Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) in collaboration with SKAL Goa and Goa tourism will host a series of events on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, which includes a discussion on targeting green investment for the sector as well as deliberating on key issues and arriving at solutions at the largest tourism stakeholder lunch that will be held in Goa with more than 500 tourism stakeholders expected to attend the event at Taj Cidade De Goa.
According to TTAG president Nilesh Shah, the event, which is likely to be attended by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, top bureaucrats and travel and tourism industry stakeholders will discuss Green Investment and Tourism where the prospects of attracting green investment to develop Goa’s tourism industry will be deliberated upon.
“Green investments in the tourism industry are crucial as we move further away from the pandemic, as many consumer preferences have shifted to become more eco-friendly," said TTAG president Nilesh Shah.
He added that the trade will also identify key issues faced by the industry and deliberate on possible solutions.
UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) has identified "Tourism and Green Investments" as the theme for this year's World Tourism Day.
UNWTO has identified investments as one of the key priorities for tourism’s recovery and future growth and development. It highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for people, for the planet and for prosperity.
The World Tourism Day events will kick off with a heritage walk in Campal led by Make-it-Happen Tours, which will see the participation of over 150 students from Goa-based hospitality management colleges, including the Indian Hotel Management (IHM), where students will immerse themselves in the city's rich heritage and community spirit.
At the key World Tourism Day event, Dr Aaron Savio Lobo, Senior Advisor, Wildlife Conservation Society – India, will discuss the benefits that Goa can draw from mainstreaming coastal and marine biodiversity into the tourism sector.
Milind Prabhu, CEO – Genora Infotech Pvt Ltd, one of India’s top-rated mobile app development companies, will speak on the artificial intelligence wave.
Anish Sousa from Sun 360, a solar company, will speak on the benefits of the tourism industry going green, a relevant subject considering that the state government has recently announced plans to turn Panjim into a city powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025.
“Green investments in tourism support cultural heritage preservation and responsible tourism, safeguarding and showcasing a destination's distinct cultural treasures, which in turn enriches local communities,” according to Jack Ajit Sukhija, TTAG Vice President - North Goa.
The World Tourism Day events will kick off with a heritage walk in Campal led by Make-it-Happen Tours, which will see the participation of over 150 students from Goa-based hospitality management colleges, including the Indian Hotel Management (IHM), where students will immerse themselves in the city's rich heritage and community spirit.
Additionally, Soul Travelling, a boutique heritage tour firm, will conduct five other heritage walking tours around various parts of Goa throughout the day, to showcase the state’s rich culture and heritage to both tourists and locals.
These include the Margao Cultural Walk at 4 pm, Christian Art Trail at 9.30 am, Saligao Passoi at 4 pm, Temple Trail at Marcel at 9 am and the Lost Fortress of Rachol at 8.30 am.
A boat cruise has also been organised by the Rotary Club along the Mandovi River for children with disabilities from the age group of 6-18 years at 10.30 am.
A two-man band will also play traditional music at Miramar, Calangute, Old Goa and Colva as part of the celebration of World Tourism Day in one of the most popular beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country.
