Udaipur: Tourism is undergoing a significant transformation, with domestic and international travellers increasingly seeking experiences beyond conventional heritage tourism. Hoteliers need to understand these changing preferences and prepare accordingly, said Dr Kunjal Acharya, Head of the Department of Journalism at Mohanlal Sukhadia University.

Dr Acharya was speaking at a seminar titled “Paryatan Parv – Heritage, Development and Vision”, organised by the Hotel Association Udaipur on Sunday to mark World Tourism Day.

He said tourists are increasingly showing interest in rural tourism, where they can experience village life, agriculture, local cuisine, traditional attire and customs along with the region's heritage and culture.

“Tourism is the lifeline of Udaipur. People from across the world want to experience this beautiful city,” Dr Acharya said, adding that Udaipur is not merely the City of Lakes but also a living historical document associated with Maharana Pratap, distinctive traditions, language, culture, heritage and tribal communities.

He described Udaipur's Old City as one of its greatest attractions and stressed the need to preserve its original character. While development and change are necessary, he said, alterations that compromise the essence of the city's heritage should be avoided.

Dr Acharya noted that tourism has expanded beyond traditional heritage tourism to include agro-tourism, wellness tourism, medical tourism, business tourism and spiritual tourism. Udaipur, he said, has the potential to offer all these experiences, and hotel businesses should explore these opportunities.

He emphasised that international visitors increasingly seek the “local value” of a destination. Therefore, preserving the city's heritage, culture and local identity should be a collective responsibility. He also called upon hoteliers to contribute to addressing the challenges affecting the growth of tourism in Udaipur.

Senior hotelier Ajay Singh Boheda highlighted the historic neighbourhoods of the city, including Thatheron Ki Gali and Kasaron Ki Ol, as well as the historic gates and city walls. He stressed the need to preserve these elements of Udaipur's heritage and suggested producing a documentary showcasing what the city looked like before Independence.

At the beginning of the programme, Hotel Association Udaipur President Rajesh Agrawal welcomed the guests and said the association was committed to ensuring safety and a positive experience for every tourist visiting Udaipur. Former association president Sudarshan Singh Karohi said continuous efforts were being made to preserve the city's heritage and address issues concerning the tourism sector.

Senior Vice President Gaurav Kothari also shared his views, while Dr Akanksha Goyal conducted the programme.

Hotel Association Vice President Usha Sharma said that, as part of World Tourism Day celebrations, several hotels across Udaipur welcomed visiting tourists and introduced them to the city's traditional Mewari culture and hospitality.

Ambalal Bohra, Bhagwan Vaishnav, Kamal Bhandari, Nikhil Doshi, Tejinder Singh Robin, Akanksha Goyal, Manav Bhandari, Mandir Singh Chauhan, Krishanveer Singh Chauhan, Gaurav Bandwal, Sangram Singh, Govardhan Lal Tank, Om Paliwal and Dinesh Chawat, among others, were present on the occasion.