Unskilled staff, lack of concerted policy hindering tourism growth

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, September 27

Speakers today outlined various challenges being faced in the field of tourism and pondered over ways to address them during talks held on the occasion of World Tourism Day here today. The theme of the event was “Tourism for All-Promoting Universal accessibility”.

The speakers, while highlighting the challenges being faced in the promotion of tourism, said unplanned development, lack of basic amenities, absence of connectivity to tourist destinations, degradation of biodiversity, unskilled and untrained staff in hospitality industry and the absence of a concerted and long-term policy were hindering the growth of tourism in the state.

Meanwhile, members of the Hotel Association boycotted the event due to unknown reasons. Social activists said hoteliers drew major benefit from tourists but their absence on such an important day was shocking.

MC president Manmohan Singh Mall said tourism was the mainstay of the economy of the state and hoteliers should have held a special programme on the occasion. He said people from all walks of life should participate in the programme and support the Tourism Department on World Tourism Day. He said staff involved in hospitality business should be provided special skills to cater to the needs of tourists in a better way. He said hoteliers should promote local cuisine and recipes that were easily available.

Uttarakhand Hotel Association president Sandeep Sahni said the Tourism Department would be provided more support if needed. He spoke on the issue of providing training to the staff involved in hospitality industry and said he would talk to the officials concerned and try to conduct a training camp in Mussoorie.

He said the state Tourism Department was planning to introduce several projects in the future. Sahni said the objective was to create such facilities that we are able to attract high-end tourists.

Former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, who is also the president of the Tourism Promotion and Culture Preservation Committee, said the economy of the state was dependent on tourism and the government had done a commendable job in bringing back the tourism following the 2013 natural disaster. The arrival of 13.5 lakh pilgrims was clear evidence that tourism had bounced back in the state, he added.

He said the need was to integrate the rich culture of the state with tourism and to upgrade the tourism website of the state so that tourist destinations and the various cultural festivals become easily accessible to the tourists. He said Chief Minister Harish Rawat had taken up the cause of promoting local food among tourists in a big way which was a welcome sight. He said around Rs 60 crore projects for Hathipaaon and George Everest house were proposed that would be taken up soon.

Satish Dhaundiyal, Congress president, Mussoorie, demanded the introduction of bird watching tours to Benog hill and other trekking sites to promote environmental friendly tourism. She said the department was planning to upgrade its facilities at the tourist spots.