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COVER STORY
HOSPITALITY BIZ NOVEMBER, 2024 17
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Day Three: Building Sustainable Pathways and Regional tourism as a primary economic sector. With significant investments,
Cooperation Punjab aims to enhance its tourism offerings and capitalize on the
The final day in Goa saw sessions centered on strategic partnerships and growing interest in cultural and rural tourism.
regulatory ease. Goa’s government emphasized its plans to diversify its The FHRAI convention demonstrated a unified vision for a
offerings beyond beaches, capitalizing on cultural tourism and wellness sustainable and resilient future for India’s tourism industry. From
initiatives. The government is developing policies to support homestays addressing regulatory bottlenecks to enhancing infrastructure and
and local entrepreneurs in partnership with platforms like Airbnb and fostering sustainable practices, the discussions underscored the sector’s
Agoda, aiming to enrich Goa’s tourism landscape and support local potential as a key economic contributor. Recognizing that tourism has
communities. the ability to create jobs across demographics, delegates reinforced the
Key discussions focused on capacity building and the need for industry’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
cohesive state and central government collaboration. Single-window The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Vinay Albuquerque,
clearances and regulatory ease were proposed to streamline processes Co-Chairman of the COC, who inaugurated the Exhibition hosted by
and boost tourism investments, drawing examples from the state of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). Delegates explored the
Punjab, which invested INR 87,000 crore over the past two years in exhibition, showcasing the latest trends and innovations in hospitality.
tourism infrastructure. The convention closed on a note of optimism, with a clear roadmap to
Goa’s Tourism Director, Suneel Anchipaka, reflected on the position Indian tourism not only as incredible but inevitable.
convention’s impact, “The collaborative spirit of this convention In the words of Pradeep Shetty, “The FHRAI convention reaffirms
inspires us to drive growth and sustainability in India’s tourism sector. the tourism sector’s pivotal role in India’s growth story. As we move from
Goa is committed to leading this journey with regenerative tourism at ‘Incredible India’ to ‘Inevitable India,’ our focus will be on real results—
its core.” meeting challenges head-on and creating a more vibrant, sustainable, and
Punjab’s Secretary of Industry and Investment Promotion, Amit inclusive future for tourism in India.” n
Kharbanda, shared insights on policy initiatives designed to position

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