SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 15 (KNS): A three day long capacity building programme for the staff of hotels and guest houses got off today at the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir. The programme is being organized by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

The programme is part of the initiative of the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir to improve the technical skills and further enhance the professionalism among the frontline staff of the Tourism industry for which the SIDBI has lent all support.

The programme was inaugurated by Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Fazlul Haseeb in which around 300 frontline staff from various hotels and guest houses of Kashmir Valley are participating.

The three day training programme covers basic grooming and etiquette, complaint handling, guest handling and other fundamentals of hospitality and experts from various segments would be training the participants.

Addressing the participants, the Director Tourism underscored the need for a skillful and professional frontline staff in the tourism industry. He said post Covid-19 and with an increased tourist footfall to the Valley the need for professional and technically trained staff is being felt very much and the Department being conscious of this fact has rolled out this series of training programmes.

The Director Tourism appreciated the role and concern of the SIDBI who came forward and lent all support to make the programme series a success. He said another such programme would soon be held for tourist guides to acquaint them with various related and emerging issues of the industry.

Senior officers of Tourism Department, SIDBI and representatives of programme conducting agency, Stay Pattern Hospitality Service were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Department in collaboration with SIDBI has organized a similar training programme for Tour/Ski guides/Ski patrol who have been working in various activities at the famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other destinations.

Under this joint initiative of the Department and SIDBI, another training programme for tourist guides would be held in the coming days.(KNS)