I don’t know if the definitions have changed, but in my time, in olden days, we were taught that as a person becomes rich, his needs start to trace an upward graph. Thus, if food, cloth and minimum shelter were once his primary needs in that order, with more money his next needs would encompass health, education for his kids, and a sweet home (+ car). In India though, it would perhaps be education for kids first before health.
If these are the basic needs of life for a decent living, what would a person look for if he has yet more money at his command? Here the priority changes from person to person, culture to culture and also depends on age profile. Among the most preferred choices are intelligent savings for more comfortable future, ensuring top-class education for sons/daughters, spending on entertainment, visiting places, and splurging on supposedly non-essentials.
Of these, my choice is to see more and more places (though admittedly I’m not as better-off to warrant more than one visit away per year). But guess what, I’m not alone to be possessed with that choice.
Going by a report in today’s ET (The Economic Times, Kolkata), Indians and Chinese increasingly dominate the intra-Asian tourism scenario. The January-September 2006 data culled in the report indicates a surge in their visits abroad. Here’s a snapshot of the figures so far Indians are concerned:
To Singapore: 4.87 lakhs, up 14%
To Malaysia (January-July 2006): 1.6 lakhs, up 19.5%
To Hong Kong: 2.2 lakhs, up 8.9%
To Australia: 62,700, up 28%
As per the report, Australia is keen to see that more Indians visit that country. Not without reason. At 28%, Indians are the fastest-growing community to set their feet down under.
Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia
[Picture source, Copyright © Klaus Schroiff]
Memorable nightlife at Boat Quay, Singapore [Picture source]
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