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JAMMU: The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM), University of Jammu, inaugurated a two-day National Conference on “Tourism, Technology and Talent: Shaping Future-Ready Managers” here thos morning. The conference seeks to explore the evolving dynamics of tourism through the lenses of technology integration and talent development, with special focus on preparing future-ready tourism professionals.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, in his presidential remarks appreciated the well-structured framework of the conference and highlighted the growing importance of a transdisciplinary approach in tourism education and research. He observed that tourism is deeply interconnected with culture, environment, heritage, technology, and governance, and therefore requires integrated academic and policy attention.
Emphasizing the rich and diverse tourism potential of the Jammu region, Prof. Rai called for a coordinated effort among academia, industry, and policymakers to systematically identify and develop tourism resources across all districts. He stressed that such collaboration would not only strengthen regional tourism but also create sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities and youth, while contributing to inclusive economic development of the region.
The Chief Guest for the inaugural session, Prof. K. S. Chandrasekar, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, stated that tourism is the world’s largest industry and a major driver of economic growth and employment. He highlighted the transformative role of technology-driven platforms such as Airbnb in reshaping access, choice, and service delivery. Emphasizing the need for future-ready talent, he underscored the importance of integrated grants, tourism connectors, and collaborative ecosystems for sustainable tourism development, noting that Jammu & Kashmir remains the backbone of India’s tourism sector with vast untapped potential.
Prof. Nimit Chowdhary, Vice Chancellor, Rajasthan Technical University, the Keynote Speaker, highlighted India’s demographic dividend and the need to develop a productive, skilled workforce. He emphasised the synergy between youth, technology, and tourism, describing tourism as a transformative journey beyond consumption. He noted the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence on nearly 80 per cent of tourism operations, along with trends such as mass customisation, data-driven insights, and experiential tourism, stressing the need for immersive experiences and local ownership of Jammu as a destination.
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director, Consortium for Educational Communications, University Grants Commission, stressed the need for national technology and educational readiness to scale up tourism innovations. Citing developed economies like Sweden, he remarked that tourism is everyone’s responsibility and called for a proactive, inclusive, and adaptable approach to tourism planning and development.
Prof. Alka Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Business Studies, stressed the importance of strong managerial skills, leadership, and networking in the tourism sector. She highlighted the need for timely information, clear problem identification, innovative solutions, and how humans can effectively leverage technology to address emerging industry challenges.
Earlier, Prof. Anil Gupta, Director, SHTM and Conference Convener, formally introduced the theme and agenda of the conference in his welcome address. He underscored its relevance in the evolving tourism landscape and expressed sincere gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for enabling SHTM to organise the conference under his visionary leadership. Prof. Suvidha Khanna, Conference Secretary, presented the formal vote of thanks, while Dr. Honeyka Mahajan efficiently conducted the inaugural session.
Later during the day, Tourism Samanvay Samavesh, a policy–academia–industry interface panel was organised, where distinguished regional industry experts deliberated on the innovations and opportunities of tourism in Jammu Prominent speakers included Sh. Aijaz Qaiser Malik, Joint Director Tourism, Sh Rakesh Wazir, Sh Kulbhushan Khajuria, CEO, Rajouri Development Authority, Sh Babu Tandon, CEO Bani Basholi, Surinsar RJ Juhie, Sahil Sharma, Ms. Monika Mitter, Ms. Neetu Dhar, Nidhi Verma, Ompal Sambyal, Alankrit Mahajan, Shatabdi Bhogal. The panel was moderated by Vaibhav Sharma, Founder, Travel Dost.
The two-day conference also features technical sessions, panel discussions, and research paper presentations, providing a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders from academia and industry.
