NIOS Class 12 TOURISM PYQ ASS 2023

NIOS Tourism Question Paper Class 12 Solved 2023

SECTION – A 

1. Name the most important religious monument for the religious as well as for secular tourists in Kashmir. Explain its significance. 

Ans: Hazratbal (Kashmir) is the most important religious monument for both religious and secular tourists, who wish to see its beautiful architecture. It is the only bulbous domed mosque in Kashmir. For Muslims, it is significant because it contains the Prophet Mohammed’s sacred hair.

2. What is Carnatic music? Explain any two features of ‘Carnatic music’. 

Ans: Carnatic music has a history of development in the world of music. Music in South India is associated with devotion to God. The three forms of performing arts (1) Music (2) Dance (3) Singing, go together to please God. Thus, these performing arts are also related to the Devdas, known as servants of God. South Indian music, popularly known as Carnatic music, is identified with Bhakti Saints, who sang in praise of God and associated themselves with the temple rituals from the 8th century. Thus grew a culture of Guru-Sishya tradition, and through rigorous practice, South Indian music has achieved a prime position in musicology.

3. Write the four noble truths of Buddhist philosophy. 

Ans: Right belief, right conduct, right speech, and right knowledge.

4. Why has ‘adventure tourism’ been gaining popularity in the recent times in India? Explain. 

Ans: 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.

5. Explain the two main teachings of ‘Jainism’. 

Ans: Vardhaman Mahavira has been accepted as the founder of Jainism. Mahavira’s Teachings are as follows. 

• Mahavira did not believe in the existence of God and had no faith in yagna, sacrifices, and rituals.
• He had no faith in the caste system and preached the equality of all human beings.
• He told his followers to take four vows: (i) not to injure life, (ii) not to tell lies, (iii) not to own property, (iv) not to steal.
• Mahavira also asked people to follow the threefold path of Right Belief, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct. According to him, this was the path to reach the highest goal of Siddha Sila and Moksha, i.e., freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. One of the most important principles of Mahavira’s teachings was Ahimsa, or non-violence. 

6. Name the four ‘Dhams’ which are the most important religious tourists places of Hindus.  1⁄2×4=2 

Ans: The four Dhams are Badrinath, Puri, Dwarka, and Rameshwaram.

7. Explain the importance of the ‘Silk Route’ as the early trade route.  2 

Ans: 

• The Silk Route turned out to be a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass. 
• It connects eastern, southern, and western Asia with the Mediterranean and European countries. 
• The Silk Route is 4500 Km long, passes through Syria, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and China. 
• This route got its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade, which was carried out along its length. 
• The trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilisations of China and the Indian subcontinent, Persia, and Arabia.

8. Explain the importance of trekking route map for tourists. 

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.

9 Explain the concept of ‘leadership’. 

Ans: Leadership is defined as the process of influencing others to get the job done more effectively over a sustained period of time. Leadership involves influence, and it is concerned with the way the leader affects his or her followers. Both leaders and followers are involved in the leadership process. The leaders take initiatives and link themselves with stakeholders.

10 Distinguish between oral and written communications, stating four points of distinctions. 

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 record and reference
It may not be precise	Can be expressed precisely

11. Explain any four characteristics of ‘Indian culture’  4×1=4 

Ans: 

• Continuity and Change: Despite major changes and upheavals, significant threads of continuity can be traced throughout the course of Indian history right up to the present day. 
• Variety and Unity: A large number of languages and dialects are spoken in our country, which has led to the growth of a great variety of literature. 
• Secular Outlook: Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees and Jews live in India. 
• Universalism: India has been raising a strong voice against racism and colonialism. 

12. Describe the main features each of ‘Shimla’ and ‘Darjeeling’ as the natural attraction sites for tourists. 2×2=4 

Ans: 

Shimla used to be the summer capital of the British when they ruled India. 

