World Tourism Day: GI Tourism to boost activity in telangana

HYDERABAD: Geographical Indication (GI) tourism might serve as a new breath of life to rejuvenate this sector on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, especially after the tourism industry was severely hit by the pandemic, believes Subhajit Saha, Head, Legal and IPR, Resolute Group of Companies.

Every state has GI products that are associated with a specific location and have a history and tradition attached to them. Telangana has 15 registered GIs, each of which is a unique location where these arts and crafts are produced. Tourists, who want to see how Pochampally IKAT, silver filigree or Warangal durries are made, will want to stay an extra day or two. Additionally, if the government takes the effort to connect these locations — Cheriyal, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Warangal, Pochampally and Nirmal — with unique GI tourism circuits, it will make the sites more appealing for tourists and craftsmen.

Subhajit Saha claims that this innovative idea for GI tourism would result in a win-win situation for both tourists and the lot of weavers and craftspeople. The best part is that people will get to see these crafts and textiles being made live, from the raw materials to the finished products, and interact with them. Gi tourism is certain to increase direct sales, give the place more publicity and thereby attract more tourists. People will enjoy coming to stay, learn a new skill or custom and purchase items for their loved ones as well as for themselves as souvenirs.

GI tourism has the potential to significantly improve current travel packages and add its bit to the state's economy from the tourism sector. Government and commercial organisations can develop specialised travel guides that highlight the locations and their relationship to GI products to generate interest in these locations. The Resolouet4IP group is striving to encourage the public to visit locations with registered GI products and to provide tours to visit these locations that connect the products and locations.

Saha further thinks that, once these GI circuits are engaged, the hospitality sector could look at building hotels and other accommodations to make the destination more lively, which would ultimately strengthen the tourism ecosystem. The tourists, the artists and the weavers will end up being the biggest winners in all of these initiatives.