Vadodara: Rooms at the hospitality management laboratory of Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) were transformed into vibrant showcases of Indian traditional arts on Monday, as students explored how heritage crafts could be integrated into contemporary hospitality and tourism.An exhibition organised by the department of family and community resource management (FCRM), faculty of family and community sciences, to mark World Tourism Day featured handcrafted bedsheets, pillow and cushion covers, sofa throws, napkins, table linen and serving trays adorned with traditional Indian art forms.The exhibits were displayed at the department’s hospitality management laboratory, a simulated hotel facility equipped with a lobby, front office, kitchen, dining area and guest rooms. The setting enabled students to demonstrate how traditional art can become an integral part of the guest experience rather than remain confined to galleries and handicraft exhibitions.Prof Sarjoo Patel, head of the FCRM department, said the initiative aimed to give traditional art a functional role in modern hospitality. “We wanted students to explore how our traditional arts can become part of everyday hospitality products while retaining their cultural identity,” she said.The products were developed as Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)-inspired design exercises, combining traditional artistic elements with contemporary functionality. Hand-painted and hand-embroidered pieces reflected the history and regional identities associated with various art forms while being adapted for use in modern hospitality settings.The exhibition also explored the relationship between cultural heritage and the digital transformation of tourism. As artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are increasingly being adopted to improve efficiency, personalisation and sustainability, the department sought to highlight how the evolving tourism sector can simultaneously create opportunities to preserve and promote Indian cultural identity.The exhibition highlighted the potential of craft-based hospitality products to serve as cultural ambassadors while also emerging as commercially viable offerings.
