17 August :Next time, when you visit Goa, you will have well informed tourist guides giving accurate information about the place along with the historic perspective.In an initiative, which has taken almost 14 years, the state tourism department has introduced nine-week state level tourist guide training course beginning on Monday.
"We are facing severe shortage of tourist guides. The tourism season booming, this can also be a good employment opportunity for the youths," state tourism director Elvis Gomes told the news agency.
The course will cover various topics on history of Goan hospitality, managerial and behavioural skills and other aspects related to the tourism, he said.Goa tourism department has 60-odd registered tourist guides who operate alongwith scores of unregistered guides.
The state attracts 25 lakh tourists annually including four lakh foreigners.
The tourism industry suffers, if guides are not properly informed. They force the travellers to go back with the wrong image of the state.
Half knowledge is always dangerous, Lyndon Monteir, officer on special duty to tourism department, stated.He said the industry was in need of well trained, well informed guides and hence the course is envisaged.
The guides will have practical training as well as visits to the places of tourist interest, tourist information centres and other related government offices frequented by tourists, he added. Courtsey DDINEWS