Climatology of Recreation

Abstract

Fairly good assessment of recreational resources has been attempted by tourism geographers abroad, yet surprisingly, climate, a significant tourism-resource, has received only meagre attention. Climatology of recreation, indeed, in all its aspects, need be thoroughly studied, more so, to ascertain weather-value to a resort and its impact in the tourist flux of a region. A few case studies conducted by Tucker, Tuan and Maunder have certainly revealed the weather-sensitivity of tourism but grievous data crisis makes them only marginal studies.

This paper attempts to seek some of the answers in Indian context, posed by Maunder and others, besides unfolding some of the climatic-myths associated with Indian Tourism. A few non-Indian geographers and travel writers have classed India ‘megathermal’, all too hot and tropically inhospitable, ignoring her broad latitudinal spreadout and fascinating Monsoonal complex with its characteristic rhythm that makes most of India, meteorologically an enjoyable destination: its winters sunny, its autumns fruitfully mellow, its springs vernally gay and its summers a little discomforting in the North though, compensate in the equable South substantially yet, promoting tourism activities all the year round. That winters are a little cool (Indian Standards) in the North and summers arc pretty inhospitable in the South is still a paradox to majority of intourists, nor does the Department of India Tourism seem to have capitalised on this unique ‘commodity’. Indian climatic offerings, however, have been sung by bards, and Hindu expertise has suavely woven fun, dance and gaeity in their religious fairs and festivals that invariably fall on seasonal rhythms-a climatic by-product, which promotors of Indian tourism must put to proper sale: selling is an art, must be done with care and expertise.