MP Tourism : Webinar held on "Heritage – Perspectives for the future"
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Bhopal. On the occasion of World Heritage Day, a webinar on 'Heritage - Perspectives for the Future' was organised jointly by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. Principal Secretary Culture, Tourism and Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla informed that a webinar was organised for public awareness of cultural, historical and natural heritage of the country and the state to protect, promote and preserve them. Important suggestions on the use of latest technique and technology for the promotion of cultural heritage and to convert them into tourism property etc. were received at the webinar. This webinar will determine the direction of development and future of Madhya Pradesh tourism.
In the webinar, Additional Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Government of India Sushri Rupinder Brar, Additional Managing Director of MP Tourism Board Sushri Sonia Meena, Chairperson of Infosys Foundation Padmashri Smt. Sudha Murthy, eminent Indian classical singer duo Padmabhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra, Indian Ecology (INDeco) Tourism Company CMD Shri Steve Borgia and retired Joint Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, Shri S.B. Ota expressed their views and also gave their suggestions on restoring and refurbishing the great heritage of India.
Padmashri Smt. Sudha Murthy said that with the help of history lovers, social organisations and NGOs, important cultural sites of the state can be renovated, developed and promoted. Historical sites of Madhya Pradesh should be included in the school curriculum. In view of the religious tendency of the people of Madhya Pradesh, the tourism circuits can be developed by connecting the sites of religious importance around the rivers Narmada and Shipra.
Shri Steve Borgia suggested converting historic buildings located in rural areas into tourist hotels. He said that this would give a boost to rural tourism. Along with the preservation of historical buildings, commercial and business activities will increase in the villages, which will also lead to the development of rural areas.
Padmabhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra suggested creating corpus fund with the help of society and government, which can be operated through artists and administrative officials. With this, Indian classical music and tradition can be preserved and handed over to future generations.
Retired Joint Director-General of Archaeological Survey of India, Shri S.B. Ota said that the tourism should be developed by integrating the natural, geological, architectural and musical heritage of the state. Work should be done towards making inheritance self-sustenance. Local residents should participate in this development because they have preserved these heritages till now and will continue to do so. Historical sites like Sanchi, Mandu can be developed along this line.
Additional Managing Director of MP Tourism Board, Sushri Sonia Meena said that at present the trend of authentic and local culture tourism has increased. Madhya Pradesh has immense potential for tribal and rural tourism. In this direction, 60 villages are being developed by the department under the 'Rural Tourism Project'. Here local people are being given training and help for the development of rural home-stay and tourism activities. 100 such villages will be developed in areas like Chambal, Bundelkhand, Malwa, Baghelkhand etc. Tourists here will be able to enjoy the pristine natural beauty as well as the local art, culture and cuisine.
The webinar was conducted by Shri Nishant Upadhyay. Shri Nishant is a Heritage Expert and Architect of UNESCO; he has done innovations and important works in the direction of conservation and promotion of historic buildings in Madhya Pradesh. History and tourism lovers from various regions of the country and abroad took part in the webinar.
