TOURISM STRATEGIES FOR WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA

IN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR WORLD HERITAGE INITIATIVE

https://www.ourworldheritage.org
Saturday, Feb 20, 14.00 -16.15 Hours IST on Zoom
(in English, with possibility of questions in French)

Introduction
OWH Draft Recommendations on Tourism with Applicability in India
Ms Minja Yang and Dr. Shikha Jain
Panel Session 1
Hospitality and Heritage Hotels as Economy Generators
Moderator: Prof. Anjana Singh
Panelists: Mr. Abhay Mangaldas, Prof Sandeep Munjal, Dr. Sonali Ghosh and Mr. Steve Borgia
Panel Session 2
How can Intangible Heritage be leveraged for Tourism in World Heritage Sites?
Moderator: Prof. Sanjay Sharma
Panelists: Dr. Ashish Chopra, Dr. Malvika Onial, Mr. Rakshat Hooja, Ms Shama Pawar

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Registrations: https://www.ourworldheritage.org/t_events/
Panel Discussions on the contribution of tourism for the conservation and enhancement of World
Heritage Sites in India for local development, and debate on the draft policy recommendations
during a 2-hour webinar where Tourism impact for around 8-10 World Heritage Sites of different
typologies (monumental, urban, cultural landscape, mixed and natural sites) will be discussed by
stakeholders involved in tourism development around these sites. The importance of intangible
heritage and the creative cultural industries related to heritage tourism will be given particular
attention.
Organised by: OWH in association with DRONAH Foundation, IHHA (Indian Heritage Hotel
Association) and Vedatya Institute of Hospitality.

PROGRAMME

14.00- 14.10 IST

OWH Draft Recommendations for Tourism and their applicability in India
Minja Yang and Shikha Jain

14.10 – 15.10 IST

Panel Discussion 1: Hospitality Industry and Heritage Hotels as economy generators
One of the approaches towards protecting, conserving and sustaining our ‘built heritage’ has been
about finding re-use/alternative use solutions. Re-use of heritage structures like forts, havelis,
bungalows as heritage hotels or homestays has been quite successful in India specially with
tourism ministries providing tax incentives for such agencies in the vicinity of World Heritage Sites.
The panel discussion will bring seasoned professionals from the industry with experience in
projects involving conversion of heritage structures into hotels as well those with experience in
managing and operating such places or facilitating permissions for the same. The panel discussion
will be moderated and should bring varied perspectives and issues to the discussion, allowing
attendees to build a deeper understanding of the opportunities as well as challenges around the
mentioned approach.

15.10-16.10 IST
Panel Discussion 2: How can Intangible Cultural Heritage be leveraged as a tourism asset;
generating opportunities to skill and employ people and also keep the traditional knowledge
alive?

Food related traditions, knowledge systems and its cultural expression are as much under threat of
dissipation as our built heritage. Our culinary heritage has immense value and potential as a driver
of tourism activity. Equally important is tapping the authentic experience with a boost to the local
economy through crafts promotion and heritage walks or thematic trails linking similar sites. The
panel discussion will bring culinary leaders, crafts tourism experts and professionals associated with
enhancing visitor experiences of World Heritage Sites to the discussion. The panel discussion will be
moderated and should bring varied perspectives and issues to the discussion, allowing attendees to
build a deeper understanding of the opportunities as well as challenges around leveraging
traditional, authentic food, crafts and local lifestyle as a driver of tourism related economic activity.

16.10-16.15 IST - Concluding Remarks

 ORGANISERS, SPEAKERS, MODERATORS AND PANELISTS

Prof. Minja Yang is a cultural heritage management consultant from Japan. She was
formerly Director of the UNESCO Office in New Delhi; Deputy-Director World Heritage
Centre and was coordinator for World Heritage Cities. Upon retiring from UNESCO she
served from 2010-2020 as President and Professor of the Raymond Lemaire International
Centre for Conservation of University of Leuven (RLICC/KU Leuven). She is UNESCO
consultant on Culture & Development (specialized in capacity-building of local authorities in
urban heritage management), member of Board of the Association of WH Sites of France
(ABFPM), Association des centres culturels de rencontre (ACCR) and Rajasthan Rural Arts
Programme (RRAP)
Dr. Shikha Jain has an extensive portfolio on cultural heritage of India that covers
Conservation, World Heritage and Museum Planning of 50 plus projects, largely realised
through her organisation DRONAH. As an international expert on World Heritage, she has
advised government organisations in Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Myanmar and UNESCO
Offices at Indonesia and Myanmar. She was a consultant to the UNESCO New Delhi and,
represented Ministry of Culture, India as a Heritage Expert on the UNESCO World Heritage
Committee. She is Vice President, ICOFORT, ICOMOS and Advisory Committee
Member,MSc. UNESCO C2C at WII, Dehradun
Mr. Sandeep Munjal is Director, Vedatya Institute of Hospitality with a demonstrated history
of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Student Recruiting, Lecturing,
Academic Advising, Educational Technology, and Instructional Design. Education
professional with extensive industry experience in hospitality and retail in India and USA.
Impressive research credentials and international educational qualifications, awards. He has
also prepared several Tourism Business Plans for Heritage Sites in India

Mr. Rakesh Mathur is a Hospitality Industry professional with over 47 years of leadership
experience in Indian and Global Hotel groups. From 2001 onwards, driven by this passion to
revive his country’s built and natural heritage, he traversed the the sub-continent,
and converted more than 60 Heritage and Nature based properties into productive assets
and Experiential Hotels, where he also promoted Local Art, Culture and Handicraft. These
travels also gave him a vast insight into Indian regional socio economic drivers. Rakesh Co-
founded the ‘Responsible Tourism Society of India, to spread awareness about sustainable
tourism practices.

