TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 | Page 29

N E W S / NAT I O NA L
KERALA TOURISM & KITTS
LAUNCHES GUIDES’ TRAINING
PROGRAMME
THE PROGRAMME AIMS AT TRAINING 150 LICENSED REGIONAL
GUIDES AND 50 STATE LEVEL GUIDES.
T
ourist guides with a
thorough understanding
of the destinations and
excellent language proficiency
are a vital component of tourism
industry, Mr. Kadakampally
Surendran, Minister for
Co-operation, Tourism and
Devaswom said while speaking
after inaugurating a programme
to train tourist guides launched
by the Kerala state Tourism
department at the Kerala
Institute of Tourism and Travel
Studies (KITTS) Trivandrum.
“Creating infrastructure
facilities to properly host the
tourists is the responsibility of
the Government. However, what
makes their stay enjoyable is the
service of tourist guides with
a thorough understanding of
the respective destination and
proficiency in languages”, the
Minister said.
Dr Shahi Tharoor MP, who
delivered the key-note address
at the function, said tourism is
the key to the development of
the state. Availability of well-
trained tourists who can tell
the visitors about the salient
features and history of the place
they are visiting is important
in attracting tourists in greater
numbers, he said.
Mr. P Bala Kiran IAS, Director
of Kerala Tourism said tourists
are often attracted to a particular
place by the history and legends
associated with it. So, good tourists
guides have an important role in
meeting the demands of the visitors
these days, he said.
Mr. E M Najeeeb, Sr. Vice President
Indian Association of Tour Operators,
Mr. D Chandrasenan Nair, General
Convener South Kerala Hoteliers
Forum, Mr. Ravisankar K V, Managing
Editor, Tourism India and Mr. P K
Aneesh Kumar, Executive member
ATTOI were present. Dr Rajashree
Ajith, Director KITTS, presided over
the function. Dr B Rajendran, Principal
KITTS, welcomed the gathering.
The course aims at addressing the
shortage of well-trained guides to cope up
with the ever-increasing flow of foreign
and domestic tourists to the state.
The programme aims at training 150
licensed regional guides and 50 state level
guides. The Tourism Department will
provide 50 per cent of the course fee as
subsidy for the candidates.
One of country’s premier training
institutes in travel and tourism sector,
KITTS offers high quality academic
programmers in moulding careers in
tourism and hospitality industry for the
global market.
Dr Shashi Tharoor MP delivering the key-note address at the function. KITTS Principal Dr B Rajendran, Mr. D
Chandrasenan Nair, General Convener, SKHF, Dr Rajashree Ajith, Director of KITTS, Mr. E M Najeeeb, Sr. Vice
President IATO and Mr. Ravisankar K V, Managing Editor , Tourism India are seen in the picture.
March 2019 Tourism India
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