Election Tourism for int’l tourists
Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Akshar Travels, explains the concept of Election Tourism and says that it allows foreign tourists to understand and explore the election process of the largest democracy in the world.
What is the concept of Election Tourism?
Election Tourism is a first of its kind in this industry. Here, international tourists explore and understand our electoral systems, experience healthy and peaceful elections, differ- ent types of campaigning on various circuits and tour itineraries of India. We allow them to visit seminars organised by political leaders for elections and meeting them, depending on the permission. Tourists can also be a part of the debate of national parties during elections. It is an ideal opportunity for international students to do research on. It helps them understand and differentiate election between rural and urban areas. The colour, noise, controversies and drama during the opinion polls would take foreigners by storm. We look at it as a ‘festival’ without interfering in the election process.
How was the response from foreigners to the poll tourism concept that was introduced in ITB Berlin?
The concept Election Tourism India was launched on March 5, 2014 at ITB Berlin. We got excellent feedback from exhibitors, trade visitors and local visitors of more than 100 countries. The maximum interest for these tours have been shown by countries like Germany, France, Poland and London. We are also getting inquiries from United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe, Latvia, Lesotho, Kenya, Egypt and Ukraine. More than 95 universities and top research institutes of the world – who had participated at ITB Berlin have shown interest in the concept and wish to project election tourism in India as a research course at the universities.
What is the cost of the package and what all does it include?
The tour cost will be starting from US$1,200-1,600 per person for 7 days, including all transfers in luxury AC vehicles, accommodation in 3-5 star hotels, all meals, Englishspeaking tour guide, all sightseeing, exclusive visits to the different areas for campaigning in rural and urban areas like rally, open public assembly, meeting with political leaders like MLAs, MPs & local councillors, subject to availability.
Will you be helped by the political parties in this initiative?
We have contacted political parties and they have agreed to support us. They said they will try their best to spare some time to meet tourists. We are sure that the tourism universities will include Election Tourism as a new subject.