“Promote tourism that celebrates culture while minimizing environmental impact.”
Margao: In a panel discussion focused on regenerative tourism and sustainability, speakers not only celebrate culture but also embrace exploration of the hinterland and promote local tourism while minimizing impact on natural resources. He emphasized the vital importance of promoting tourism that supports communities and artisans.
Panel moderator Amitava Bhattacharya shared transformative stories from various regions including the Northeast, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. These stories highlighted the positive impact that upskilling and scaling up indigenous practices such as handicrafts has significantly boosted local economies. Additionally, sustainable initiatives such as zero waste initiatives are opening up new tourism opportunities in these regions.
Maria Victor emphasized the importance of innovative initiatives such as developing local people as storytellers, establishing discovery platforms through heritage tours, and promoting homegrown businesses. She urged government and private sector stakeholders to collaborate more broadly and highlighted the potential benefits for Goa’s tourism sector as a whole.
Parag Raghnekar advocated for prioritizing the acceptance of tourism-related activities in rural areas by local villagers. He emphasized the importance of making tourism more immersive so that visitors leave with a deeper respect for the land and valuable learning experiences. Mr. Ragnekar also emphasized on promoting responsible tourism and Goa’s unique identity as a key element for a sustainable future.
Rupinder Brar highlighted how events like the COVID-19 pandemic have caused travelers to rethink their priorities and seek out tourism experiences that resonate with the essence of a destination. He emphasized the need for a new tourism strategy to prioritize people, especially local communities who benefit from rethinking tourism opportunities.
Jack Sukija mentioned the challenge of locals and tourists competing for the same resources, especially in a destination like Goa where the number of inbound tourists outnumbers the local population. He emphasized the importance of integrating tourism and circular economy to ensure mutual benefit for both local residents and tourists. Mr Sukija also praised existing efforts to provide products for local residents to take home as souvenirs, thereby improving the overall tourism experience.