It is necessary to respect and propagate the original culture of the tourist destination

States G B Srithar, world renowned personality in the field of tourism, in the ‘Goa International Travel Mart 2024’

Panaji (Goa) – “Making any tourist destination great is not the task of one person. This is a collective responsibility of the Government, locals and the private sector. For this, it is necessary to respect the original culture, history, art, heritage etc. of the tourist destination and propagate them. We should reach to the society using advanced technology like artificial intelligence. This can effectively promote the tourism sector”, stated G B Srithar, world famous personality in the tourism sector. Srithar is the Head of Tourism Services for ‘VFS Global’ and currently resides in Dubai. He was speaking on the second day (4th April) of the 2-day ‘Goa International Travel Mart 2024’ event organised by the Goa State Tourism Department. The event was held at Taleigao’s Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium.

A seminar on ‘Branding and Marketing of Tourism’ was organised in the morning session of the event. On this occasion, Ajay Prakash, Global President of the ‘International Institute for Peace through Tourism’, G B Srithar, Chairman of ‘Charlson Advisory’ Carl Vaz, Europe Head of ‘Wiza International’ Henry and North Goa President of ‘Travel and Tourism Association of Goa’ Jack Sukhija addressed the event. Everyone shared their thoughts on how tourism in Goa can be diversified and expanded. Henry gave an eloquent example of how the people of the Central American country of Costa Rica promoted their native culture and customs for tourism. Carl Vaz stressed on efforts to involve the people of 330 villages and 189 Gram Panchayats in Goa in the development of tourism. Ajay Prakash said that the tourism sector, which accounts for 10% of the world’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), does not generate any output, but can create ‘pleasant memories’. Jack Sukhija commented on the promotion of sanctuaries and rural tourism in Goa. Mark Mendis, an important personality in the world of tourism, moderated the seminar.

Dignitaries present at the seminar

In the afternoon session, a seminar on the ‘Use of modern technology in the tourism sector’ and ‘Digital Nomad’ was held. The term ‘Digital Nomad’ has become popular since the time of COVID. With the advent of ‘work from home’, people are opting to live in another country for a job with less money. If the area is a tourist destination and the Government is able to provide the necessary facilities to such people, then they work from there online for their companies. Those who work in this way are called ‘Digital Nomads’. Opportunities, challenges etc. in this field were exchanged in this seminar.

Cultural nationalism gets a boost through tourism – Henry, Wiza International

At this time, Henry, the president of the European continent of ‘Wiza International’, discussed with the correspondent of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ the efforts made by the citizens of Panama for tourism. Henry said that when citizens expose their native traditions, customs and culture to the world through tourism, cultural nationalism among citizens, as well as a sense of territorial integrity, increases.