• Now it’s the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. 
• It is a cool, charming town enveloped by Oak, Pine and Rhododendron forests. 
• It is famous for its colonial-style buildings and historic railway. 
• The old Christ Church, with its beautiful stained glass windows, mesmerising views from Scandal Point, and the Viceregal Lodge, are the landmarks of this town. 
• It is also interesting to watch the sunrise and sunset from Observatory Hill.

Darjeeling

• Darjeeling, in West Bengal, is famous for its lush tea gardens.
• It is known for a stunning view of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak. 
• The town is dotted with monasteries, botanical gardens, and a zoo. 
• Darjeeling is a wonderful place to walk around and explore the tea estates, villages, and markets.

13. Analyse the role of the ‘Ministry of Tourism’ in popularizing tourism in India. 

Ans: In India, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is the supreme policymaker. The Ministry of Tourism makes various national policies for the development and promotion of tourism in India. Further, the Ministry also consults and collaborates with different stakeholders and the representatives of the private sector. Tourism is streamlined, and it has simplified the rules regarding the grant of approval and clearances to tour operators and travel agents. In the Union Budget 2010, the Government of India allocated more than Rs 1,000 Crore to the Ministry of Tourism for promoting tourism activities in the country.

14. Explain any two features each of ‘Bihu’ and ‘Garba’ folk dances. 

Ans: 

• Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the most important festival of the people of Assam and is celebrated in mid-April to welcome spring. 
• Cattle rites are performed on the first day, and homage is paid to elders, relatives and friends on the second day with a special Bihu meal. 
• Garba is a popular dance of Gujarat. 
• The dance is performed during the occasion of the Navratri festival. Traditionally, Garba is performed around a centrally lit lamp or around the statue of the goddess Shakti.

15. Explain any four characteristics of ‘folk music’. 

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.

16. Why is Western Ghats known as one of the world’s top ten ‘biodiversity hot spots’? Explain. 

Ans: 

• Western Ghats include many national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserve and reserve forests. Many of them are designated as heritage sites. 
• The hill stations and heritage sites are in good demand for tourists. 
• There are many tunnels in the way, providing beautiful, picturesque scenic beauty with numerous waterfalls. 
• They provide connectivity through roads and railways. They play an important role in promoting tourism by reducing the time, distance, and money of the tourists.

17. Why is tourism called a ‘labour-intensive industry’ in the world? Explain any five major components of tourism industry. 

Ans: Tourism is one of the most labour-intensive industries of the world as it gives an employment opportunity to a large number of people all over the globe. 

• Space is a basic component on which tourism occurs, as it is a change of place from one area to another.
• Entrepreneurship: Since a large number of people wish to visit various places of tourist interest, the entrepreneur takes the responsibility of providing facilities to the visiting tourists. In turn, they earn revenue along with the other local people.
• Capital: Resource for Infrastructure Development: A huge amount of capital is needed to develop the infrastructure in any industry of a region. It is generally provided by the government under various policies.
• Workforce: The tourism industry flourishes when qualified manpower is available to cater to the needs of the tourists. The manpower may be grouped into skilled, semiskilled and unskilled. All are required to meet the needs of the tourists.
• Market for Tourism Industry: Tourists are the consumers of services provided to them as per their wishes. Tourism flourishes when there is infrastructure, accessibility, natural attractions, qualitative service providers, law and order are provided, and these are marketed well. 

