Tourist buddies will be trained in multiple areas, including first aid, guiding tourists, and acting as first responders in case of any issues faced by visitors. They will be government-appointed and provided with uniforms
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 21: As incidents of tourists wandering off to various unfamiliar locations continue to occur from time to time, the state government is optimistic that the introduction of “tourist buddies” will enhance the safety of visitors to Meghalaya and make their stay significantly safer.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Tourism department, CVD Diengdoh, stated that the government has once again floated a tender to appoint tourist buddies, initially at popular tourist spots.
The importance of this initiative has grown following the recent death of Hungarian tourist Zsolt Puskás, who lost his life in an accident near Ramdait village in the Shella region of East Khasi Hills.
According to Diengdoh, these tourist buddies will be trained in multiple areas, including first aid, guiding tourists, and acting as first responders in case of any issues faced by visitors. They will be government-appointed and provided with uniforms.
The government intends to recruit tourist buddies from the local areas where they will be deployed, as locals possess better knowledge of the terrain and surroundings. The move is also expected to generate local employment opportunities.
Additionally, the tourist buddies will be responsible for informing the police, Disaster Management authorities, and even local headmen in the event of any incident.
The government plans to introduce the tourist buddies in popular destinations first, gradually expanding the program to other locations based on demand.
Meanwhile, Diengdoh also emphasised the importance of the Meghalaya Tourism app. He noted that if more people use the app, the government will be better equipped to collect data on tourist stays in the state, allowing for quick contact in case of emergencies.