JU students celebrate World Tourism Day with Heritage Visit, Sustainability Drive

Jammu, September 27: Marking World Tourism Day, students of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM), University of Jammu, visited the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) heritage site at Manwal, Udhampur, as part of an experiential learning initiative.

In line with this year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, the students also visited Ved Vidyalaya, Khoon, where they observed how tourism can become a driver of growth while simultaneously safeguarding local culture and community values.

The academic visit was led by Prof. Anil Gupta, Director, SHTM, along with faculty, non-teaching staff, and students from MBA (Tourism & Travel Management) and BBA (Hospitality Management) programmes. At the heritage site, the group was given a guided tour by Shri Jai Karan Singh, Assistant Archaeologist, and Shri Shivakar Sharma, Senior Conservation Assistant from ASI. Adding to the learning experience, Ranjeet Singh, Incredible India Tourist Guide, provided insights into the history of the region, highlighting its exquisite stone carvings and distinctive architectural style.

To further highlight the message of sustainability, the students organized a plantation drive during the visit. Saplings of mango, neem, Bengal quince, plumeria, java plum, and champa were planted, symbolizing the integration of heritage preservation with ecological responsibility.

Through this field activity, SHTM emphasized its focus on connecting classroom learning with real-world practices, encouraging students to engage meaningfully with heritage, culture, and sustainability in tourism.