The two-day homestay training programme organised by the Department of Tourism of Arunachal Pradesh for the entrepreneurs and unemployed youths of Papum Pare, East Kameng, West Siang and Anjaw districts concluded at the State Food Craft Institute (SFCI) here on Tuesday.
The programme was attended by 36 homestay owners, male and female entrepreneurs. 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Arunachal Pradesh Paragliding Association president Vijay Sonam exhorted the trainees to start their own homestay business once their training programme was over, initially, in a small way.
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He said that the Central and State Government have launched various flagship programmes for entrepreneurship development by providing financial help. Sonam advised them to maintain unity and brotherhood among all tribes through tourism and make good use of culture, tradition and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Tourism Secretary Sadhana Deori asked the participants to maintain standard and quality services while running their 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 asked them to practice value-addition activities such as floriculture, agriculture, horticulture and livestock farming along with homestay.
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Assistant Director of Tourism Bengia Manna Sonam appealed to the trainees to make good use of the training programme and become a role model for others in their respective places. “Homestay is a good avenue, especially for the women folk to earn a livelihood. It is a part of the tourism industry which is doing well across the globe,” she said.
Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operator Association president John Panye said that the tourism industry can provide sustainable income to the locals and if sincerely implemented, there is no need to depend upon Government jobs and contract works.
Siliguri-based Help Tourism head Raj Basu, Hotel Donyi Polo food and 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 Rojgar Tak’.