C.M. Paul
Siliguri, December 12, 2024: In a first time Workshop organised by Salesian College Autonomous Siliguri’s Management Department, some 40 scholars from different colleges from North Bengal participated in a six-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) held from December 9-14,2024.
The AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy sponsored program by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) had the theme: Coastal and Marine Tourism – Opportunities, Challenges, and Environmental Concerns.
Explaining the choice of the theme, FDP Coordinator Assistant Professor Debarati Deb says, “Coastal and marine areas are among the planet’s most popular tourist destinations, accounting for 50% of all global tourism and contributing 5.2 % to the global GDP.”
Deb adds, “Despite a wide range of economic opportunities offered by the sector, it also poses significant environmental risks to the ocean.”
West Bengal state has the unique distinction of having both ocean and hills at over night reach with South Bengal offering beaches, and North Bengal having hills tourism.
The workshop commenced with lamp lighting ceremony followed by the opening talk by Principal of Salesian College Father Dr. Babu Joseph whose doctoral thesis was on Travel and Tourism.
The Faculty Development Program included Associate and Assistant Professors as well as PhD Scholars and Post Graduate Students.
Among the expert speakers were Associate Professor, Department of Tourism Central University Sikkim Dr Jingme Wanchuk Bhutia; Administrative Officer of Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati Mr. Anjo Joseph; Assistant Professor of Education, and Dean of Social Sciences at Salesian College Siliguri Dr Ranita Chakraborty.
The FDP format included lectures as well group discussions after each presentation with relevant follow up articles for study.
Fifth day was set aside for field trip to Gajoldoba, a popular tourist destination located on the Teesta river in the Himalayan foothills, surrounded by the Baikunthapur Forest some 25 kilometers from Siliguri.