Port Blair, Feb. 26: Tourism Department of A&N Administration, as part of its initiative to promote, foster professionalism, ensuring safety, and opening up avenues for both employment and self-employment in the vibrant tourism industry is organizing a 12 days Tourist Guide Training Program in Port Blair from 26/02/2024 and will continue till 08/03/2024 including weekends. The training is being conducted in association with Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Bhubaneswar.

The training program was inaugurated by the Secretary (Tourism), Shri. Vishwendra in the Conference Hall of Andaman Teal House this morning.

Addressing the gathering, the Tourism Secretary urged the participants to participate in the training wholeheartedly. He underscored the role of Tourist Guides in shaping the future of tourism sector. He also highlighted on the behavioural component of the training and encouraged the participants to be responsible stakeholders of Andaman tourism. He further urged them to know all about the Isles for value addition to their work in tourism sector.

The Director (Tourism), Dr. Jatinder Sohal, while welcoming the chief guest and others, urged the participants to draw maximum benefit of the training program and upgrade their skills. The resource persons from IITTM, Dr. Swajan gave an overview of the training program and its objectives while Dr. Subramanian from IITTM Bhubaneswar proposed the vote of thanks. 150 local Aspirants from different Islands are participating in the training program.

This program aims to equip the local unemployed youths with the necessary communication skills, historical and cultural knowledge, customer service, safety protocols, and language proficiency to excel in the tourism industry. This will help in bridging the gap of well-trained tourist guides for the travellers visiting the Islands.