Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, India, 8th July 2023 - IIM Sirmaur hosted its first Industry Advisory Board 1.0 panel discussion on 08 July 23, focusing on "Investing in Prosperity: Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Tourism." The panel featured Mr. Manoj Samuel, Mr. Chirag Aggarwal, Mr. Kanwar Deep Singh, and our faculty member Dr. Mohita Gangwar Sharma. These three industry leaders are part of the 12-member Industry Advisory Board, which provides suggestions to enhance the MBA TM course and prepare participants for the industry.

Mr. Samuel emphasized the importance of retaining skilled personnel in the tourism industry and mentioned that Augmented Reality would complement, rather than replace, traditional travel and tourism.

Mr. Chirag Aggarwal discussed two types of innovation: hardware/infra-oriented (e.g., Oyo, hotel standardization) and software/platform/channel (e.g., TravClan). He stressed the importance of using simple interfaces and focusing on future potential rather than current size.

Dr. Mohita Gangwar Sharma delivered a thought-provoking talk on the need for continuous efforts to embrace digitalization and unlock new opportunities.

This panel discussion was one of two held during IAB 1.0 and was attended by the newly inducted MBA and MBA TM students of the batch of 2025. IIM Sirmaur is committed to becoming a leader in tourism management and looks forward to hosting more insightful discussions.

Navigating the Changing Landscape of the Tourism Industry
Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur hosted its 2nd Industry Advisory Board Panel discussion on 8 July 2023 titled "Navigating the Changing Landscape of the Tourism Industry: Insights from Diverse Domains."

Mr. Manoj Nair, CEO of Sartha Global Marketing and former VP of marketing at Thomas Cook India Ltd, discussed the surge in digital marketing and automation post-COVID. He emphasized the need for continuous adaptation and meaningful customer interactions to drive progress.

Mr. Brijesh Modi, CFO of Thomas Cook India Ltd, spoke about using finance and accounts to navigate industry changes. He highlighted how companies combine intangible elements to create experiences and how technology enables faster turnaround times. He also predicted a stronger focus on sustainability in the coming years.

Mr. Amit Chana, Managing Director of Dnata, stressed the importance of sustainability. He called for prioritizing sustainability as a collective responsibility for a greener future.

This panel discussion aimed to enhance students' understanding of the travel and tourism industry and inform them about current trends directly from industry leaders.

Veteran Aviation leader dives deep into AI Revolution
The Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur, dedicated to becoming a leading institute in management studies, aims to educate its students on the impact of the AI revolution on the tourism industry. To this end on 29 July 2023, Mr. Neetan Chopra, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Indigo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd), was invited to speak on the AI revolution in the airline industry.

As the Chief Digital and Information Officer, Mr. Chopra led IndiGo's digital transformation, using digital technologies to improve efficiency. He emphasized that customer experience is crucial and AI can significantly reduce the workload of customer service by tenfold.

He also discussed the recent shift towards cloud computing, noting its efficiency over traditional data servers and IndiGo's focus on these advancements. Additionally, Mr. Chopra shared his views on chatbots, stating that they are not as special as they seem. Instead, he emphasized the importance of building a community, as collaborating with community members can offer new perspectives.

With nearly two decades of experience in the aviation industry, Mr. Chopra has held various positions, including Senior Vice President of IT Strategy and Architecture, before becoming the CDIO at IndiGo. His extensive background in IT and aviation provides students with valuable insights and helps them explore career opportunities in the travel tech industry.

Geotourist - Building an audio map of the world
The Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur hosted an online session on
25 August 2023 featuring Mr. Shaon Talukder, CEO and Founder of Geotourist, who spoke on "Geotourist – Building an Audio Map of the World." Named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the Top 10 Global Travel Disruptors alongside Brian Chesky of Airbnb, Mr. Talukder shared valuable insights on geotourism and the digital aspects of the tourism industry.

He recounted his disappointing travel experience in Uluru, Australia, which inspired the idea for Geotourist. He explained the importance of market research in creating a successful business plan, focusing on its nuances from a consumer perspective.

Mr. Talukder also discussed the significance of value-driven data exchange that benefits various groups and can evolve into a mutually beneficial system. He highlighted how big data helps us understand human actions and behavior, while small data is more structured and easier to analyze for small businesses. He used big data to create a seamless digital travel experience. In his own words, "With big data, you can afford to have noise that you filter out, but with small data, everything is meaningful."

