you don’t know the answer, say so and promise to do your best to find out the correct answer and get back to them.
22. How do non-alcoholic beverages available in India attract tourists? Explain with suitable examples. [6×1=6]
Ans: India is known for the non-alcoholic beverages that attract tourists. They love to taste these beverages that are refreshing. There are different options available for different seasons. They are easily available and are cheaper than alcoholic beverages. Some of the popular non-alcoholic beverages are
i. Masala Tea
ii. Indian Filter Coffee is popular in Southern India.
iii. Lassi
iv. Sattu
vi. Chaach, Sharbat and Nimbu Pani (Lemonade)
vii. Badam Doodh and Coconut water
viii. Panner Soda or “Gholi Soda”
23. “The tourism is directly linked with a number of factors that are associated with tourists throughout the world”. Support the statement with suitable examples. [6×1=6]
Ans: Tourism is directly linked with several factors. Some of the factors associated with tourists are:
a. high income of the tourist
b. paid holidays or holiday entitlement
c. travel cost
d. technology
e. package providers/ tour operators
f. update knowledge/ media
g. growing middle class in developing countries
h. rise of new destinations and increase in tourism investment.
Section – B
Option – I (Travel and Tour Operation Business)
24. Mention any four features of Online Travel Agency. [4×1⁄2=2]
Ans:
OTA or Online Travel Agency is a typical travel agency resembling an offline travel agency in all its services, but operates on the internet through a website connected to a global distribution system.
The OTAs apply the operational mechanisms of e-commerce and transact online with their customers.
OTAs offer information, bookings of hotels, cars, reservation of seats in airlines, railways, ships and buses, sell package tours, customize tours, take enquiries, etc.
Transactions of payment are also done online using online payment modes such as credit/debit cards, internet banking, etc.
25. Describe the need for travel insurance. [2]
Ans:
Travel insurance ensures security for travellers’ personal items as well as baggage losses.
Large travel firms in the present industry environment are offering travel insurance to their clients.
A client who insures his travel buys a policy from an insurance company through the travel company, which is generally included in a package tour.
A typical travel insurance may cover insurance for life, accidents, medical treatment, baggage loss, trip cancellation and similar losses.
Travel Insurance provides a security net to the travellers and compensates for the loss of life, baggage, concellation etc.
26. Explain any four types of package tours based on operation and types of services.[4×1=4]
Ans:
Escorted Tour: An escorted tour is conducted sending along with the group/individual a well trained, experienced and qualified, guide/escort to provide information and assistance to the group at the origin, en-route and the destinations about flight boarding, baggage handling, hotel check-in, meal arrangements along with interpretation about the places of tourist importance during sightseeing and all along the trip. The tour escort helps the group in check-in procedures, hotels, and food facilities and provides timely assistance and advice wherever and whenever required.
Independent Tour: A package tour is called an independent tour when tourists want to travel independently. It is designed for people who want the services of their interest to be included as part of the package. Such tour packages give flexibility to the tourists. Because these tours are designed according to their desires, they ought to be costlier than the group tours. But the element of flexibility makes them more interesting. With the increasing awareness in this regard, more tourists are now showing interest in such tours.
Hosted Tour: A hosted tour refers to a tour handled by another agency, ground operator or destination management agency as their representative of the tour operator, wholesaler or principal provider. They actually play the role of a host on behalf of a tour operator, providing ground services like cab, coach, guide, confirmation of hotel rooms, toll taxes, entry tickets, etc., as per the agreement. The wholesaler may not have its presence in a particular destination and thus takes the help of another agency to host the tour.
Incentive Tour: An incentive tour is an organized package tour conducted for employees, usually sponsored by the business firms or corporate houses as incentives to their employees. These tours are also all-inclusive package tours that include all essential components of a standard package tour. For example, if a team completes a project for XYZ company. and brings cash inflows, the management may send the team for a weeklong incentive tour to Singapore and bear all the expenses.
27. Explain with examples any four types of a package tour itinerary. [4×1=4]
Ans: A package tour itinerary may be divided into five types: a tourist’s itinerary, a tour manager’s itinerary, an escort or guide’s itinerary, a vendor’s itinerary, and a coach driver’s itinerary.
The tourists’ itinerary is given to a particular tourist for their reference as part of the package tour. A tourist expects the tour to be organised as per the itinerary mentioned in the package tour he/she has purchased.
Tour manager’s itinerary includes the complete details of the whole tour from day one to the last day. Apart from the general details as listed in a tourist’s itinerary, a tour manager’s itinerary also carries information about alternative arrangements, contact details, quick references, differential rates and tariff details, details of coach drivers and escorts, and guides.
Escort or guide’s itinerary. An escort or guide should know in detail where the group is being taken to, what activities and events are to be organised, time management of the tour, and other group details.
Vendor’s itinerary, a hotel may organise a surprise welcome event when the group arrives, as per the nature of the group and time of arrival, may offer special services, and enhance the service satisfaction and value addition. It is possible only if the vendors know at least the specific part of clients itinerary which is expected from them.
Coach driver’s itinerary: A typical coach driver’s itinerary includes the group arrival point and time, pick-up points and time, turn-around points, restricted areas of driving, sightseeing activities, other entertainment activities, parking spaces, entry points, and drop-off points, all with specific times.
Option – II (Hospitality Management)
24. Mention any two features each of I star and 5 star hotels. [1+1=2]
Ans:
1 Star – These hotels are generally small in size and independently owned. They have a limited range of facilities, and the number of restaurants is limited. Basic standards of cleanliness, maintenance, and comfort are maintained.
5 Star – These hotels are very large in size and offer spacious and luxurious rooms which match the best international standards. The interior design is very impressive in terms of quality, attention to detail, comfort, and elegance. The staff is very knowledgeable in terms of customer care and efficiency.
25. Mention any four expectations during arrival of guests. [4×1⁄2=2]
Ans:
Warm and friendly greeting and welcome.
Well-groomed staff with good communication skills.
Efficient and quick check-in procedure.
Clean and well-maintained rooms.
Efficient luggage handling by the bell desk (from car to room).
Recognition of guests and addressing by name, especially if they are regular guests.
26. Analyse the role of ‘Front Office Department’ of hotels in providing accommodation.[4]
Ans:
The front office is always the key point for processing reservations, registering guests, settling accounts and checking out guests.
It also handles the distribution of guest room keys, mail, messages and provides other information to guests.
These functions require diplomacy as well as situation handling skills.
Many different types of guests come to a hotel, and handling them requires a special type of professionalism.
27. ”Basically if there is no engineering department, there is no hotel”. Support the statement with suitable examples. [4]
Ans: Basically, if there is no engineering department, there is no hotel. This is because if there are no services like hot water, elevators/lifts, heating or cooling, electricity, kitchen equipment, laundry equipment, etc., there would be no guests in that hotel.
The duties of the maintenance staff are –
1. Inspection
2. Repairs Maintenance
3. Preventive and Maintenance 4. Breakdown
5. Overhaul
6. Construction
7. Clerical jobs.
The basic functions of the maintenance department are-