S. Rajashekar, senior professor of History, Karnatak University, Dharwad, underlined the need for trainee tourist guides to have a thorough historical background of the tourist important sites in the State.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the 70-day training workshop for tourist guides, organised by the Department of Management, Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University, in association with Department of Tourism and Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority here on Friday.
“To become good guides, it is very essential to know and understand the background and importance of historical monuments in tourist important places. Therefore, it is very necessary for the participants to take advantage of the training to gain the knowledge and emerge successful,” he said.
M.S. Subhas, Vice-Chancellor, who presided, expressed grave concern over Hampi remaining as the most neglected tourist destination in the State.
Mr. Subhas said that the univeristy, considering it as a moral responsibility, had planned to come out with many programmes to tap the tourist potential of Hampi. “We are committed and have already begun the spade work to ensure increase in footfalls, stay and spending by tourists for which the State government should develop the necessary infrastructure facilities,” he said.
Motiram Lamani, Deputy Director Tourism, said that 64 candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Tribes and OBCs from the district were undergoing training and would be given certificate and identity cards as qualified guides.
Prashant of management department and coordinator of the workshop, said that resource persons would be highlighting the attractions of Karnataka tourism, travel agency and tour management, tourism and hospitality, tourism development besides focusing on applied English and fundamentals of computers for the benefit of the participants.
