Tourism workshop at harlagun

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, April 5: Continuing its efforts to educate the masses on importance of tourism in the state, the tourism department has organized a workshop for sensitization of railway police personnel on tourism here at harlagun Railway Station. Around 100 officials including from Government Railway Police (GRP) deputed at harlagun and Gumto railway stations, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and officials of harlagun and Gumto Tourist ILP Facilitation Centres attended the day long programme, a communiqué informed.

In her keynote address, Tourism assistant director Bengia Man Som urged the uniform personnel including GRP and RPF to cooperate each while handling tourists and other visitors in the railway stations.

“You are the first person who tackles tourists in the entrance. Your politeness and hospitality is required highly in this endeavour so that it could be flourished more in the state”, she said.

While highlighting on the rich potential of state’s cultural tourism, pilgrimage tourism, adventure tourism, mostic tourism and-eco-tourism, the assistant director said, “We are living in one of the paradises of this Earth. So, we need to improvise ourselves and your cooperation is the need of the hour to make this industry grand success”.

Bengia also briefly highlighted on importance of opening up of home stay facility for tourist in the state to boost rural economy.

“The world has started looking upon Aruchal Pradesh slowly because of coming up of trains. You need to deal upon deliberately and politely to the visitors coming to the state”, emphasized Aruchal Pradesh Tour Operator Association (APTOA) president John Panye.

He further exhorted the police personnel and officials of the tourist ILP facilitation centres to maintain cleanliness and hospitality so that congenial atmosphere could be maintained for the tourist.

Saying because of more tourist inflow, the sustaible economy of the state will be boost up, Panye said “Tourism is only an industry where state can survive in long run. The unemployed youth can take advantage from it without running after white colour government job and contract works”. The president also emphasized on improvement of the system to facilitate tourists  in the railway stations like streamlining pre-paid car, cafeteria, opening up of handloom and handicraft centre and involvement of locals. Speaking as a resource person, Rajiv Gandhi Government Polytechnic lecturer Chukhu Mama maintained that safety and security of tourist should be of utmost concern to everyone in the state and every stake holders including Centre, government and other agencies should be involved in this task.

“Safety and security are vital to providing quality in tourism. Therefore, providing quality tourism experiences which incorporate principles of safety and security”, he said.

Mama asked the police personnel to look upon complaints lodged by tourist positively because it is the way of preventing other complaints, adding it is also way of receiving feedback to let them know how they are functioning and opportunity to improve their performance.

Another resource person Arindham Chakraborty, assistant professor Rajiv Gandhi University emphasized on need for creation of tourist police and separate helpline number in order to control undesired harassment and crime against tourist at par with other states like Kerela, Kartaka, Maharashtra etc.

District Tourism Officers TK Kopak and Rigio Tabam dwelt on length about the importance of issuing ILP and PAP for both domestic and foreign tourists and needs for its strict enforcement, the communiqué added.