Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Kolkata

06/04/2026

Join us as we rethink heritage—not as the past we protect, but as the future we co-create.

06/04/2026

Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism, Amity University Kolkata successfully organized an Online Guest Lecture on “Manifestation of Tourism in Contemporary Times: Production and Consumption Patterns” on 2nd April 2026 via MS Teams.
The session was delivered by Dr. Gavinolla Mahender, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Tourism & Hotel Management, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi. The lecture witnessed enthusiastic participation from undergraduate and postgraduate students, along with faculty members of the institute.
The session focused on understanding the evolving nature of tourism in the contemporary global context, with particular emphasis on changing production systems and consumption patterns. Dr. Mahender highlighted how technological advancements, digital platforms, and shifting tourist expectations are reshaping tourism products and experiences. He elaborated on the transition from traditional mass tourism models to more personalized, experience-driven, and sustainable tourism practices.
The speaker also discussed the role of emerging trends such as digitalization, platform economies, and social media in influencing tourist decision-making and destination visibility. He encouraged students to critically engage with these transformations and understand their implications for future tourism professionals.
An interactive discussion followed the lecture, wherein students actively engaged with the speaker, raising thoughtful questions related to career pathways, industry expectations, and the practical application of theoretical concepts in real-world tourism contexts.
The session proved to be highly insightful and enriching, offering students a deeper understanding of contemporary tourism dynamics and equipping them with perspectives relevant to both academic inquiry and industry readiness.
Overall, the lecture was a meaningful academic engagement that contributed significantly to bridging theoretical knowledge with current industry trends.

31/03/2026

Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism, Kolkata organized an interdisciplinary guest lecture on “Colour as Culture: Interpreting Identity through Art, Heritage and Tourism Landscapes” on 31st March 2026 at the Seminar Hall, commemorating International Colour Day 2026. The session was delivered by Prof. Anupam Basu from the Amity School of Fine Arts, Kolkata, who offered a nuanced exploration of colour as a cultural and interpretive medium rather than merely a visual element. Drawing upon artistic, architectural, and everyday cultural contexts, the lecture highlighted how colour shapes identity, encodes memory, and influences the perception of places within tourism landscapes. The session encouraged students to engage with tourism beyond functional frameworks, bringing attention to the sensory, symbolic, and affective dimensions of experience design and destination interpretation. It witnessed active participation from undergraduate and postgraduate students and faculty members, with meaningful interactions that reflected a growing appreciation for interdisciplinary thinking. Overall, the lecture served as a significant academic engagement, reinforcing the importance of integrating art-based perspectives into tourism education and enriching students’ understanding of cultural expression within contemporary tourism discourse.

30/03/2026

30/03/2026

The Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism, Kolkata, successfully conducted an Online International Guest Lecture on 25th March 2026, featuring James Joseph Galvez on the theme “Post-Physical Tourism: Designing Experiences for the Immobile Future.” The session offered a thought-provoking reorientation of tourism beyond physical mobility, positioning it as an experiential and meaning-driven domain shaped by creativity, interpretation, and adaptive engagement. Drawing on global case studies—such as voluntourism-led destination management in the Faroe Islands, immersive regional storytelling initiatives, and inclusive tourism campaigns like Quebec’s sensory experiences—Mr. Galvez illustrated how destinations can remain relevant even in conditions of restricted movement. His emphasis on community-based engagement, interpretive storytelling, and innovative experience design deeply resonated with students preparing to enter a rapidly evolving industry. The session concluded with a reflective virtual forest bathing experience, leaving participants with a renewed appreciation of tourism as an inward, sensory, and imaginative journey, rather than merely a physical act of travel.

24/03/2026

Today Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Kolkata had the privilege of hosting Mr. Manoj Saraf, Chairman & Managing Director, Gainwell Travel & Leisure.

Mr. Saraf’s association with the institute goes back to 2016, and over the years, he has consistently contributed to strengthening the industry–academia interface through student interactions, internships, and placement support.

The session focused on key aspects of professional readiness, workplace expectations, and growth pathways in the travel and tourism sector. It was particularly relevant for students preparing to undertake internships and transition into the industry.

We extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Manoj Saraf for his continued engagement and valuable insights.

23/03/2026

We are pleased to invite you to an upcoming Online International Guest Lecture on the theme: “Post-Physical Tourism: Designing Experiences for the Immobile Future” on 25th March 2026 11:30 AM onwards in online mode.

In a world increasingly shaped by pandemics, geopolitical tensions, climate disruptions, and recurrent phases of immobility, the reduction of tourism to mere physical movement appears intellectually limiting. The field is undergoing a perceptible shift towards experience, mediation, and meaning-making, where engagement with place is no longer contingent on corporeal travel alone. In this sense, tourism is more usefully understood as an evolving knowledge domain—one that operates across virtual, hybrid, and imaginative registers, negotiating memory, representation, and affect as legitimate sites of experience. Such a reframing not only responds to the uncertainties surrounding mobility, but also expands tourism’s conceptual and professional horizons beyond its traditional confines——an evolution that merits closer attention, particularly in contexts where its scope may be viewed through a more limited or traditional lens.

The session will be delivered by Mr. James Joseph Galvez an international trainer associated with the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and CEO of LeadPro International Career and Tourism Training Institute.

23/03/2026

It gives us great pleasure to invite you to an Industry Mentorship Talk being organised by AITTK on Tuesday, 24th March 2026 2:00 PM onwards at the Seminar Hall, 2nd Floor, Auditorium Building.

The session will feature Mr. Manoj Saraf, Chairman & Managing Director, Gainwell Travel & Leisure, who will be delivering an engaging session on: “From Classroom to Corporate: Navigating Work Culture, Discipline, and Growth.”

Mr. Manoj Saraf is a seasoned industry leader with over three decades of experience in the travel and tourism sector. Under his leadership, Gainwell Travel & Leisure, established in 1991, has evolved into a diversified travel enterprise spanning corporate travel, sports tourism, customised holidays, MICE, and experiential tourism, with a strong emphasis on innovation and digital transformation. The session holds particular significance as a number of students will soon be proceeding for their summer internships, while others will be graduating and stepping into the industry. This interaction is expected to provide timely industry orientation and professional insights to support these important transitions.

27/02/2026

Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism (AITTK), Amity University Kolkata, successfully organized “Campus Re-Entry: The Alumni Experience Edition 2026” on 27 February 2026 at the university campus as a focused alumni engagement initiative designed to deepen institutional bonds and integrate lived industry experience into the academic ecosystem. The programme was envisioned not merely as a ceremonial reunion but as a meaningful pedagogical intervention that strengthens mentorship, professional identity formation, and intergenerational dialogue. The institute was delighted to welcome back Ms. Saloni Bansal, an accomplished aviation professional and proud alumna of BA and MA in Tourism Administration from Amity University Kolkata, who currently serves in Corporate Sales & TMC at Air India Express (Air India Group – Tata Group). Representing one of India’s fastest-growing airlines, she manages trade partnerships and corporate travel engagement across key markets, contributing to airline distribution strategy and corporate travel integration. Drawing from her professional journey spanning IRCTC Tourism and international ticketing operations, she shared nuanced insights into airline operations, Global Distribution Systems (GDS), corporate account management, and the evolving architecture of India’s aviation sector, including fleet modernization, enhanced passenger experience, and expanding connectivity. Her candid reflections on workplace discipline, resilience, and professional growth offered students a grounded understanding of how tourism education translates into leadership pathways within aviation and corporate travel ecosystems. The session evolved into an engaging interactive dialogue, with students raising thoughtful questions on airline distribution systems, corporate sales strategy, skill readiness, and long-term career positioning in a competitive industry landscape. The exchange reaffirmed experiential learning as a core strength of AITTK and aligned with the broader vision of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through alumni-led mentorship, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through exposure to structured career pathways, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by reinforcing alumni-institution-industry collaboration. The programme concluded with a renewed sense of institutional pride and collective commitment to nurturing industry-ready, globally aware, and ethically grounded tourism professionals, reaffirming that at AITTK, alumni engagement is not episodic but integral to academic continuity and professional transformation.

26/02/2026

26/02/2026

The first formal alumni meet..and many more to come..!!