Information Technology in the Toursim Business
On 22 Nov 2023 Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur invited Mr. Raunaq Srivastava, Lead Sourcing Manager at American Express Global Business Travel, for a guest lecture. With years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, he delivered valuable insights on "Information Technology in the Tourism Business."

He began the discussion by highlighting the significance of travel technology in various aspects of the tourism industry. He explained how technology helps streamline processes such as reservations, bookings, and customer service, and how it enables businesses to collect and analyse data to understand consumer behaviour.

Mr. Srivastava then introduced an event planning and management platform called Cvent. He added that this platform provides a highly impactful hospitality experience with its vast industry network and extensive venue-sourcing database.

This guest lecture was highly insightful for the students of MBA Tourism Management.

Vikshit Bharat@2047 Seminar
As part of the Government of India’s Vikshit Bharat@2047 initiative, on 20 June 2024 the Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur invited Miss Kiran Dookhony-Ramphul to share her thoughts on the topic, “India to be among the top 3 Global Tourism Destinations, especially in terms of international tourist visits.” Miss Kiran is a faculty member in Law and Management Studies at the University of Mauritius. She was joined by Miss Vanessa Gaitree-Gowreshankar, a faculty member at IIM Sirmaur.

The seminar led by Professors Kiran and Vanessa focused on strategies to elevate India as a top global tourist destination. Key points include:

Ambitious Goal and Buzz Creation: India aims to become one of the top three global tourist destinations. The "Incredible India" campaign has been effective, but further efforts are needed to attract international tourists.

Cultural Hospitality: The traditional Indian ethos of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (treating guests like God) reflects the country's hospitality, though it is not well-known globally. Promoting this aspect could enhance India's appeal to foreign tourists.

Post-Pandemic Recovery: Despite initial pessimism, India's tourism sector has rebounded strongly after the pandemic, with improved rankings in the Global Travel and Tourism Index due to enhanced infrastructure and connectivity.

Economic Appeal: India is an economical destination, ranked 18th for competitive pricing. Professor Kiran highlighted the importance of affordability for budget-conscious tourists, arguing that it benefits India's image and attracts more visitors.

Economic Significance: Tourism is a major revenue source for underdeveloped countries with minimal investment, a strategy supported by international organizations like the IMF and World Bank.

Prime Minister's Role: Prime Minister Narendra Modi actively promotes India's culture and heritage internationally, significantly enhancing its global image and boosting tourism.

Infrastructure and Services: Significant improvements in infrastructure, social services, and digital services over the past decade have driven tourism growth. Continued investment is essential.

Foreign Policy Impact: Strong foreign policy has enhanced bilateral relations, simplified visa policies, and improved safety perceptions, boosting tourist arrivals. Indian embassies actively market the country through international tourism fairs and cultural events.

Safety and Security: Ensuring tourist safety is crucial, with prompt measures needed to address recent concerns.

Digitalization: The rapid pace of digitalization, including the emergence of UPI as a payment mode, has transformed India's tourism sector.

Tourist Gap: India attracts far fewer international tourists compared to France. A robust action plan is needed to bridge this gap.

Cleanliness: Cleanliness is essential for attracting tourists. Public awareness campaigns should emphasize this to improve India's image.

Citizen Involvement: Indian citizens should act as brand ambassadors, presenting a positive image to achieve tourism objectives.

Skill Development: Addressing the skill gap through training programs is crucial for creating a skilled workforce in the tourism industry.

Entrepreneurship and Craftsmanship: Promoting these within tourism can create a lasting impact and help achieve objectives.

Leadership and Decision Making: Visionary leaders are needed to frame effective policies and decisions.

Education: Educating citizens about the importance of cleanliness can improve perceptions among tourists.

Rural and Offbeat Tourism: Developing rural and lesser-known destinations can diversify and enrich the tourism experience.

Role of Management Students: Students from top management institutions can significantly contribute to tourism growth with their expertise.

Overall, the seminar highlighted the multifaceted approach needed to boost India's tourism sector, emphasizing infrastructure, policy, cultural promotion, and citizen involvement.