Author: Dr Nimit Chowdhary

Prof Nimit Chowdhary, Vice Chancellor, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota; and, Professor of Tourism, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi On a chilly winter night near Jaisalmer, tourists sat around a crackling fire as the haunting sound of the kamaicha drifted across the moonlit dunes. A German traveller looked at the endless desert and whispered, “This place feels timeless.” Nearby stood Raju, a camel owner from a small village. He smiled politely, though his mind wandered elsewhere. A decade earlier, tourism had arrived like a grand celebration. Roads were built, desert camps glittered with lanterns, and buses packed with visitors rolled in…

By Dr Nimit Chowdhary, Professor and Head (Tourism), Faculty of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia If you stroll through the bustling lanes of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk or Jaipur’s Johari Bazaar with an experienced tourist guide, you may notice something curious. As you approach a shop, the guide leans towards the shopkeeper and drops a single word — “Chokhad.” Suddenly, the shopkeeper’s smile brightens, tea appears almost instantly, and the sales pitch turns into a performance. This is no random word; it’s a quiet signal. Chokhad means the tourist is a generous spender, good at tipping, and worth pulling out the…

Why tour guides will always matter in an AI-driven world!! As my train pulled into Agra Cantt, a tour guide stepped on board, helping foreign tourists settle in. Minutes later, as the train rolled out, I watched those very tourists wave at him through tinted windows—with glowing eyes, grateful smiles, and hands moving as if to hold on to something precious. What had he done in just 24 hours to earn such affection? In that fleeting moment, I found my answer to a troubling question: In an age of AI apps and virtual tours, are human guides still needed? Absolutely.…

By Dr Nimit Chowdhary, Professor and Head (Tourism), Faculty of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia. The recent attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, shook every Indian to the core. Pakistan-backed terrorists brutally killed twenty-six innocent tourists. These tourists were just out to enjoy the beauty of our beloved Kashmir, a land that had finally started to breathe easy again. After years of turmoil, Kashmir was slowly getting back on its feet—thanks to tourism. Over 2 crore tourists had visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 alone, a record-breaking number. The smiles were returning to the faces of local people.…

By Dr. Nimit Chowdhary, Professor, Tourism Faculty of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia. As I have always maintained, any travel is, to some extent, transformative. Travel is an opportunity to reflect. As discussed in a previous article, whether it is the Dvaita or Advaita perspective, the pursuit of truth and the search for a deeper understanding of human existence are central themes in Indian philosophy. These pursuits are often approached through different paths, known as “margas” (means). The three primary paths– Jnana Marg (path of knowledge/wisdom), Karma Marg (path of action), and Bhakti Marg (path of devotion) – are integral…

By Dr. Nimit Chowdhary, Professor, Tourism Faculty of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia. In the expansive canvas of tourism, a significant portion of the conversation occurs in the hidden realm known as dark social. This covert exchange, characterized by sharing content through private channels, is pivotal in reshaping tourism destination marketing. This essay explores the concealed facets of dark social and its radiant impact on the charm and allure of Indian tourist hotspots. Authentic travel tales Dark Social, as a resource for Indian tourism marketers, holds transformative potential- it helps friends share real travel stories. Picture this: Your friend sends…

Consumers and marketers in tourism both grew conscious during the COVID pandemic and consensed that it would be a new normal. As a result, our ways of consuming tourism experiences and transacting business will see a change. As the first wave of the pandemic showed signs of subsiding, there were mad rushes to popular destinations and events. While international travel was still restricted, domestic tourism reportedly was overwhelming. Many accommodation providers reported more bookings than the previous year. While some people followed advised protocols, most were back to their earlier ways. This largely contributed to a fiercer and deadlier second…

These are challenging times. The world, including tourism, has almost come to a standstill hurting tourism jobs and people dependent on the sector indirectly. An overwhelming majority of service providers and servers have been idle and waiting for tourism to resume; their misery increased with every passing day. While some decided to continue at a very minimal scale of operations, others contemplated getting into other business. Most people only contemplated but did not muster the courage to chase it. Conventionally, managers are trained to figure out the best means to achieve a set goal. This approach is called causation. They…

Dr Nimit Chowdhary, Professor of Tourism, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Jamia Millia Islamia Among various predictions made for the new normal of tourism, a few ideas stood out and received approval from futurologists. Post COVID tourism would observe conscious travellers- conscious of their safety and conscious of not harming the nature. This sensibility indicates an emerging trend to travel close to nature and more so to sparsely populated or inhabited places. As travellers are sceptical of travelling with unknowns, particularly in closed spaces, they are opting for self-driven personal travel. With the improved surface infrastructure in…

Among various predictions made for the new normal of tourism, a few ideas stood out and received approval from futurologists. Post-COVID, tourism would observe travellers – conscious of their safety and conscious of harming nature. This sensibility indicates an emerging trend to travel close to nature and more so to sparsely populated or inhabited places. As travellers are sceptical of travelling with unknowns, particularly in closed spaces, they are opting for self-driven personal travel. With the improved surface infrastructure in India, many enthusiasts, especially the youth, are giving conventional accommodation, particularly the frequented hotels, a miss. They are favouring recreational…