Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 05 November 2024
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, in collaboration with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ Department of Tourism, has inaugurated the second phase of the ‘Paryatan Mitra’ initiative. Aimed at enhancing skills within the local tourism sector, this program seeks to build a skilled workforce to elevate service quality for visitors to the islands.
The launch ceremony took place in the conference hall of Aapda Prabhandan Bhawan, Link Road, Sri Vijaya Puram, with Assistant Commissioner of Swaraj Dweep, Mr. Vikram Singh, serving as the chief guest. In a symbolic start, Mr. Singh inaugurated the event by lighting a traditional oil lamp.
In his address, Mr. Singh expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, which aims to upgrade skills among tourism service providers. He encouraged stakeholders to devise strategies for attracting tourists during the off-peak monsoon season. Highlighting the need to diversify offerings, Mr. Singh suggested that tourism stakeholders promote experiences such as bird watching, stargazing, and nature trails alongside traditional sites, providing tourists with new and unique options to explore in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
With the upcoming commencement of international flights to the islands, Mr. Singh emphasized the value of learning foreign languages for local youth, noting that multilingual skills would greatly benefit them within the expanding tourism industry. He urged stakeholders to explore and introduce innovative tourism activities, which he believes will draw more visitors and ultimately boost the islands’ profile as a tourist destination.
Dr. Abdul Salam, Associate Professor from JNRM’s Department of Tourism, also addressed the gathering, commending the MoT’s initiative. He noted that BBA (Tourism & Travel Management) students at JNRM are already being informed of the scope in the tourism sector, and that such skill development programs will further enrich their understanding and career potential.
Ms. Rabia Bibi, Manager of Operations for IP&T, highlighted the significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands being selected again as one of 50 destinations across India for the program’s second phase. According to her, the training will cover new areas including heritage walks, home-stays, food court services, and handicraft promotion.
Several trainees who participated in the first phase of Paryatan Mitra shared their positive experiences. K. Selvam, Raj, and Kamala spoke about the program’s impact, describing how the training had improved their daily interactions with tourists.
Earlier in the program, Mr. Ankit Kumar Tripathi, the coordinator of Paryatan Mitra and Member Secretary of the A&N Tourist Vehicle Owners Association, delivered a welcome address. He reported that, in the first phase, the Ministry of Tourism trained 95 service providers, including cab drivers, food vendors, and Self-Help Group members, along with around 365 students from JNRM, all with the goal of fostering tourism awareness and preparing skilled manpower for the industry’s future.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. S. Ramakrishna, Assistant Director of India Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, appreciating all attendees and contributors to the Paryatan Mitra initiative.