Capacity Building for Service Providers Scheme

A large segment of people are involved directly and indirectly in the tourism industry.  Professional expertise is required for specialized vocations in this field.  As such trained human resource is an important component of the tourism infrastructure.  Presently Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior and its regional centres at Bhubaneswar and Delhi along with NIWS, Goa are providing short-term training to the different stakeholders related to tourism and hospitality trade.   In the recent past a large number of persons who are engaged in the unorganized sectors such as small hotels, dhabas, travel agencies etc.  There is a segment of tourism service providers who are engaged in other professions but come in contact with the tourists.  These persons such as Staff at railway station/Bus, police personnel, immigration staff, coolies, taxi/coach drivers, tonga riders, boatmen, priest, artisans, craftsmen and guides etc.   Tourist come in contact with various service providers and it is this experience they have while interacting with the cutting edge governs their experience of India as a tourist destination.  It was therefore, felt necessary that this large number of service providers should be given certain input which can improve their behaviour and service levels.    Some of the important areas being covered during the training include health and personal hygiene, cleanliness, basic service techniques, etiquettes and basic manners, communication and behavioral skills, first aids, customer handling etc. are also covered in the training programme.  The duration of the course ranges from 1 to 3 days.  Under this scheme, IITTM is conducting training by using its own infrastructure or is providing the training at site of the service providers.

IITTM has imparted this training not only in Gwalior & surroundings but also at Port Blair, Jammu, Shimla, Nainital, Bhimtal, Khajuraho, Jaipur, Udaipur, Panaji, Satkosia, Sakhigopal, Nandankanan, Chilika, Gurukul etc.  IITTM has also been actively implementing the UNDP project related to community based and rural tourism in Orissa. During the training programme, special emphasis has been given on the awareness of aids.

Under this scheme, a token stipend as per the norms of Ministry of Tourism, is being given to the participants.  This scheme has a tremendous impact upon the working of these service providers time to time. Institute also collect the feedback from the participants.