---pic1
The BBA (Travel & Tourism) Department of Don Bosco College, Panjim successfully conducted its Annual Educational Study Tour to Kerala in February 2026. A total of 42 students, accompanied by Assistant Professor Vandana Patil and Assistant Professor Nafisa Da’Costa, participated in this six-day academic excursion designed to provide experiential exposure to diverse tourism products and destination management practices. The study tour was an integral component of the curriculum, aimed at bridging classroom learning with real-time industry exposure.
The itinerary covered prominent tourism circuits including Munnar, Suryanelli, Kolukkumalai, Alappuzha, Jatayu Earth's Center, and Thiruvananthapuram, offering students a comprehensive understanding of hill tourism, adventure tourism, backwater tourism, heritage tourism, cultural tourism, and religious tourism. During their stay in Munnar, students explored key attractions such as Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, and botanical gardens while carefully observing tourism infrastructure, visitor flow management, environmental conservation measures, and local transport coordination in an ecologically sensitive hill destination. A live demonstration of Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s ancient martial art form, provided valuable insight into how traditional art forms are preserved and promoted as part of cultural tourism, contributing to destination branding and visitor engagement.
The group’s camping experience in Suryanelli, set amidst sprawling tea plantations, introduced students to experiential and adventure tourism models. Trekking activities, team-building sessions, and a campfire interaction encouraged leadership, coordination, and teamwork while simultaneously offering practical exposure to alternative accommodation systems and safety management in outdoor tourism environments. An early morning jeep safari to Kolukkumalai Sunrise Point enabled students to study niche tourism products such as sunrise tourism and high-altitude plantation tourism, along with operational logistics and visitor handling strategies.
The study tour further included an overnight houseboat experience in Alappuzha, allowing students to closely observe cruise operations, hospitality services, catering logistics, and guest relationship management within Kerala’s renowned backwater tourism sector. The interaction with service providers and staff members helped students understand pricing structures, package inclusions and exclusions, and the economic contribution of tourism to local communities. The visit to Jatayu Earth’s Center provided insights into mythological and thematic tourism development, showcasing how storytelling, large-scale infrastructure, and adventure activities are integrated to create a unique tourism product supported by effective destination marketing strategies.
Throughout the tour, students were encouraged to analyze itinerary planning, tour costing, accommodation management models (hotel, camp, and houseboat), transport coordination, sustainability practices, and community participation in tourism. The exposure significantly enhanced their understanding of tourism supply chains, responsible tourism principles, and the importance of preserving natural and cultural heritage while promoting economic development.
Assistant Professor Vandana Patil emphasized that such study tours function as “living classrooms,” allowing students to connect theoretical frameworks with practical applications in the tourism industry. Assistant Professor Nafisa Da’Costa highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism models and responsible travel practices, which are strongly reflected in Kerala’s tourism approach.
The successful completion of the 2026 study tour once again reaffirmed Don Bosco College, Panjim’s commitment to holistic, industry-oriented education. The initiative continues to equip students with experiential learning opportunities, professional competence, and a deeper appreciation for India’s diverse and dynamic tourism landscape.