World Tourism day celebrations 2014 by Young Environmentalists Programme trust Mumbai at Meluha the Fern ecote Powai Mumbai ,India.

World Tourism day celebrations 2014 by Young Environmentalists Programme trust Mumbai at Meluha the Fern ecote Powai Mumbai ,India.

World Tourism Day celebrations at Meluha ecotel Powai on September 29th at Meluha the Fern Ecotel Hiranandani, Powai, Mumbai was a house packed roaring success.

The celebrations saw H.E. Consul General of South Africa .Pule Malefane and H.E. Consul general of Vietnam .Vu Son Thuy, Chairman of Travel council of India Jay Bhatia, Ahmer Shaikh of Maharshtra Tourism Development corporation-MTDC, Niranjan Hiranandani,Celebrity Mukesh Rishi, Actor Karan Goddwani, Master chef Saransh Goila of Food Food, Gladwyn Pinto from TAFI and celebrity Arti Surendranath from the Wild life trust, along with diplomatic Officer Pinkey Ahluwalia from the Belgium consulate, Leena Karkera from Madhya Pradesh tourism, Clarence Fernandes-Rwanda Development Board,Co-Chairman Travel, Tourism/ Hospitality Committee-Indian Merchants' Chamber and a host of travel delegates from around the world including  representatives from Oman, Thailand, Reunion islands,Tourism board of Kenya.

Raynah Cutinoh presented a colourful film of Thailand Tourism which spoke of all the aspects of eco tourism,The information on culinary delights to all the non vegetarians and vegetarian Indians  wanting to travel to Thailand came as a good surprice.

The jewel destination of Oman and its multidimensional aspects was presented by Ms.Mathews, the water zones of Oman were specially attractive..

Many travel and media enthusiasts gathered to mark the occasion through various colourful audio video films connecting people on this day.

Elsie Gabriel founder of the Young Environmentalists Programme trust who planned and organized the date according to the Indian working calendar first showed the official film by UNWTD 2014 to the audience to introduce and share the theme for 2014.

As this year’s World Tourism Day draws special attention to the role of tourism in contributing to one of the building blocks of a more sustainable future for all: Community development,several community leaders were also called for the function.

The guest of honour H.E. Consul General of South Africa .Pule Malefane spoke on how South Africa is enchanting, “We invite you to tour South Africa, we have a wealth of elements of nature, wild life and tourism in South Africa is enchanting.Africa is the cradle of humanity and culture,what you see in pictures of South Africa are not photo shopped but real and exciting in real life. For us the community upliftment is the focus. South Africa is very friendly and welcomes tourists.We are happy to be part of the world tourism day today in Mumbai organized by Young Environmentalists Programme trust.”

 Going beyond the immediate impact of job creation and multiplying the tourism impact was well expounded upon by Mr.Jay Bhatia of the travel council of India, "We are happy to celebrate world tourism day here with Young Environmentalists and Meluha ecotel. We need to support tourism through our united efforts.The travel industry not only provides jobs and careers for the community but also uplifts local and ecological tourism which leads to sustainability. Our association works unanimously for the same goal."

 Said Author and naturalist Elsie Gabriel founder of Young Environmentalists organizer of the event,  “The day seeks to address challenges, And to highlight the contribution that the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.We are all connected and only by networking can we take the mission of sustainability forward. We must buy local and eat local thus cutting down travel footprints.If we venture out to travel across the globe ensure that you use local food and promote local culture and boost local economy of the place of visit” 

Mr.Ahmer Shaikh of MTDC spoke very clearly that now Maharshtra has improved amenities to attract more tourists, " We have sea planes as well as special day trips to sea sides and caves, all in Maharashtra.There is more tous than just Mumbai city tours, we give you eco friendly torus and jundle trips, all very eductaional and refreshing.We are proud to be part of this Young Environmentalists Programme trust World Tourism day celebrations."

Said Actress Arti Surrendranath  of Wild life trust , “We must also focus on animal conservation when we speak of valuable tourism. The Seminar presentations by leaders in the field of travel and tourism in various sectors assembled together to foster awareness among the community for the importance of tourism and its academic-educational, social, sustainable, cultural, political and economic value is what we need to network.”

Voiced Punish Sharma chief of the Meluha ecotel Powai, “We are happy to host the World Tourism day 2014.We as a ecotel only work in areas of sustainable tourism and have won 29 international awards for a sustainable hotel and eco tourism. Our hotel involves our community and that’s what community development is all about.  We are a 100% garbage free ecotel and involve our clients to become green travelers.”

The social event was aimed to ensure a continued dialogue between the public and private sectors. Said H.E. Consul general of Vietnam Vu Son Thuy, “Vietnam is very close by to India and we are happy to welcome Indians to our country.We need more people to discover Vietnam, it has good food and eco friendly tourism and is very educational. We have the best beaches in the world. Come discover Vietnam. We want more Indian tourists to visit Vietnam.”

  Talks on renewable options for water heating, air conditioning and electricity generation can cut hotel operating costs, advance sustainability while making them more appealing for tourists, were discussed.

                                 Each country displayed a film and the event was very informative to the audience,making world tourism day really worth connecting people of the world here in Powai.Master chef sanransh Goila editor of FOOD FOOD also outlined how food was an important source of income for many tourist centers and how food was the essence of tourism.

Master Chef Parimal Sawant of the ecotel Meluha made a grand display and offerings of World Cuisine as the celebrations luncheon affair which had everyone in attendance in awe of the culinary expertise at Meluha ecotel Mumbai.The event achieved to discuss and establish that tourism is community development and that we are all connected; only by working together and networking could we develop in a proactive manner.