‘Tourism-centred skills training’ benefits GH youths

SHILLONG: An important foundation for the growth of Meghalaya’s tourism industry was laid recently with the graduation of 75 tourist guides and drivers who were groomed in basic life skills, tourist handling etiquette, traffic regulations and communication skills to better equip them to deal with life in the service sector in Tura and Baghmara.
Further, 25 unemployed youth have also enrolled in a grooming and life skills programme for hospitality and service, an employment linked training initiative run by Group Avenues under the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya.
The aim of these two programmes is to provide market-linked, employment-oriented hospitality training to bolster the skills level of those involved in the hospitality industry, which is one of the key areas the State Government is looking to develop.
The chief guest at the graduation function was West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi.
Joint Director, Meghalaya Tourism, N Momin, and managing director, Group Avenues, Mark Stone Laitflang, were also present on the occasion.
It may be mentioned that Avenues has been empowered by the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, and the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training under the Department of Labour, Government of Meghalaya, with a mandate to link graduates with careers in the service sector.