Urban Tourism and Challenges: A Study of Varanasi City

Abstract

             Tourism in 19^th century itself, was considered as one of the basic human needs, thereby becoming the necessity of society. Cities have always been tourist destinations from a cultural-historical nature to the now more modern form of business and medical tourism. As a result of this transformation, a new concept appeared; Urban Tourism. Now Urban Agglomerations are the leading destinations. Tourism being an important source of income for many developing countries, had been the most affected industry due to the COVID 19 pandemic. It has developed social and medical emergencies along with profound adverse consequences on the global economy. Varanasi being a tourist destination from time immemorial, faces the challenges of Urban Tourism and also the setbacks due to the pandemic. Rampant urbanization and an increase in population has adversely affected the quality of life. Being one of the largest agglomerations of the Uttar Pradesh state, the city needs to re-build tourism after the pandemic to a more sustainable pattern. This paper is a critical analysis of tourism in Varanasi, its problems and looking at most appropriate post – pandemic perspective for Urban Tourism. This is a descriptive study depending on the synthesis of early literature and sources of published news and reports related to tourism management.