18. Describe any six different types of services associated with tourism. 

Ans: 

• Accommodation: Accommodation is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry. It plays a key role, and it is a very basic component in industry. The demand for hotels exists almost throughout the year. Accommodations for tourists are categorised on the basis of different methods, such as star rating, size, location, types of guests, alternative arrangements, etc.
• Food and Beverage: An increase in the number of visiting tourists has led to an increase in demand for food and beverages, which has led to a rise in their demand.
• Travel trade is concerned with the travel of tourists. It includes the selling/booking of reservations for travelling, accommodation, tours, transport, food and beverage, etc. 
• Transport contributes significantly to fulfilling the social and economic development of the area concerned. It overcomes the physical constraints of distance and meets the human needs for movement over space. It provides a link between the origin of tourism and its destination.
• Attractions for tourists are meant to increase the desirability of visiting the destination. Hence, it includes historic and heritage sites, museums, art galleries, botanical gardens, amusement parks, aquariums, zoos, water parks, cultural attractions, beaches, qualitative, cheap medical facilities, traditional health rejuvenating centers, etc., are some of the attractions for the tourists.
• Events and Conferences: Many academic, professional, business, or government events, meetings, and conferences are organised. Conferences, seminars, meetings, trade shows, exhibitions, and conventions are big business for many communities. Because of these types of events, local people earn by providing and selling tourist services and products.

19. Explain any six steps involved in process of ‘Consumer Relationship Management’ (C. R. M.) 

6×1=6 

Ans: CRM as a process involves the following steps:

• It collects information about its customers.
• Builds a customer database (detailed information about customers).
• Obtain the requirements of the customers.
• Analyses the requirements of the customers.
• Develops products and services as per the requirements of the customers.
• Maintains a personal communication with the customers.
• Offers and delivers products and services through personal communication.

20. Name the two categories of Indian theatre. Explain main feature of each category.  2+4=6 

Ans: Indian Theatre is categorised into two. 

• Stage Performance:
  • The stage is technically known as Jarjara.
  • Dramas were created on religion, legend, and historical themes. The oldest and the most reliable treatise on Indian drama is Bharata’s ‘Natyashastra.’
  • To bring sanctity to music and drama, it is considered the fifth Veda. 
  • Sculptures are the main source for knowing the physical poses and movements of Indian classical dances.
• Street Theatre
  • Street theatre is basically performed in locales like street corners, the village square, in front of factories, car parks, shopping centres, etc. 
  • They are mostly Socio-cultural and political in nature. 
  • Street theatre also includes other performances on the roadside like magical shows, Tamasha, mimickery etc. 
  • These street shows are very old in nature, and even during medieval Indian society, the traces of these street shows can be seen.

21. “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 

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.

22. 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.

23 Analyse any six factors that affect tourism. 

Ans: 

• (i) Geographical: Geographical conditions affect the flow of tourists. Generally, tourists of hot plains go to hill stations in summer for a cooler and more pleasant climate. Tourists of cold areas go to hot areas in the winter season. Location, climate, landscape, and geographical diversity of a region attract tourists in large numbers. Keeping in mind the choice of tourists, one can estimate the tourist arrivals in various seasons.
• (ii) Cultural Event: Some social activities like festivals, fairs, dances, meetings, local customs,s, and rituals attract tourists in large numbers. In West Bengal, Durga Pooja, Holi, and Diwali in North India, Carnival in Goa, Dandiya in Gujarat, Desert Festival in Rajasthan, Surajkund Mela in Haryana, Onam in Kerala, etc., are important events which large number of tourists.
• (iii) Safety and Security: Safety and security influence tourist growth greatly. If there is any mishap or tragedy involving any tourist, that incident decreases the inflow of tourists. Each and every tourist wants his/her safety first. In the Kashmir valley, tourism has gone down significantly, particularly after 1985, due to terrorist activities and touristhavew turned towards other states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, etc.
• (iv) Economic conditions: The economic conditions of people also affect tourism. People with high incomes generally travel more than the lower class, because they have high purchasing power. They can spend a lot of money on travel and tourism activities.
• (v) Facilities and Services: Various infrastructural facilities and services determine the tourist traffic tremendously. These include accommodation, hotel, accessibility, transport, banking services, communication, bookings, guides, recreational activities, etc. The availability and quality of these services attract or discourages the tourist to visit any area.
• (vi) Government Policies: Government policies affect the tourist inflow to a greater extent. For promoting tourism in the country, the government can give some subsidies, packages, a liberal visa policy, and travel regulations. Some countries do not require a visa for tourists; they grant it on arrival, while certain nations have very tough conditions for getting it. In order to promote tourism, the Government of India conducts some shows to attract tourists from various countries by demonstrating tourist attractions.

