SIDBI, JK Tourism launches tourist guide training program in Srinagar

Srinagar, June 15: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in collaboration with Directorate of Tourism Kashmir under its Cluster Intervention Programme for Tourism Cluster Jammu & Kashmir initiated a 10-day Tour Guides Training Program in its effort to promote tourism in the downtown (Sher E Khass).
The training program will focus on promoting the Rich Cultural Heritage, architecture, famous arts & crafts and local cuisine of Srinagar to the rest of the county and the world.
Downtown is widely identified as “Sheher e Khas” and is the oldest area of the city, with the potential of becoming a tourist hub. The programme will build the capacity of the tour guides by constituting the theoretical and practical sessions along with tour of various circuits of the downtown. The training will also include sessions on heritage, culture, art & craft, communication and soft skills, guiding techniques, basic lifesaving and civil defense.
The training commenced with a session by Mr. Zareef Ahmed Zareef, a renowned poet & historian form the valley, Mr. Zareef shared valuable insights about the rich Cultural history of Jammu and Kashmir mainly focusing of Downtown Srinagar.
The programme was attended by Dr. Deeba Khalid, (Dy Director Publicity), Joint Director Skill Development (Khan Farooq Ahmad) and other senior officials of Department of Tourism. Dr.Deeba Khalid emphasized on the need for such training programmes.
The training programme is being implemented by the Stay Pattern Hospitality Services and Aab e Rawan group.