The Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT) officially inaugurated the sixth iteration of the Himalayan Orange Tourism Festival (HOTF) at City Centre 1, Salt Lake, Kolkata. The event highlights the region’s rich cultural, agricultural, and ecological legacy and connects rural Himalayan communities with urban audiences until December 8, 2024. The timing is from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily.

As a representation of the lifestyles associated with agrotourism, homestays, and organic items made from oranges, the Himalayan orange, a symbol of solidarity and sustainability, takes center stage. These are essential for sustaining rural economies and include traditional pickles, cooking supplies, snacks, orange tea, and more. The event emphasizes how important it is for urban customers to assist rural businesses by supporting homestays, adopting community-based tourism (CBT), and directly buying organic products.

Rabindranath Tagore’s strong ties to the Himalayan region serve as inspiration for the celebration. ACT’s guiding principles are still influenced by Tagore’s many trips to Mongpu and his love of the mountains and their inhabitants. His writings, which exemplify the principles of harmony between nature and humanity, reveal a deep appreciation for the tranquil landscapes and the lively local culture. ACT’s dedication to promoting eco-friendly travel that respects the customs, means of subsistence, and natural equilibrium of the Himalayan villages is motivated by this history.

With agrotourism, crafts, food, and cultural performances from areas like North Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and others, this year’s festival honors the diversity of the Himalayan region. Connections and collaborations are intended to be fostered through farm-to-table experiences, interactive workshops for collaboration between stakeholders in rural tourism and urban tour operators, and live demonstrations of sustainable methods.

Kolkata provides an excellent platform for promoting rural tourism in the Himalayan region because it is a crucial hub that connects North Bengal, Sikkim, Northeast India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Short, meaningful vacations have become more popular since the epidemic, which has encouraged city people to invest in sustainable tourism, embrace slow travel, and explore their local areas.

Through homestay programs, eco-friendly tourism efforts, and the creation of organic commodities based on oranges, bamboo products, and several other local handicrafts, the festival emphasizes the value of fostering agrotourism and empowering mountain communities. By improving local livelihoods, conserving cultural legacy, and advancing environmental sustainability throughout South Asia and the Himalayan area, these initiatives support holistic development.

Priyanka Dutta