INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: A FUTURE PROSPECT OF HERITAGE TOURISM

Intangible cultural heritage represents the traditions or living expressions taken from ancestors and passed on to future generations such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festivals, knowledge and practices related to nature or the knowledge and art to manufacture traditional crafts. Tourist visits different places to learn and experience the unique culture of India including Buddhist chanting of Laddakh, Patachitra of West Bengal, Mudiyettu of Kerela, Kumbh mela, Kalbelia folk songs, and dances of Rajasthan and so on. Tourists exploring the cultural heritage of India offer a wonderful lifetime experience to familiarize themselves with all customs. Doing tribal photography in India gives them great joy. The richness that intangible heritage offers is one of the key motivations for travel for tourists who wish to interact with new cultures and experience the diversity of the performing arts, crafts, rituals, festive events and cuisines. Thus, cultural heritage tourism creates a powerful impetus for safeguarding and enhancement of intangible cultural heritage, as the resources it generates can be redirected to communities of tradition bearers for their sustainable development. Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage is a valuable economic source generated by cultural heritage tourism in the form of an inflow of foreign currencies. Cultural cooperation is fostered by heritage tourism, which promotes discussion, builds understanding and encourages peace and tolerance worldwide. It is clear that intangible cultural heritage builds bridges between the past, present and future, it also encourages a sense of identity and responsibility.