Kargil: A 2-day training program for homestay owners of Kargil district started today at Auditorium Hall organized by the Tourism Department in collaboration with OYO.
Deputy Commissioner and CEO LAHDC Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve was the chief guest while ADC Kargil Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din was the guest of honour.
Assistant Director Tourism Aga Syed Toha, Accounts Officer to DC Shamim Ahmed, Director Learning and Development OYO Swati Sharma, trainer Neha Sharma besides other concerned officers were present on the inaugural day.
Speaking on the occasion, DC Santosh congratulated the Tourism Department and trainers from OYO for conducting the training session. He termed the trainees as the ambassador who will represent the district to tourists visiting Kargil.
Hailing the rich cultural legacy, unique landscape and mesmerizing beauty of Kargil, the DC said the place has a great potential to become a popular tourist destination across the globe.
He stressed on the need to explore it at a larger scale so that tourist footfall will increase along with the ample employment generation avenues. DC Santosh requested all the trainees to take maximum benefit of the program.
The DC said for sustainable tourism, 3 to 4 tourist places in Kargil need to be developed adding the district administration is committed to extend support to develop tourism sector.
He said Kargil is an important tourist attraction and there is a need of collective efforts from all stakeholders to further push the tourism industry. The DC requested private players, hoteliers, homestay owners, tourist agencies to work in coordination.
Direct Learning and Development OYO Swati Sharma in her inaugural remarks said Kargil has the potential to attract tourists across the globe. She said there is a need to make experience of tourists more enriching. Swati said the program is aimed to give skilled training to homestay owners and hoped that it will benefit them.
AD Tourism Kargil Aga Syed Toha said that around 275 homestay owners were identified to provide necessary training and trainees will get homestay kit after the 2-day training.
The kit will include furniture, bed, mating and other necessary items for one room. He requested the participants to take maximum benefit of the program.
The program will focus on the prerequisites to be a homestay owner, what a guest expects from a homestay, home to run a profitable homestay, how can Ladakh homestay owners are made best in the world, a home living environment, maintaining hygiene and other aspects.
The Tourism Department has introduced Home Stay Policy for Ladakh and is introducing it in each and every village. It will boost economy of the region and rural people. The concept of the scheme is to give tourists a homestay atmosphere in a local style. Tourists will be provided with local ethnic food and can get local taste with culture and lifestyle.
