From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 4: Shillong MP Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon on Thursday urged Union Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to upgrade the present Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) camp in Shillong to a full-fledged centre, given the shortage of trained tourism staff to handle the growing number of tourists to Meghalaya and other northeastern states.
The IITTM, currently functioning from the premises of the Institute of Hotel Management, has had only one teacher and an MTS since its establishment in 2018. The institute offers tourism and travel-specific MBA and BBA courses.
“Meghalaya has emerged as a tourism hotspot with culture, music, folklore, and adventure. Considering its unique potential, the state government sanctioned 10 acres of land to the IITTM two years ago for an upgrade. Still, the Ministry of Tourism is yet to take over the plot to date,” Syngkon told Shekhawat after meeting with him on Thursday.
He stressed the urgent need for trained professionals to run the tourism businesses, and the establishment of an IITTM centre in Shillong with upgraded facilities and courses will benefit the youth.
“In turn, it would empower them to strategise their tourism businesses scientifically and sustainably,” he said, adding this would further create jobs and reduce the problem of unemployment that’s crippling the state and the region.
The IITTM camp in Shillong has done well in the past and has the potential to go a long way if provided with specialised course and training programmes to develop a skilled workforce proficient in hospitality management, travel operations, and tourism marketing, the Voice of the People Party MP said.
“In recent years, we have seen a surge in tour operations from other states of India in terms of marketing and selling tourism of the NE states in general and Meghalaya in particular. But for want of established and professional tour operators in the region, the local manpower could not tap the benefits of rising tourism,” he said.
Upgrading IITTM Shillong can assist in designing and implementing effective marketing campaigns to attract both domestic and international tourists. At the same time, building the brand of the state and NE as a prime tourist destination, ensuring high standards of service quality, and enhancing the overall tourist experience can give a boost to the surge, Syngkon said.
“There is an urgent need to have a permanent centre in Shillong to develop a skilled workforce proficient in hospitality management, travel operations and tourism marketing. Such upgraded infrastructure will enable the youth to have skill-based training through various schemes of the Ministry in collaboration with industry stakeholders,” he said.
The tourism industry in Meghalaya is projected to generate Rs 12,000 crore in revenue through a projected footfall of 20 lakh visitors by 2028. As such, upgrading the camp to a full-fledged centre will not only meet the needs and aspirations of the state’s youth and the region and help the state in its economic progress, he said.
“Successful tourism management can attract investments in infrastructure projects such as roads, airports, and hospitality facilities,” he added.
Such enhanced infrastructures can also contribute to sustainable tourism, ensuring the conservation of natural resources and heritage sites. A full-fledged IITTM centre can also promote community-based tourism, involving local communities in tourism activities, providing economic benefits that reach grassroots levels, Syngkon said.
Earlier reports said that the shortage of trained professionals in Meghalaya’s tourism sector has raised serious concerns about the state’s preparedness to manage the increasing number of tourists from outside the region. The Ministry of Tourism mandates a minimum of 30 trainees for each session, a number the regional office has been unable to meet.
