The 16th International Conference 2025 of the Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress (ITHC) began on a reflective note yesterday, bringing together leading academics and experts to chart a common path towards sustainable tourism and a wellness-focused future. The theme of the conference organized by Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) is “Sustainable Tourism and Wellness: A Path to a Greener Future”. It reflects pressing global concerns around climate change and responsible travel.
ITHC senior member Sandeep Kulshrestha inaugurated the event and highlighted the relevance of the issue, which is important not only for India but also for the global tourism landscape. ITHC Treasurer Prashant Gautam emphasized the organization's growing national presence: More than 130 institutional members and over 700 individual members contribute to progressive change in tourism education and research.
International perspectives enriched the session as Blurton Hessani from the University of Sunderland highlighted the importance of shared best practices in sustainability. He praised India's hospitality ecosystem and underscored the value of traditional knowledge sharing, especially after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the CUHP and his institution.
Environmental concerns dominated the discussions. Bundelkhand University's Sunil Kabia described tourism as a “double-edged sword” that provides livelihoods while exacerbating ecological stress in fragile regions such as the Himalayas. He called on students and professionals to advocate for environmentally friendly travel and responsible innovation.
Dinesh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Vishwakarma Skill University, highlighted India's deep-rooted environmental ethos and cited spiritual practices like 'Govardhan Parikrama' as an example of harmonious coexistence of tourism and nature.
Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma stressed the need for eco-friendly infrastructure while Prof Satprakash Bansal, vice-chancellor of CUHP and chairman of ITHC, called for development of offbeat tourist destinations to ease pressure on crowded tourist hubs. He urged researchers to align their work with the aspirations of a developed India by 2047.