Institute of Tourism Studies, University of Lucknow Celebrates World Tourism Day 2024 with Heritage Walk and Competitions

By Prem Kumar Sep 28, 2024, 07:23 IST

Lucknow desk (R L Pandey).The Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), University of Lucknow, celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27, 2024, with a series of engaging events, bringing together the university community under the theme for this yeay given by UNWTO "Tourism and Peace." The celebration featured a Heritage Walk for Peace: An Ode to Our University at the main campus, as well as a speech competition and quiz held at the second campus.

Under the esteemed patronage of Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lucknow, the day commenced with a heritage walk at the university's main campus. The walk was led by Dr. Ravi Bhatt, a renowned historian, who served as the chief guest for the occasion. Dr. Bhatt guided faculty members, students, and staff through the architectural marvels of the university, including some of its most iconic structures. His detailed and engaging commentary highlighted the rich history and glory of the buildings, emphasizing the deep cultural significance of the university’s heritage and the glory of the Nawabs. The walk inspired participants to appreciate the legacy of their surroundings and reinforced the theme of peace through preservation and understanding.

In addition to the heritage walk, the celebrations extended to the university’s second campus, where a speech competition on the topic "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and a quiz competition were organized. The speech competition witnessed enthusiastic participation, with students of BBA (Tourism & Hospitality) First Semester Namami Giri, taking the first place. Bhavishya Pandey secured second place, and Sachin Tiwari came in third.
The quiz competition saw a fierce contest between students. The team of Anshika Yadav and Parul Raj (BBA Tourism, V Semester) emerged victorious, while Tanu Singh and Yuvraj Singh (BBA Tourism, III Semester) claimed the second position.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Alok Kumar Rai expressed his pride in the university's commitment to celebrating heritage, culture, and knowledge through these events. "World Tourism Day is a reminder of the invaluable role that cultural heritage plays in our lives, and I am pleased to see the enthusiasm with which our students and faculty have embraced this day," said Prof. Rai. He further highlighted the significance of the event's alignment with the 2024 theme "Tourism and Peace."

Dr. Anupama Srivastava, Incharge, Institute of Tourism Studies expressed gratitude to the Vice chancellor and Dr. Bhatt for his invaluable contribution to the event and highlighted the importance of such initiatives in promoting the university’s cultural heritage. "Heritage connects us to our roots and inspires future generations. It is fitting that on World Tourism Day, we take a moment to honor and celebrate the rich history embedded within our own campus."

The event brought together members of the university community including Prof. O. P. Shukla, Prof. Mahendra Agnihotri, SMH Rizvi, Dr. Sudheer Mishra, Dr. Amar Kumar Tiwari, Dr. Suyash Yadav, Mandavi Srivastava and Dr. Neetika Mehta in a celebration of knowledge, culture, and unity. Students of various tourism programmes enthusiastically participated in the walk along with staff. The Quiz and Speech Competitions were conducted by Abhinav Singh and Trishila Tiwari. Both the heritage walk and the competitions emphasized the importance of not only preserving cultural heritage but also fostering a spirit of self-reliance and intellectual growth.
World Tourism Day is celebrated globally to foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. The theme for 2024, "Tourism and Peace," resonated deeply with the event's purpose, as the heritage walk not only celebrated the architectural marvels of the University of Lucknow but also promoted a message of peace and unity.