Tourism Minister Sh. Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates 3 days Incredible India Mega Homestay Development & Training Workshop in Darjeeling
Union Minister of State
for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel
inaugurated the three days Incredible India Mega Homestay Development &
Training Workshop in Darjeeling, West Bengal today. Ministry of Tourism’s India
TourismRegional Office (East) has organized this workshop from 22nd -24th
February 2021 in association with the Eastern Himalayas Travel and Tour
Operator Association (Resource Partner) and IIAS School of Management
(Knowledge Partner) to enrich the hospitality skills of the Homestay owners of
the region to ensure a better experience for the tourists. On this occasion
Member of Parliament, Darjeeling Shri Raju Bista and ADG of Ministry of Tourism
Ms. Rupinder Brar and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking
on the occasion Shri Prahlad Singh Patel said, “The Eastern Himalayan part of
West Bengal is one of the most significant tourist destinations in India. The
presence of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (UNESCO World Heritage) and Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute also signifies the importance of the queen of hills.
Over the period a new phenomenon i.e. Homestay has become a popular concept in
the hills and thousands of locals have transformed their houses into a
home-stay option in order to cater to the growing demand from the tourists.”
Shri
Patel also explained how in the time of Covid crisis several meetings with
State Tourism Ministers and stakeholders were held to help the tourism industry
people. Union Minister also said that in a very short time, a portal was
started to register hotels so that they observe Covid related SoPs and inspire
confidence among the tourists.
Shri
Prahlad Singh Patel elaborated that due to the still serious Covid situation in
a large number of countries abroad and the dramatic improvement in the pandemic
situation in India, the domestic tourism is suddenly picking up and key tourist
destinations are getting saturated. The Indian tourist industry should seize
this opportunity and quickly develop as many avenues of tourism as possible
including homestays to meet the demand which is rising very fast, the Minister
urged.
The
Minister further observed that the involvement of the local community is of
utmost importance in Homestay Tourism in one of the most favoured Hill Station
of Darjeeling for Domestic and Inbound Tourists. However, these homestays need
a lot of assistance in capacity building for a better future of Darjeeling
hills as a rural tourism hotspot. Development of these homestays through
hospitality skill up-gradation would certainly make them self-reliant,
Atmanirbhar, the Minister added.
Shri
Patel emphasized that the training efforts will carry on in the future till
such time all stakeholders in the region are covered. The Ministry has been
making concerted efforts towards encouraging citizens to travel safely within
India and experience its beauty, thrills, and unending charm.
Shri
Patel said, “An Atmanirbhar self-reliant tourism-based economy will provide
opportunities to the youth of the region for gainful employment “.
Nearly
150 Homestay Owners would participate on each day (Total: 450 Homestays would
be trained) in the aforesaid Mega Workshop where IIAS School of Management
(Knowledge Partner) would train them free of cost in different spheres of
Hospitality (i.e. Behavarioul Skill, Marketing and Sales Skills, Destination
Promotion Skills, etc.). Post Workshop an interaction between Tour Operators/Travel
Agents (Around 40 Operators) in form of B2B would be organised.
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