Srinagar, 27 May (KNO): Amid prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation, the tourism department has started many capacity building measure programs and have roped in Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), and other agencies to give a specialized training to the people who have direct interface with the tourists.
A top official from the department told News Agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the purpose of the program is to calibrate the people who are in direct contact with the tourists, as and when Covid situation improves in the valley.
“We want to make sure that the associated stakeholders are fully vaccinated and are fully calibrated on adherence of Covid appropriate behavior,” an official said.
“This is a specialised drive and in coming days more and more people associated with the tourism industry will be vaccinated and covered under the capacity building measure programs as well,” he said.
The tourism activities had come to a grinding halt, after the State Executive Committee (SEC), had ordered the closure of government paid parks. According to the officials of the Tourism department the daily count of tourists in the valley has also come down to less than 10 visitors a day.
Officials in the department said, amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, bookings got cancelled, after the visitors made their self assessment about their travelling plans.
“However the department has started a vaccination drive for the people who are associated with the tourism industry. We want to make sure, as and when the situation improves, the visitors can come with the confidence that the people they are dealing with are vaccinated,” they said.
The Tourism department has organised vaccination drives for shikarawalas, houseboat owners, frontline staff of hotels, guest houses and cab operators.
Meanwhile, stakeholders associated with the industry have welcomed the initiative taken by the tourism department. (KNO)