INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATURAL AREA TOURISM

“Uncontrolled and unplanned tourism in any place will degrade it to become a ‘spent destination’. That is why regulation of Tourism is necessary to develop it in a sustainable manner. Although, development is a key to the growth of Tourism sector in any country, it has to be sustainable, or it can have adverse effect on the sector” said Mr. Syed Liyakhat, Programme Coordinator of “Equations”, Bangalore in his Keynote address, at the inaugural function of the two day International Seminar on “Natural Area Tourism: Impacts, Planning and Management”, on February 14, 2008, at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula.

“Goa is people friendly due to which it draws a large number of  people, and its pride are its beaches”, said Mr. Francisco Xavier Pacheco, Hon. Minister of Tourism and Housing, who presided as the Chief Guest and inaugurated this two day International Seminar at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula.

This International seminar was organized by The School of Business Studies and Management of St. Xavier’s College in partnership with The Department of Tourism-Government of Goa , The Travel & Tourism Association Goa, and The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula, on 14^th and 15^th February 2008.

Welcoming the delegates, Prof. Newman Fernandes, Principal of St. Xavier’s College provided a rationale for the organization of this seminar and set the agenda for discussion. He said that the College offers two courses in Tourism, and even if it had not offered these courses, it was the responsibility of the College to provide a platform for discussion on a topic that has an impact on all people. “Natural Area Tourism is a new aspect of tourism which has become a growing niche form of tourism. Its explosive growth cannot be underestimated. 25% of all the tourists are involved in natural area tourism which is worth around U.S. $ 30 billion a year”, he added. He stressed on the ecological connectivity and suggested that it could be a vehicle for fostering increased awareness and conservation, as well as to bring about greater environmental understanding.

In his address, Dr. M. Rajaretnam, Director ICG, congratulated St. Xavier’s College for this important initiative, mobilizing important voices from the field. He suggested the creation of a network of communities throughout the world to learn from each other and to seek viable solutions while discussing tourism in natural areas.

Ralph D’Souza, President TTAG, stressed that Goans have to look at the global perspectives of tourism and its impacts. He said that Goa ’s popularity is not only because of its beaches, but also due to its natural beauty, hospitable nature of people, mixed culture, warm sea waters, etc. Any compromise with this will bring the downfall of tourism. He appreciated the efforts of St. Xavier’s College for taking the lead and for preparing future manpower for this industry. Delegates totalling 150 from U.S.A. , Austria , U.K. and India participated in this seminar.

The first technical session was based on “Natural Heritage Tourism”.  The  Resource  person,      Prof. Sandeep Kulshreshtha, Head, Academics, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior, highlighted the current issues and future research needs of Natural Heritage He also stressed on the problems regarding Natural Heritage Tourism and also suggested steps for improvement such as development of sites, determination of the carrying capacity of the heritage site , target group etc.

A number of foreign delegates from different countries such as U.S.A. , Austria , U.K. shared their views about Natural Area Tourism. They discussed a number of issues such as abuse of wildlife, beach cleanliness, human trafficking, power problems, destruction of the environment, garbage problem, exploitation of the wild life and suggested that policies need to be framed to sustain the natural beauty.

The second technical session was on “Agro Tourism”. Dr. V.S. Korikanthimanth, Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Goa,  highlighted the Agro-Eco-Tourism as an emerging opportunity for farmers, to diversify agricultural enterprises by establishing Agro-Eco-Tourism centers in the state. He dealt with the scope of plantation of spices, ecology and education, aesthetic pleasures and policy interventions providing a strategy to Agro-Eco-Tourism.

One hundred and fifty delegates from India and abroad attended the Seminar, in which over 20 papers were presented on a number of topics like Agro Tourism, Monsoon Tourism, Marine Tourism, Wildlife Tourism, Natural Heritage Tourism, etc.

The recommendations formulated by the delegates for submission to the authorities urge the Government, Municipalities and Panchayats to encourage beach decongestion and to execute, meticulously the beach management plan, after formulating it wherever not available. The seminar recommends that successes in natural area tourism should be documented because this publicity will encourage tourists, as well as prospective entrepreneurs.

Goa should not be a transit point, but the resources generated by tourism should be ploughed back into Goa . The Government and NGOs should assist educational institutions to create the much required trained manpower for the tourism industry. St. Xavier’s was requested to set up an institute for tourism studies and research.

The Chief Guest, for the valedictory function, Mr. Elvis Gomes, Director of Tourism, was a bit wary about promoting natural area tourism in Goa . Recalling the ills of beach tourism like concrete structures around beaches and illegal constructions in CRZ areas, Mr. Gomes said we should go into nature tourism in “a very subtle way” lest we upset the lives of the people who inhabit these natural areas. Mr. Gomes, however, promised to do all he could from the Government’s side to help in the implementations of the seminar recommendations.

Dr. Filipe Rodrigues e Melo, the Coordinator thanked the foreign and local delegates and in a special way the participants for their paper presentations. He also thanked his colleagues for the involvement they have shown in making the seminar a success.