Abhay Mangaldas is the founder and director of The House of MG, a cluster of four heritage
properties in Ahmedabad that have been restored by him and now operate as Heritage Hotels
with restaurants, galleries, museum-shops and curated experiences. Since the last two and half
decades he has been revitalising tangible and intangible heritage in the city by actively
documenting and supporting crafts and cultural activities. He has, in the process, contributed
significantly to Ahmedabad becoming India’s first UNESCO certified World Heritage City. Abhay
is the ex-Convener and current advisor to Ahmedabad Chapter of the Indian National Trust for
Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)

Dr Sonali Ghosh is an Indian Forest Service officer with more than 20 years of work
experience in the field of forest and wildlife conservation in India. She has worked as a field
manager in UNESCO designated World natural heritage sites of Kaziranga and Manas. She
has traveled extensively and written about forest and people’s livelihood issues in northeast
India. She has a dual master's degree in Wildlife Science and Forestry and a PhD degree in
Physical Geography from United Kingdom. She has served as a founding faculty at the C2C
on World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and the Pacific Region- Wildlife
Institute of India (under auspices of UNESCO), where she co-edited 2 books; Cultural
Landscapes of Asia and Wild Treasures- reflections on natural heritage in Asia, an Anthology.
She is currently serving as Deputy Inspector General of Forests, Central Zoo Authority.

Mr. Steve Borgia is currently the Founder Chairman and Managing Director of INDeco
Group of Hotels, the only Indian Hotel group to win the distinguished Global Eco Tourism
Award. His pioneering Rural Tourism in India has been one of his most significant
contributions to Tourism and Development. His companies and concepts are people
centric. Steve Borgia's Indian Heritage Museum, is another great idea born out of his
acumen for business and his concern for Indian Heritage. He holds office as Vice President
in the Indian Heritage Hotels Association. He also served as the Member of the Advisory
Committee on World Heritage Matters of the Ministry of Culture, India. He has authored
several books and established Museums.
Ms Shama Pawar is and Artist, Conservationist, Designer, Social Impact Leader and Pro
activist. Shama’s realization of how tall India stood as a country in terms of heritage was at
an early age. It led to her lifelong journey integrating conservation with community. In 1995,
her undeterred commitment began with a multitude of projects at Anegundi of Hampi World
Heritage at the historic settlement Anegundi.

The Kishkinda Trust, Anegundi, HAMPI - Founder & MD (1997 - Present)

INTACH Anegundi-Hampi Chapter — Convener (2007 - Present)
Uramma Cultural Residency, Anegundi — Social Entrepreneur & Director (2012 – Present)

Mr.Rakshat Hooja is currently the Director of Universe of Learning, an experiential education

focused academy working with US, European and Indian Universities. He has worked as a
consultant for UNICEF, International Water Management Institute and Ford Foundation.
Having studied in Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru
University, Rakshat was, from 2005 to 2014, the Country Coordinator for the University of
Minnesota India Study Abroad Program. He continues to design and implement study abroad
programs for University of Wisconsin and Augustana College. In an honourary capacity he is
President of Lok Shabhagi Sansthan, an NGO focused on rural, and semi-urban development,
and,an Advisor to the Jaipur Virasat Foundation (JVF). In this capacity he is managing the
programing for JVF and and the RRAP Rajasthan Folk Music Museum in Jaipur.

Dr. Malvika Onial is a faculty member and scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
with two decades of experience in research and professional work in biodiversity conservation.
She has been involved in India’s national reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity,
updating of the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and in reporting and monitoring of World
Heritage Sites under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

She did a PhD in Conservation Biology from the University of Cambridge and MSc degrees in
Environmental Biology from the University of Delhi and in Environmental Assessment and
Evaluation from the London School of Economics.

Mr. Ashish Chopra, culinary historian, author and television host was the founder Executive
Director of the Institute for Environmental Management and Social Development and a former
advisor to a State Governor, when he decided after retrospection and introspection to take
permanent sabbatical to pursue his passion for food travel and writing. Having spent over a
decade in Northeast region he has been travelling and documenting culture and cuisine and
covered over 2000 villages. He is the author of the book NE Belly, the first cookbook covering
all the eight states of Northeast India. Currently he is busy with launching his Culinary school
as India's first school of ancient culinary art in Dehradun. He is the culinary adviser of the
leading Travel Channels called Travel Xp , Food Xp UK ,ITC hotels, Editor, Food and
Beverage Buzz magazine, columnist. He is author of Tribal cuisines of India having
documented over 300 tribes and cuisines pan India

Prof. Anjana Singh, is Head of School, Hospitality, Vedatya Institute, Gurugram. Her area of
expertise is Revenue management and Hospitality Operations and she strengthens the same
through Research, Teaching, Consultancy, and Training. She has co-authored more than 30
research papers that have been published in national and international journals and presented
several papers in conferences including the ones at IIT-Delhi; IMT Gaziabad; Services
Conference by Pennsylvania State Univ and Virginia Tech University (USA). She has held
various operations and decision-making positions with some of the major players of the
hospitality industry - Taj Groups of Hotels, Hyatt Regency, and The Imperial, New Delhi, India.

Prof. Sanjay Sharma is Head of School | School of Culinary Excellence at Vedatay

Institute, Gurugram. He graduated with MBA, Birmingham City, UK; BSc. in Hotel
Management, IHM, Lucknow. He has published several article in national and international
journals.