Call for a museum in Pochampally to promote GI tourism
In 2004, Pochamapally IKAT was the first GI registered from Telangana and has a very long legacy of being exported and gifted in festivals.
HYDERABAD: The UN World Tourism Organization has recognised Pochampally as the top tourist destination in India for 2021. Pochampally's status needs to be leveraged as much as possible to promote the concept of GI tourism. In 2004, Pochamapally IKAT was the first GI registered from Telangana and has a very long legacy of being exported and gifted in festivals.
The Telangana government should use the Pochampally IKAT tag and create special itineraries and packages to visit the top tourist destinations that will allow visitors to observe the craft of weaving in action, as well as give them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with the weaver's community and make some purchases.
Telangana would be the first state to promote GI tourism, attracting many visitors to extend their stay in Pochampally by one to two extra days, become enthused about IKAT, and afterwards serve as brand ambassadors for GI goods.
The government of TS should take into consideration building a museum in Pochampally, according to GI Practitioner and Resolute Group member Subhajit Saha. The museum would showcase village life in addition to the GI process used to create the art and history of Pochampally Ikat.
Souvenirs, short films, branding, and sensitization in promoting Pochampally village tourism and the GI of Pochampally IKAT will benefit all stakeholders and generate interest across the country, Subhajit Saha added.