SECTION – B 

OPTION I  (Travel and Tour Operation Business) 

24 Describe the need for travel insurance. 2 

Ans: 

• Travel insurance ensures security for travellers’ personal items as well as baggage losses. 
• 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 policy 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.

25. Name the two types of travel agencies. Mention the main feature of each type of agency. 2 

Ans: There are two types of travel agencies, viz., retail travel agency and wholesale travel agency.

• A retail travel agency acts like any other retailer, selling tourist products directly to tourists on behalf of the supplier, and gets a commission for selling. Commission is the main source of its revenues. The role of retail agencies has become even more crucial as most principal service suppliers get their products promoted, pushed, and sold through retailers to have a better market reach.
• A wholesale travel agency assembles various components of services to form packages. Later, it depends on retailers to market and sell their products to the tourists. It may also directly sell to the customers through its own retail outlets. It buys service components in bulk from different suppliers, designs, packages, and sells or resells these components. Wholesale travel agency specialises in designing and selling package tours.

26 Explain with examples any four types of a package tour itinerary.  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.

27 Analyse any four major functions of a ‘Group Inclusive Tour (GIT)’. 4 

Ans: 

• A Group Inclusive Tour itinerary religiously follows the fixed itinerary and adheres to the schedule. 
• Any GIT package tour is attached to several other pre-arrangements. Any change in the existing itinerary will cause complete disturbance in the total tour and affect the entire distribution channel. 
• Immediate alternative changes may not be possible, and it incurs a loss for all the participants in the process. 
• Groups with specific travel limits or individuals being part of such groups may tend to prefer such itinerary-based tours since this also works on cost benefits to them.

OPTION II  (Hospitality Management) 

24 Mention any two features each of 1-star and 5-star hotels.  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 characteristics of Bengali food. 2 

Ans: Characteristics of Bengali Food

• The main ingredients of traditional Bengali food include rice, masoor dal, moong dal, mustard oil, mustard paste, poppy seeds (posto), and coconut.
• Since Bengal is the land of mangoes, different varieties are used in various forms, such as ripe, unripe, and pickled.
• Hilsa fish is considered very special.
• Five-spice mixture (panch phoran) is commonly used in making vegetables. Some of the popular dishes are:
  • (a) Muri (puffed rice)
  • (b) Jhal-muri (spicy puffed rice made with masalas)

26. Training and development are designed to impart specific skills, abilities, and knowledge to employees”. Support the statement with examples.  4 

Ans: There is a need for skilled manpower to handle visitors/clients. It is only possible with a pool of trained professionals. Hence, it is listed as one of the major functions of travel agencies and tour operators

for organisational growth and quality enhancement. Employees are trained in industry suitability skills, handling guests, crisis management, soft skills, sales and marketing, and updating operational skills with technology change. This will help develop the capabilities of its human resources specifically and the business of the organisation in general.

27 Analyse the role of ‘Front Office Department’ of hotels in providing accommodation. 4 

Ans: The main functions of this department are:

• To assign a room to the guest. This process is called check-in.
• To maintain the room records for reservation purposes.
• To collect room and other charges for various services used by guests during their stay at the hotel.
• To take advance bookings for rooms.
• To handle the phone calls of hotel.

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Additional Study Materials

• NIOS Class 12 Tourism Syllabus Bifurcation
• NIOS Class 12 Tourism Sample Question Paper
• NIOS Class 12 Tourism Solved Paper April 2025
• NIOS Tourism Question Paper Solved Oct 2024
• NIOS Class 12 Tourism Question Paper Solved April 2024