Ministry of Tourism (MoT) launches new skill initiatives for youths on National Youth Day to mark birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand
India’s Ministry of Tourism (MoT) recently launched new skill initiatives on National Youth Day to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand in order to improve the sectoral service standards, which is one of the pre-requisites for attracting tourists in larger numbers. The initiatives include the following:
A sensitisation programme for the existing service providers at Varanasi
It will target boatmen, rickshaw pullers, pandas, porters, shopkeepers and street vendors (in and around the ghats and temples). Each course will be of four days duration and the trainees will be compensated for the wage loss. The programme will be implemented by the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM).
The primary objectives of the programme will be to eventually achieve an improved tourist specific service ambience and to further the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. The first course/ batch was held in January.
A programme to groom young persons interested in home delivery service as an occupation
It will target persons who are at least matriculates and in the age group of 18-28 years. Each course will be of six days duration. The programme will be implemented by IITTM, Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) and Food Craft Institutes.
The programme will prepare the trainees to deliver food at home with skill, style and civility. The first course/ batch was held at IHM Pusa.
A programme of training to bring up “Paryatak Mitra”
It will target college students including those enrolled with the NCC and NSS, in the age group of 18-28 years. Each course will be of 10 days duration. The programme will be implemented by the IITTM, first at destinations identified under the PRASAD scheme of the MoT.
The programme will attempt to inculcate appropriate tourism traits and knowledge among the trainees to enable them to act/ work as Tourist Facilitators (Paryatak Mitra ). The first course/ batch was held in January at Varanasi.
A training programme to bring up tourist facilitators in the north east
It will target 10+2 pass-outs in the age group of 18-28 years. Each course will be of 30 days duration. The programme will be implemented by the IITTM. The primary objective of the programme limited to the North East, will be to achieve better tourist satisfaction in terms of availability of skilled tourist facilitators. The programme will be advertised soon.
As per the report of National Skill Development Corporation on Human Resource and Skill Requirements in the Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Sector (2013 -17, 2017 – 22). the sub – sector – wise break – up of employment is given in the table above.
The Annual Plan Outlay for the year 2015-16 for the Scheme of Assistance to IHMs/ FCI/ IITTM/ NCHMCT was Rs 165.00 crore and that for the Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers was Rs 88.05 crore.