Agra: Monday, February 23, 2026
The summit, titled “Tourism Journalism in the Digital Age: Data, Discourse, and Destination Branding,” held on Monday at the Taj Mahotsav’s Muktakashiya platform, delved deeply into the changing face of tourism and journalism. The event was organized under the joint auspices of the Taj Press Club and the Tourism Department.
The summit was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by Central Minister of State Professor S.P. Singh Baghel, District Magistrate Arvind Mallappa Bangari, and Regional Tourism Officer Shakti Singh. Manoj Mishra president Taj Press Club presided over the function.
Present on the stage were representatives from the tourism industry, hotel associations, journalism, and social activists.
Tourism Guild President Amulya Kakkar, Hotel and Restaurant Association President Rakesh Chauhan, Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association President Ramesh Wadhwa, tourism entrepreneur Arun Dang, Dr. Lavkush Mishra, Head of the Tourism Department at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, senior Supreme Court advocate and RTI activist K.C. Jain, social activist Dr. Devashish Bhattacharya, and Rajiv Saxena. The program was moderated by Deepak Jain, while the vote of thanks was given by Press Club General Secretary Vivek Jain.
A large number of journalists from both electronic and print media were present at the summit. Taj Press Club Vice President Ajendra Singh Chauhan, Sajjan Sagar, Secretary Alok Dwivedi, Piyush Sharma, Anil Rana, and executive members Jagat Narayan Sharma, Sheetal Singh Maya, Sharad Sharma, Manish Jain, Rajesh Dubey, Rajesh Sharma, S.P. Singh, Virendra Imal, and Farhan Khan were also present.
Emphasis on data-driven journalism:
The summit agreed that in the digital age, tourism journalism is no longer limited to describing destinations. Data analysis, visitor trends, social media narratives, and destination branding play a significant role in this. Speakers emphasized the need for authentic and research-based reporting to strengthen Agra’s global image.
“Positive Reporting Will Provide a New Direction”: S.P. Singh Baghel
“Union Minister S.P. Singh Baghel stated that the media plays a crucial role in securing global recognition for India’s cultural heritage. He stated that the content posted on digital platforms shapes the world’s perception. Agra’s identity is not limited to the Taj Mahal. Its crafts, cuisine, history, and folk culture are equally important. If journalists provide positive and balanced reporting based on facts and figures, tourism will gain a new direction.
He also stated that the central government is working to strengthen tourism infrastructure and digital connectivity to elevate the country’s major tourist destinations to global competition.
The Union Minister emphasized that the content posted on digital platforms shapes the world’s perception. Agra’s identity is not limited to the Taj Mahal. The region’s crafts, cuisine, history, and folk culture are equally important. If journalists provide positive and balanced reporting based on facts and figures, tourism will find a new direction.
He also mentioned that the central government is working to strengthen tourism infrastructure and digital connectivity.
The summit made it clear that in the digital age, tourism journalism is no longer limited to describing destinations. Data analysis, visitor trends, social media narratives, and destination branding have become increasingly important. Speakers emphasized that authentic and research-based reporting is essential to strengthening Agra’s global identity.
District Magistrate Arvind Mallappa Bangari stated that tourism is not just a source of revenue, but is also linked to employment, the local economy, and environmental protection. He explained that the administration is striving to improve systems through data management and visitor analytics.
Taj Press Club President Manoj Mishra said that journalists must develop an understanding of digital tools and data. “Tourism journalism is no longer just feature stories. It requires a balance between research, ground reporting, and analysis.”
Press Club Secretary Alok Dwivedi emphasized that while the speed of information has accelerated, maintaining credibility remains the biggest challenge. He said, “Tourism-related news often lacks solid data. Research-based writing and factual analysis are the hallmarks of good journalism.”
Speakers in the closing session emphasized that the branding of a historic city like Agra is not limited to monuments, but is also determined by cleanliness, traffic management, environmental balance, and digital presence.
The program concluded with the message that if journalism is factual and visionary, Agra can be firmly established on the global tourism map. This summit not only proved to be a new direction in tourism journalism, but will also contribute to Agra’s global image and tourism development.
Special Correspondent
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