Gleaning trends from Indian tourism
The programme Disha- 2013 focusses on new tourism trends in India. The award- winning research papers highlight current issues that impact the Indian tourism sector and give recommendations.
Thomas Cook, Centre of Learning, recently launched the second edition of Disha – an initiative to bring in quality research in the field of travel and tourism inviting faculties of educational institutions across India. Post receiving an overwhelming response from the industry with research papers coming from across the country, the event was held to announce the winners of top research papers. Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister for Tourism, Maharashtra felicitated the winning research entries and also released a published book featuring the top research papers.
On the sidelines of Disha 2013, Bhujbal said, “Talent management is one of the most important concerns in the field of travel and tourism. With travellers becoming more informed and evolved,
“The travel and tourism industry of India had been recognised as a driving force in boosting the Indian economy but faces its share of challenges. Our attempt through Disha is to encourage and support high standards of research and learning in tourism
Madhavan Menon
MD, Thomas Cook (India)
travel service providers need to be better trained and specialised in this sector. Maharashtra tourism is working very closely with Thomas Cook’s Centre of Learning to encourage young minds to consider building a career in the field of tourism industry.”
A panel discussion on ‘ Travel and Tourism – Emerging Trends’ was also staged at the event which highlighted views from the experts of the industry. Speaking at the panel were Ratna Chadha, Chief Executive, Tirun Travel Marketing – India; Dr Manjula Chaudhary, Director, Indian Institution of Tourism & Travel Management; Gour Kanjilal, Executive Director, IATO and Stephan Heuberger, Director – India, Switzerland Tourism. The panelists discussed about sustainable tourism, growing importance of social media, innovation in product offering and need to develop infrastructure, flexible tourism policies and encouraging environment for private players.
In order to promote quality research in the field of travel and tourism, Thomas Cook India's training vertical, Centre of Learning recently unveiled the second edition of Disha, a platform which invites research papers in the field of travel and tourism from faculties of educational institutions across India, in Mumbai. The initiative was felicitated in a ceremony where Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Maharashtra , Sumit Mullickji, Principal Secretary- Additional Charge Tourism and Chief Protocol Officer, Govt of Maharashtra and Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) felicitated the winning research entries and released a published book with a compilation of the top research papers.