IHHA to Revive Indian Heritage Tourism at its 11th Annual Convention

The Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) will hold its 11^th Annual Convention and 23^rd Annual General Meeting on 19 & 20 September, 2024, at INDeco Hotels Swamimalai.

IHHA is the first post-independence aggregation of India’s erstwhile Royals and Thakurs, to formulate a master plan for their future role and promote heritage tourism in India. Crucially, the initial objective was to maintain and preserve the legacy surrounding their palaces. The first Annual Convention, held on 21 & 22 September, 2012, at Nahargarh, Ranthambore, aimed to revive India’s rich cultural, historical, and architectural heritage.

K. Ramachandran, Minister for Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, and K. Lakshminarayanan, Minister for Tourism, Government of Pondicherry, consented to launch this event.

Similarly, Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Mugdha Sinha, IAS, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, are expected to deliver speeches at the special convention. Aside from the above, several bureaucrats, policymakers, and tourism specialists are slated to attend.

This convention fittingly themed, “Revitalising Indian Heritage,” will lay out IHHA’s strategy for the next 25 years.

The convention will also focus on identifying young leaders to take the message forward. “IHHA aims to infuse young and sustained energies to chart a course to revive heritage tourism in the country,” said HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II, Jodhpur, President Emeritus, IHHA. Thakur Gajsingh, Alsisar, General Secretary, IHHA added, “IHHA will also look into ways that the Ministry of Tourism and IHHA can work together to protect and preserve Indian monuments.” Steve Borgia, Vice President, IHHA, will lead and host this historical convention.

It is anticipated that over 150 former Royals from all over India will attend this momentous gathering. This forum is membered by about 200 proprietors of vintage hotels. Under the direction of Steve Borgia, Tamil Nadu is ready to bring back heritage tourism and promote Tamil culture and heritage over the world. Additionally, the convention hopes to significantly and pivotally advance heritage tourism worldwide.