Sri Vijaya Puram, March 20: The valedictory function marking the successful completion of two 12-day training programmes on Tour Guiding, Eco-Tour Guiding, and Birding was held today at the Directorate of Disaster Management. The programmes were organized by the Directorate of Tourism, A&N Administration, in association with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management for local youths from 09th March to 20th March, 2026 at two venues i.e. the Training Hall of the Directorate of Disaster Management and the Conference Hall of Andaman Teal House, Sri Vijaya Puram. The initiative aimed at enhancing the skills and employability of tourism stakeholders and unemployed youth in the islands.
Addressing the participants, the Director of Tourism, Shri Vinayak Chamadia, IAS, congratulated the trainees for successfully completing the programme and encouraged them to continuously upgrade their skills in niche tourism segments such as heritage tourism, astro tourism, and birding. Emphasizing the importance of effective communication, he motivated the participants to develop the art of storytelling to create engaging and memorable experiences for visitors, thereby promoting the islands through positive word-of-mouth.
During the training programme, participants underwent 8 days of classroom sessions and 4 days of practical exposure and field visits. The curriculum covered a wide range of subjects including Introduction to Tourism & Eco-Tourism, Professional Tools for Tourist Guides, Principles of Eco-Tourism, Eco-Tourism in India, Understanding Group Behaviour, Communication Skills and Personality Development, Code of Conduct for Eco-Tourist Guides, Travel Formalities, Tourism Products of India and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Handling Difficult Tourists, Emerging Areas in Tour Guiding, Facilities and Amenities for Tourists in A&N Administration, Agro-Tourism, Tribal Culture and Anthropology, Biodiversity and Ecology of the Andaman Coast, Etiquettes and Professional Conduct, and Eco-Tourism with special focus on bird watching in the islands.
As part of the practical exposure, the participants were taken to key heritage and eco-tourism sites including the National Memorial Cellular Jail and various museums in the city, the Biological Park Chidiyatapu, and the Marine Interpretation Centre Wandoor. The trainees also visited the scenic beaches of Wandoor Beach and Chidiyatapu Beach. In addition, an exposure visit to Barren Island, India’s only active volcano, was organized to provide firsthand understanding of the Islands’ unique geo-heritage, along with insights into cruise tourism and guiding practices.
The sessions were conducted by expert resource persons from IITTM, including Dr. N. Subramaniam and Dr. Swajan Shriyon, who provided valuable insights and practical knowledge to the trainees.
The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants, marking a significant step towards strengthening skilled human resources in the tourism sector of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.