According to the above statistics, which form of tourism is the least popular at the present moment?
According to the above statistics, which form of tourism is the least popular at the present moment?
Spiritual tourism, at 2%, is the least popular form of tourism according to the passage's statistics.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for correctly identifying 'Spiritual tourism' (with or without the 2% figure).
Hint
Write down all the percentage figures from the passage and circle the smallest one.
Quick Oral Answer
According to the passage statistics, Spiritual tourism is the least popular form of tourism at the present moment, accounting for only 2% of all travel, which is the lowest among all categories listed.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a data-interpretation question requiring students to compare numerical values given in the passage.
Data given in the passage
- Leisure — 42%
- Business — 35%
- Health — 10%
- Others — 5%
- Sports — 3%
- Educational — 3%
- Spiritual — 2%
Concept
- Comparing these figures shows Spiritual tourism at 2% as clearly the least popular; the phrase 'at the present moment' signals that the answer must reflect this current data, not historical trends.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Sports (3%) or Educational (3%) tourism with the least popular, since both are also low figures.
- Selecting 'Others' (5%) or overlooking Spiritual tourism as a distinct category.
Exam tip
- For statistics-based questions, quickly jot all the numbers in ascending order in the margin before answering.
Common Mistakes
- 1Selecting Sports tourism (3%) or Educational tourism (3%) instead of Spiritual tourism (2%) because students confuse 'low' with 'lowest' and do not compare all the figures carefully.
- 2Not mentioning the percentage in the answer, which weakens the response even though it may not cost a full mark -- always cite the data that supports your answer.
- 3Misreading the question as asking about the 'least important' form instead of the 'least popular', which are different -- popularity here is strictly based on the percentage figures.
Interesting Facts
Despite being listed as least popular in the passage, spiritual tourism to India has been growing rapidly -- Varanasi alone received over 6 million tourists in 2023, with many visiting for spiritual purposes along the Ganges.
The Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years in India, is the world's largest religious gathering, attracting over 200 million people in the 2019 edition at Prayagraj -- making it the biggest single spiritual tourism event globally.
Globally, spiritual tourism generates an estimated $18 billion annually, with major destinations including the Vatican City (receiving 5 million pilgrims yearly), Mecca, Jerusalem, and Bodh Gaya in India.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the least popular tourism type from the passage?
List all the percentage figures given in the passage and identify the smallest number. Spiritual tourism at 2% is the lowest among all categories mentioned (Leisure 42%, Business 35%, Health 10%, Sports 3%, Educational 3%, Spiritual 2%).
What if two tourism types had the same lowest percentage?
In this passage, Sports and Educational tourism both share 3%, but Spiritual tourism at 2% is uniquely the lowest. If two were tied at the lowest, you would need to mention both in your answer.
Should I mention the percentage figure in my answer?
Yes, including the percentage (2%) strengthens your answer and shows the examiner that you have accurately read the statistics. For a 1-mark answer, writing 'Spiritual tourism at 2%' is ideal.