SRINAGAR: The Covid-19 Pandemic is having a massive impact on the tourism industry which will reshape the industry’s future landscape. In order to address the issue, Centre for hospitality and Tourism, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri organised an international webinar on ‘Preparing for the future of Tourism Post covid-19. The webinar was aimed at discussing the impact, survival and strategies to analyse the situation and revival for the tourism industry.
Prof. Javed Musarrat, Vice Chancellor, BGSB university applauded the efforts of the centre for organising the webinar on an important theme. Prof. Musarrat mentioned that the global outbreak of the Covid-19 has halted the world as we knew and affected almost all sectors of the economy. Tourism industry has been one of the most heavily hit industries due to Covid-19, he mentioned. Prof. Musarrat Mentioned that The University is systematically responding to the unprecedented circumstances due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Prof. Iqbal Parwez, Dean Academic Affairs, BGSBU delivered the welcome address. Speaking on the occasion Prof. Iqbal said that the University is effectively reaching out to all its stakeholders particularly the students and scholars by adopting online modes of teaching and learning to ensure that their academic pursuits are met within the stipulated time frame. Under our academic framework we invite eminent persons from all over the world to interact with our faculties and students so as to reap the benefits of their wisdom and experience, he mentioned.
The panel for the webinar included Imtiaz Muqbil, Bangkok-based Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, Vishal Kapoor, the CEO & General Manager of Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa, Dr. Sarah Hassain , Associate Professor at Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Jamia Millia Islamia and Rajat Sawhney, Managing Director, Rave Tour and Travels , New Delhi.
To set the scene for the webinar, Imtiaz started by painting the current state of affairs of the international tourism industry and future prospects . He highlighted the role and importance of the travel and tourism industry in the new world order. Vishal Kapoor highlighted the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry and focused on industry responses to the crisis. He discussed various strategies for the hotel industry to ensure the safety of customers and employees. Rajat Sawhney, focused on the major concerns of domestic travel in India. He mentioned that domestic tourism is to gain momentum in near future. He highlighted the major issues and concerns of traveling business at present and the way ahead. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sarah Hussain discussed various policy interventions in industry and academia to sail through the present crisis and set in motion the tourism industry in the post covid-19 era. She stressed on academic restructuring to develop highly skilled professionals in the field of hospitality and tourism to fill the talent gaps. Those who attended the webinar included Prof. Naseem Ahmed, Dean, School of Management Studies and Prof. G. M. Malik, Dean of Students. Dr. Danish Iqbal Raina, Media Advisor, BGSBU moderated the session. More than three hundred participants from India and abroad participated in the webinar.

KR Desk