By Ar. Tripat Girdhar, Co-founder of The Design Studio
Every year on the 27th of September, we all celebrate World Tourism Day. However, the official celebration will be held in Bali, Indonesia, on the theme of ‘Rethinking Tourism’. The focus will be on reviewing the growth of the tourism sector – rethinking and redeveloping tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) chose March 24 as World Tourism Day, and celebrations began that year. The 27th of September was chosen because it is the anniversary of the UNWTO Statutes’ adoption in 1970. Five years later, in 1975, these Statutes contributed to the foundation of UNWTO. World Tourism Day has been observed on September 27th worldwide every year since 1980.
The development of a nation’s economy, image, brand value, and identity all depend heavily on tourism. Participants will therefore have discussions about “The Tourism We Want.” Bali’s tourism industry representatives will direct the event, while UNWTO state representatives will also be invited. We should keep in mind our magnificent landmarks and the tourism industry to make it more appealing to travelers on this particular day.
Architects are crucial to this industry. Are our tourism industry and our historic monuments strong enough to draw tourists in? The government has launched several new programs, but as architects, we should reconsider and recreate our stunning landmark landmarks from a sustainable perspective.
The only legible source of information for tracing the development of our society as a civilization is heritage buildings and places. They are the living reminders of our ancestors, a mirror of our past. Although many heritage buildings have withstood the test of time, just like human health, which necessitates safeguards and check-ups from time to time, these buildings also require a vigilant mindset of preservation, conservation, and frequently, restoration. Many of us in India may trace our first school memories back to picnics and meetings at different National Heritage sites, as well as exploring those locations. These historical buildings have endured as immovable and permanent structures in a metropolis that is continually changing, and human settlement patterns have been created around them. Thus, these historic structures constitute an essential component of the local communities. The government must take the lead in maintaining the same, supported by societal support and cooperation.
The Heritage buildings have outlived decades and, unlike people, have survived the test of time in the face of shifting political, social, and economic narratives. The responsibility for appreciating and protecting these archive buildings so that they can be handed down to our future generations, who will be able to live with and respect their historical genealogy, is now in our hands.
