The 13th edition of the International Heritage Tourism Conclave (IHTC), organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), will be held at Hotel Sayaji Indore on 12 July. The event, themed “Care for Heritage,” is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Rajasthan Tourism, IndiGo, and IRCTC.
The Conclave, aimed at promoting India’s cultural heritage and boosting tourism, will be inaugurated by Chief Guest Shri Mangubhai Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Guests of Honour include Ms. Manisha Saxena (IAS), Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla (IAS), Principal Secretary – Tourism and Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
A significant highlight will be the release of a report titled “Heritage Tourism as a Path to Sustainable Tourism,” jointly developed by PHDCCI and KPMG.
The Conclave will feature various notable speakers and engaging sessions, starting with a classical dance recital by students of Garima Vidya Vihar Senior Secondary School.
Mr. Raju Sharma, Director – CSR, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo), will present a case study on the restoration of Lal Bagh Palace, moderated by Mr. Himanshu Dudwadkar, Co-Convenor – Indore Chapter, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
Ms. Shalini S. Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, will host a discussion on the role of women in preserving cultural legacy, with guests Mr. Vaibhav Chauhan, Director of The City Palace, Jaipur and Jaigarh Fort, and Ms. Anjchita Nair, Co-Founder & CEO, Cultre.
Mr. Ajay Verma, CEO – Heritage and Events, Sabhyata Foundation (Dalmia Group), will discuss the role of enabling policies in preserving heritage, focusing on Red Fort. Author and historian Ms. Swapna Liddle will share her perspective on the public’s role in heritage preservation, and Ms. Kishwar Desai, Chair of The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, will present a case study on the Partition Museum in Amritsar.
A panel discussion on the role of technology in preserving heritage will be moderated by Prof. Mohan Raghavan, Head, Department of Heritage Science Technology, IIT Hyderabad, with panelists Ms. Priti Ramakrishnan, Co-Founder & COO, ImmverseAI, and Mr. Raghava Krishna, Founder and CEO, Brhat.
The event will conclude with a session on preserving heritage through art by Mr. Wajid Khan, Artist, Sculptor, Inventor, Patent Holder, hosted by Mr. Atul Singh, Chairman – MP Chapter, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in the Rajwada Reminiscence Heritage Walk, curated by Mr. Ritik and Mr. Shashank, Co-Founders of Udte Kabootar, offering a unique exploration of Indore’s historical treasures.
Industry partners for the 13th IHTC include the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), Udte Kabootar, Red FM, and Indore Talk.
The Conclave is being organized under the leadership of Mr. Anil Parashar, Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI and Executive Director, Interglobe Technology Quotient, and Mr. Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI and Founder & Advisor, Teleporters Travel Solutions.
For more information on the programme, please contact Ms. Sulagna Ghosh at sulagna.ghosh@phdcci.in or Mr. Sanchit Prabhakar at sanchit.prabhakar@phdcci.in.
