Berhampur: The exposure of students of tourism studies to travel industry was stressed by the experts at a seminar organised on the occasion of World Tourism Day at Berhampur University in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Friday.
Speaking at the national seminar held at Sanskruti Bhavan in the city, Prof Geetanjali Dash, vice-chancellor of the university stressed on aligning tourism with sustainable development goals. The students should be exposed to tourism industry to have practical experience in this regard, she said.
The seminar was organised by the PG Department of Travel and Tourism Studies of the university in association with ‘Parytan Bharat’ on the theme of “Tourism and Green Investment” of the World Tourism Day.
The seminar discussed and explored the intersections of tourism and green investments, further enriching the field of travel and tourism studies. It brought together experts, academics, and enthusiasts to promote sustainable tourism practices, aligning with the global commitment to preserving the environment.
Prof Jitendra Mohan Mishra of the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh spoke on sustainability and green investment in tourism. Adyasha Das, Associate Professor of IITTM Bhubaneswar shared her expertise on the seminar’s theme.
Kaulesh Kumar, Secretary General (Founder) of the Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO) shed light on significance of Buddhism and Odisha’s rich cultural heritage in the context of tourism.
Kranti P. Sawarkar, Joint General Manager (Tourism) of IRCTC, Bhubaneswar and Lenin Mohanty, Chairman of OTDC, Bhubaneswar, also spoke.
Binod Kumar Behera, District Tourist Officer, Ganjam was chief advisor of the event while Ritu Tiwari, Coordinator of the Department of Tourism and Travel Studies in the university was the convener of the programme.