Meet new breed of tourist guides — certified and licence-holders

The Tourism department has already spoken to the Uttar Pradesh Hotel and Restaurant Association (UPHRA) for promoting these certified guides. The department has also written to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry for giving licences to the certified guides which,the officials say,would be given by March.

Till then,the youths will be given on-job training at various hotels in the tourist destinations.

The course,which was coordinated by the Manyavar Kanshiram Tourism Management Institute of Lucknow,began in November 2009. The candidates — some of whom were already working as tourist guides in places like Agra,Varanasi,Mathura,Kushinagar — were chosen from all across the state.

While hotels will be promoting these guides who will charge a fixed sum of money,it will be up to the tourists to opt for them. These guides have been trained by experts in subjects like History,apart from foreign languages.

Principal Secretary (Tourism) Avanish Awasthi said: “By the time the Commonwealth Games begin,our guides will start working at the tourist destinations.”

Shashi Ranjan,who has completed the course,said the certificate and the licence will give them an edge over their counterparts.

Ranjan,who was already working as a guide in Mathura,said the training has given him an option to work anywhere in the state.

“I was earlier working as a guide in Mathura. But now,I can move out with tourist groups anywhere in the state.”