MAKING TOURISM EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS

Paryatan Parv, aimed to spread the awareness about tourism as a major engine of economic growth, is being celebrated around the theme of "Tourism for All'. The event will eventually bring every section of the society, including all the stakeholders, both in the organised and unorganised sector, to develop and promote tourism in the country.

Throughout the Parv, sensitization programmes, skill development and training programmes etc are being organised to inculcate appropriate tourism traits and knowledge amongst the service providers. This would enable them to act/work as tourist facilitators. Since the hospitality industry is facing a challenge of supply of trained manpower, the Paryatan Parv also offers an opportunity to the people, associated with the business of tourism, to upgrade themselves and be part of the industry in some way. Contributing towards the cause, The Ministry of Tourism has put in place a strategy to reduce the skill gap in the sector, including sanction of institutional infrastructure and launch of short duration training programmes for creating employable skills.

Various workshops, exhibitions and activities, formed the part of day 13 of Paryatan Parv. Highlight of the day was a workshop organised by the Ministry of Tourism with Department of Ex-Servicemen's Welfare, Travel Trade Associations and State Governments, for utilization of services of Ex-Servicemen in the Tourism sector. Ministry of Culture and IGNCA has organised an exhibition titled Kurai Onrum Illai, MS: A life in music at Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. Also, a tribal heritage walk at Hazaribagh has been organized by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jharkhand in partnership with Sanskriti Museum.

India Tourism Delhi in association with IHM and IITTM has organized various events like Tourism and Handicrafts Exhibition at Red Fort, Yoga session at Sanjay Park, Sarojini Nagar, and sensitization programme for Stakeholders. Other Central Ministries are also participating in Paryatan Parv by organizing various activities. For example, The Railway Ministry has illuminated some of the major railway stations in the country. Under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, some major airports in the country have also been illuminated.