India has not fully explored the prospect of heritage tourism

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

As per Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage convener Swapna Liddle, India has not fully explored the possibility of heritage tourism.

“We have to think out of the box and look at where our untapped potential lies,” said Liddle at the Hindustan Times Tourism Conclave on Friday.

Liddle said that, for instance, an average tourist, who visits Agra, goes to the Taj Mahal, the fort, and maybe Fatehpur Sikri and rushes back. “We are not encouraging tourists to wander in the streets of the old city, or to explore the colonial era areas like the Civil Lines or even the ASI [Archaeological Survey of India] sites like the Catholic cemetery,” she added.

Historian and author Rana Safvi, who was also a part of the session, spoke about multiple ways in which the rich tangible and intangible heritage of India can be explored to drive tourism, economic growth and community development in India.

“The intangible needs to be connected to the tangible to give context and bring the ruins and walls alive. That is why heritage walks have become so popular these days,” Safvi said.
Liddle, who has been conducting heritage walks in Delhi for over a decade, said that such activities have witnessed tremendous response from the public. “It is not a coincidence that in the last 20 years, heritage has become such an important part of the popular discourse,” she said.

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