DTS organises seminar to celebrate world tourism day
Ganderbal, Sept 27: The Department of Tourism Studies, (DTS) Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Monday organised a one-day seminar on “Tourism For Inclusive Growth,” to celebrate the World Tourism Day, at Green Campus here.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, Professor, Hotel and Tourism Management, Director Centre for Life Skills and Soft Skills, Prof. Ashish Dahiya, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Dean School of Business Studies, Prof. Farooq A Shah, The Vintage General Manager, Mr. Jahangir Ah. Khan, Coordinator DTS, Mr. Faizan Ashraf Mir, faculty members, scholars and students attended the seminar.
In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said the concretization of famous tourist destinations including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and others has become a bane rather than boon for the tourism sector of the Valley. “The need of the hour is to construct buildings at the tourist destinations, which don’t harm the fragile ecology and the environment of that particular place and is in accordance with the local architecture and taste,” Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, said and asked the students to become architects of the same. He said that despite several setbacks, the tourism industry is growing with each passing day and is providing livelihood to thousands of people across Kashmir.
In his keynote address supplemented by presentation, Prof. Ashish Dahiya, said, the tourism industry is the biggest employment generator across the world and in India. “The inclusive growth in Tourism sector could be achieved through equitable opportunities for the stakeholders, maximising economic linkages to the local economy and minimizing economic leakage of the economy,” he said.
In his special address, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar said, the tourism industry has been adversely affected due to Covid-19 pandemic across the world and the need of the hour is to revive and rejuvenate it. “To grow the industry in the country, we have to promote the local tourists so that regional tourism will get a boost,” he said. About DTS, he said,
“The DTS is training the human resource required for the ever growing tourism sector and the students should try to explore and find new travel destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Addressing the participants, Dean School of Business Studies, Prof. Farooq A Shah, said that all the stakeholders should essentially be made part of any policy drafted for the promotion and development of tourism. “The locals in every part of the country should be taken on board before formulating any policy as it affects their livelihood directly,” he said and called for sustainable development of the tourism destinations across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jahangir Ah. Khan, underscored the need for framing and subsequent implementation of Tourism Policy. “The students should provide valuable inputs to the Government for framing the policy as it would directly affect their career in the tourism sector,” he added.
Coordinator DTS, Mr. Faizan Ashraf Mir, in his welcome address, gave a detailed account about the history behind celebrating the Day. He said the Day is celebrated every year to pledge support to the tourism industry and create awareness among masses about the role of tourism in the overall growth and development of the society. Asst Prof. DTS, Mrs Shahnaz Akhtar conducted the programme proceedings while Asst Prof. DTS, Dr. Ramjit proposed the vote of thanks.
Later, the DTS organised a Photo essay and videography competition for the students and a brainstorming session on innovation concept notes.
