The city’s hospitality sector came together yesterday to launch the celebration of World Tourism Day with a range of activities related to travel and tourism.
The event was part of the Tiruchi Travel Federation’s observation of the ongoing World Tourism Week, which concludes on October 4.
Saturday’s schedule included a quiz contest for college students, focused on the travel sector.
Participants from 26 colleges (two teams per college with two members each) were shortlisted for the first stage through a written test.
Of the 64 shortlisted teams, six made it to the exciting final round of the quiz which had five sections.
M.A.M. College of Engineering was placed first, followed by Cauvery College for Women in second place, and St. Joseph’s College in third.
The quiz was conducted by N. Vijayalakshmi, assistant professor, Shrimati Indira Gandhi College.
The prize-winning entries of the photography contest held for amateur and professional photographers and themed on heritage structures in the Tiruchi district, were displayed on the sidelines of the event.
A panel discussion by those serving in the hospitality sector on this year’s theme “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities” was held for catering college students, which saw participants T.K. Moorthy, group manager, Sangam Group of Hotels, Kaveri, facilities management entrepreneur, and Senthilkumar, executive chef on a cruise liner, explaining various aspects of the hospitality sector.
Mr. Moorthy urged the students to understand that “when you are getting into the services industry, the willingness to serve has to be there. You have to enjoy whatever you do and it’s in your hands to become an expert.” M. Ponn Ilango, director, Jenney’s Academy of Hotel Management and vice-president, Tiruchi Travel Federation, moderated the discussion.
Atul Kumar Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway, B.C.H. Negi, airport director, and K. Meena, former Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, spoke at the closing ceremony.
Eleven hotels in Tiruchi will be holding food festivals as part of the World Tourism Week celebrations, according to a release. .
