Master’s students from three higher education institutions are participating in an international field trip to India from February 16 to 25, 2026. The field trip is implemented within the framework of the SIPAS project (Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project titled “Promoting Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Service Studies through Strategic Industry Partnerships”).

The aim of the international field trip is to provide students from different cultures and countries with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their courses in a practical setting, while strengthening their competences through experiential learning, practical insights, and networking. The visit encourages students to critically engage with key trends and issues related to the development and management of contemporary sustainable tourism, as well as green and smart practices at both micro and macro levels across several states in India.

The study visit begins in Pondicherry and concludes in Hyderabad, in cooperation with two partner universities in India. As part of the program, participants have visited tourism companies and destinations, gained new industry knowledge, and taken part in the industry collaboration conference “Akanksha,” organized by the Department of Tourism at Pondicherry University.

From November 29 to December 10, 2025, project partners are visiting the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Hyderabad, India, to continue work on the Erasmus+ capacity-building project in higher education, SIPAS (“Advancing Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality and Service Studies through Strategic Industry Partnership”).

During the visit, the project partners are organizing and participating in a tourism-focused conference, a virtual reality hackathon, and conducting ICT training sessions for Indian academic staff. The project’s steering committee is also meeting to review and evaluate the first year of the project and to strategically plan the next steps.

Profesor Dr.oec. Agita Līviņa, in her opening speech at the conference, called for elevating the prestige of tourism through professionalization, better training, and recognition of tourism workers as skilled professionals. She emphasized that sustainability, innovation, and meaningful, culturally rich experiences must shape the future of the industry. Tourism is portrayed not only as an economic sector, but as a source of national pride and cultural exchange. By delivering exceptional experiences and valuing the people who make them possible, the industry can build long-term respect, trust, and admiration for generations to come.

Project partners are participating in joint workshops and partner meetings of the project “SIPAS – Advancing Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Services Studies through Strategic Industry Partnerships” from April 13 to 22 in India, at Pondicherry University and the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Hyderabad.

At Pondicherry University, representatives of India’s tourism sector gathered to discuss current challenges and developments in the industry, as well as future cooperation ideas, including the development of several educational modules and their implementation in higher education tourism programs. Agita Līviņa opened the event with a speech emphasizing the importance of purposeful work to ensure collaboration leads to tangible results, while Agita Šmitiņa highlighted the significance of developing students’ entrepreneurial skills in higher education and shared Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences experience in organizing events that promote entrepreneurship.

The tourism industry meeting brought together around 40 participants representing a wide range of organizations, including hotels, resorts, local government, tourism education and nature conservation NGOs, food service companies, travel agencies, and tourism sites. The stakeholders in Pondicherry’s tourism sector highlighted several pressing issues. One of the main concerns was the low prestige of tourism and hospitality professions, which are often seen as a last-choice study path due to the demanding workload and low wages. There was a strong emphasis on avoiding overtourism and preventing the transformation of cultural heritage sites—stressing instead the importance of preserving and showcasing heritage as a valuable asset through restoration and care. An interesting point raised was the generational shift in behavior. With many families now raising only one child, today’s youth display notably different behavior patterns. Universities must learn how to effectively engage with students who bring these new dynamics into the classroom. Finally, waste management and pollution were also identified as critical issues. However, positive examples from within the industry were shared, demonstrating how these challenges can be addressed effectively. One of the participants, a sustainability manager from a hotel, emphasized the importance of understanding sustainability in a broad sense—economically, socially, and environmentally.

Project partners also made an honorary visit to the Minister of Tourism of Puducherry, Shri. K. Lakshminarayanan, presenting opportunities for developing tourism education within the SIPAS project and reinforcing collaboration between academic professionals and industry experts.

The visit continues at the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Hyderabad, where discussions on the next stages of the project will take place, along with short lectures and workshops for Indian students and tourism industry representatives.