India Could Be The World'S Spiritual And Wellness Powerhouse

The53rdannualFHRAIConvention paid obeisance to the growing trend of spiritual and wellness tourism.SouvagyaMohapatra, Executive Director, MAYFAIR Hotels and Resorts, writes about the debates and discussions that shapedFHRAIs 2018 Convention.

Every year, the all-important Federation of Hotels & Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) Convention — attended by the crème de la crème from the hospitality industry — reflects contemporary trends, global best practices and cutting-edge technologies that are changing the industry. The 53rd Annual Convention of the Federation of Hotels & Restaurant Association of India convention was anchored on the theme of spiritual and wellness tourism.

The Convention was held at Ramada Lucknow Hotel & Convention Centre from September 20-22, 2018. Inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, among the dignitaries who attended were State Tourism Minister of UP, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji of Parmath NIketan Ashram, the chief secretary to Government of UP, and several high-ranking officials from the Union Ministry of Tourism, and captains of the hospitality industry, senior officials of the government of Uttar Pradesh and other participating states.

The inauguration session discussed the opportunities offered by the tourism industry in India. Chief Minister Adityanath, in his informative speech, stressed on investment opportunities in UP and the vast potential of spiritual and wellness tourism in the state, which is very rich in culture and heritage, being home to the ancient cities of Varanasi and Sarnath, besides a host of other heritage temple sites.