Adding a new chapter towards Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, Uttarakhand Tourism Department signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC).
The MoU was signed by Rajan Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer, THSC and Poonam Chand, Additional Director, Uttarakhand Tourism in the presence of State’s Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj.
Maharaj said, “The hospitality of Uttarakhand is famous in the whole country as well as in the whole world. This partnership will add a new chapter to our hospitality by way of training people working in the tourism business. When the taxi drivers, guest house and dhaba operators and tourist guides here greet the tourists coming from outside in their own language and guide them till the entire stay, then it will give a feeling of belonging to the tourists and they will make these tourists to visit Uttarakhand again and again. At the same time, this partnership will also provide an opportunity for tourists to see the culture and natural beauty of Uttarakhand more closely. This partnership will not only result in exchange of cultures but will also generate self-employment.”
Sachin Kurve, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand said, “It is our endeavor to take Uttarakhand tourism to a new height in the country. This MoU is our effort in the same direction. The aim of the training program is to make the upcoming Char Dham Yatra more accessible, develop technical and practical capabilities of the citizens already working in the tourism scenario of the state, ensure social development, self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, besides boosting the state’s economy. A new momentum has to be given.”
Under this MoU, the heritage of the state of Uttarakhand as the best tourist destination has to be taken to a new height by welcoming the guests coming from outside for religious or other tourism and giving them a sense of belonging by greeting them in their own language.
Under the training program, 4000 people will be trained to upskill and reskill, including heritage tour and nature guides as well as dhaba and guest house operators and taxi drivers on the religious or Chardham route.
The training program will focus on issues such as digital and financial literacy, health, hygiene, safety and entrepreneurship and self-employment development, apart from the theme of making tourists aware of responsible tourism by the trainees. The training program will be conducted in all the 13 districts of the state.
