Odisha Tourism recently organised a day-long ‘Tourism Orientation Programme’ for the first batch of more than 200-odd ‘pink auto drivers’ at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) in Bhubaneswar, with a view to orient them to become ‘tourist friendly’ and ‘Ambassadors of Odisha Tourism’.
The programme included lessons on the concept of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, important tourists spots and the rich heritage of Odisha, basic etiquette and mannerism, maintaining basic hygiene and also helping the tourists to identify and appreciate the handicrafts and handloom of the state.
Inaugurating the Orientation Programme, Ashok Chandra Panda, the state’s tourism and culture minister said, “The role of auto/taxi drivers in promotion of Odisha’s tourism, culture and heritage is very important as they are the ‘first point of contact and interaction’ with both domestic as well as foreign tourists.”
He added that it is the behavioural aspects like manners, etiquette, hygiene of drivers, which will help in creating a lasting impact in the minds of the visiting tourists to the state. He also stated that it is our primary responsibility to ensure that the tourists visiting the state derive maximum value from the tour and return home happy and satisfied.
LN Gupta, principal secretary, department of tourism, Government of Odisha emphasised the need for training of human resources at the ground level like auto / taxi drivers, tour guides, tour operators, travel agents, hawkers etc and termed them as ‘ground ambassadors’ of Odisha Tourism. He stated that similar orientation programmes will be held at regular interval to cover around 15000 taxi / auto drivers of Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Sambalpur, Balasore, Gopalpur and other cities of the state in a phased manner. He also made a presentation on the important tourist spots of the state.
Anil Kumar Samal, director and additional secretary tourism, Government of Odisha explained the objectives behind the orientation programme and stated that such programmes will be taken up in a ‘mission mode’ throughout the state to cover the major tourist attractions.