The Museum of Christian Art (MoCA), in collaboration with the Goa State Chapter of INTACH, hosted the 4th edition of Tales Beyond Time, an elocution competition held to mark World Tourism Day. Inspired by the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” the competition invited young speakers to explore the transformative role of technology and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of tourism.
The competition featured two categories: “Can Artificial Intelligence Help Us Explore the World Without Harming It?” for students of Classes 9 to 12, and “Artificial Intelligence: Redesigning Tourism for a Smarter Future” for college and university students. The topics encouraged participants to consider the relationship between technology, sustainability, responsible travel and the changing tourism experience.
The competition received more than 60 registrations during the preliminary round, from which 20 participants were selected across the two categories for the final competition. The finalists presented their ideas with confidence, creativity and conviction, offering diverse perspectives on how AI can influence travel while addressing environmental and social concerns.
The participants were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges: Mr. Gilbert Anthony Mendes, Assistant Professor and researcher specialising in Artificial Intelligence; Ms. Myra D’Costa, seasoned anchor and compere; and Mr. Savio Mathias, Vice President – Operations & Business Development at Drishti Group.
In Category 1, Samantha Barua of St. Andrew Higher Secondary School, Vasco, emerged as the winner, while Urvi Mahendar Kamat Ghanekar of Sharda Mandir School, Kadamba, was the runner-up.
In Category 2, Deyanna Lobo emerged as the winner and Darshita Dilip Naik as the runner-up, both representing the Government of Goa’s Autonomous College of Multidisciplinary Studies and Research, Borda, Margao.
The event celebrated the power of elocution to encourage young people to think critically, communicate confidently and engage with contemporary issues. MoCA congratulated all the participants and winners for their inspiring performances and thoughtful perspectives, highlighting the power of young voices and words in promoting dialogue, unity and a more responsible future for tourism.
Benjamin Monserrate
Curatorial Associate and Educator
Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa
