Home stay training for entrepreneurs concludes in East Kameng

A Correspondent

ITANAGAR: The two-day homestay training programme organized by the Department of Tourism for the entrepreneurs and unemployed youths of Papum Pare, East Kameng, West Siang and Anjaw districts concluded here at the State Food Craft Institute (SFCI) on Tuesday.

Around 36 home stay owners, male and female entrepreneurs attended the two-day training programme where hospitality, cleanliness, food making and other subjects were taught by the resource persons and trainers from SFCI.

Attending the programme in the valedictory function, senior BJP leader and Arunachal Pradesh Paragliding Association president VijaySonam exhorted the trainees to start their own home stay business after the training programme even in a small way. He also informed that the central and state govt. had launched various flagship programmes for the entrepreneurship development by providing financial help.

Sonam further told them to maintain unity and brotherhood among all tribes through tourism and make good use of culture, tradition and natural resources in sustainable way.

Tourism Secretary Sadhana Deori asked the participants to maintain standard and quality services while running homestay. “Tourism is a hospitality industry where standard and quality services should not be compromised. You have to treat any guest as your family member while hosting them”, she said.

Stressing on eco-tourism for self sustainability, the tourism secretary also asked them to practice value addition activities like floriculture, agriculture, horticulture and livestock farming along with the homestay.

Assistant Director Tourism Bengia Sonam appealed the trainees to make good use of the training programme and become role model for others in their respective places.

“Homestay is Good Avenue especially for the women folk to earn livelihood. It is a part of tourism industry which is going well across the globe”, she said.

Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operator Association president John Panye said the department is providing various trainings for the unemployed youths in the doorsteps nowadays which need to avail properly.

Panye also informed that the tourism industry can provide sustainable income to the locals and if sincerely implemented, there is no need to depend upon govt job and contract works always.

Siliguri based Help Tourism head Raj Basu, Hotel Donyi Polo Food & beverage In charge S Kar and Anal Jyoti Basu of Indian Institute of Entrepreneurs were the resource persons for the training programme. Later, the dignitaries gave away certificates to the trainees for homestay and Hunar se Rajgar Tak.