UP now wants its tourism officers to have specialised degrees, English and Hindi proficiency

Officials in the department said the new posts were created a month ago to restructure the department, and that the new Subordinate Tourism Services Rules have now been notified to ensure the hiring of a more professional workforce.

According to the officials, focus is not just on major destinations, but is increasingly moving towards boosting tourism in every district, with heritage tourism, rural tourism, wellness tourism, spiritual tourism, and so on. A new professional and adequately staffed tourism system is expected to help improve visitor experience, accelerate destination development, and expand the local economy through hospitality, transport, crafts, and services, officials said.

Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “We are targeting that in the coming years, this strengthened institutional capacity will play a decisive role in positioning Uttar Pradesh as a major tourism-led contributor to the $1-trillion economy vision.”

Higher eligibility
As per the newly notified Uttar Pradesh Tourism Subordinate Services Rules, eligibility for the post of Tourism Information Officer is now a specialisation in tourism, travel or hospitality as part of a Bachelor’s degree, MBA or PG diploma. “Strong reading, writing, and communication skills in both Hindi and English”, as well as an “O” Level certificate in Computer Science, are also required. Earlier, anyone with a graduate degree in History was eligible, and even then, there had been a provision to hire any graduates in case the need arose.

Moreover, officials said that now, preference would be given to candidates with a Doctorate in tourism or those with three years of experience in a registered tour, travel, or hospitality company.

For the post of Publication Officer, the new rules say candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, or Mass Media. Further, apart from strong proficiency in both Hindi and English, the candidate is also required to have practical knowledge of publication and printing, with either two years in a printing press or publication house, or two years of experience in journalism. Earlier, the post was open to those with a graduate degree from any stream.

The newly created post of Additional District Tourism Officer will be filled by promoting Tourism Information Officers.

According to sources, for the post of District Tourism Officer, 50% will be appointed directly through Lok Seva Ayog and 50% by promotion. Sources said that for the District Tourism Officer post, the selection criteria will include a requirement for degrees or diplomas with specialisation in tourism or travel.

“Our government’s approval of the new Subordinate Tourism Service Rules and the expansion of key tourism posts is not merely an administrative update, it is a strategic investment towards Uttar Pradesh’s economic future. Tourism is one of the strongest engines of job creation and value addition, and its contribution will be integral as the state moves towards the $1-trillion economy goal,” Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said.

Earlier, he said, only a few districts had District Tourism Officers, but now every district will have at least one.
As per the new structure, there will be a total 207 posts of field officers in the state. These include not just an increased number of district-level tourism and tourism information officers, but also the creation of the entirely new post of Additional District Tourism officers. Thus, the new structure includes 79 Tourism Information Officers, 59 District Tourism Officers, 38 Additional District Tourism Officers and one post of publication officer. These come along with the existing posts of 14 Regional Tourism Officers, 11 Deputy Directors, four Joint Directors and one Additional Director.

Earlier, the field workforce of the tourism department in the state was about 80 posts, comprising 51 Tourism Information Officers, 14 Regional Tourism Officers at the divisional level, 11 Deputy Directors, four Joint Directors and one Additional Director.

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