The tourism department of the Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration today started an initiative to train guides
of tour agencies operating in the hills in an effort to make them
visitor-friendly.
The first phase of the programme will
see the participants being introduced to equipment used in the trade and
this is to be followed by instructions on the 28 days activities.
“The 28 days programme is basically to
provide guides employed with various tour operators with the necessary
information to guide tourists.
This includes knowledge about the
equipment that are used, the history of the destinations, the culture
prevalent in the hills and flora and fauna of the places,” said GTA
tourism department executive director Sonam Bhutia.
The trainees were today given a
first-hand demonstration on how to use equipment needed for trekking and
climbing hilly and mountainous terrain.
“It is important to ensure guides are
well versed with the equipment used in their job. We will back this up
with field and spot training,” said Sangay Sherpa, the department’s
adventure wing and course coordinator.
As many as 32 participants from
Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Maneybhanjyang were present at the
programme today. They will embark on a 12-day trekking exercise and
cover nearly 80km. The guides will trek to Phalut and Sandakphu near the
Indo-Nepal border to explore and learn more about the sub-Himalayas.
“We will be taking the trainees to
various places such as Rimbick, Gorkhey, Gairibas, Singalila National
Park and other areas. They will learn about the flora and fauna of the
places, culture, tradition and history, as these are aspects important
to know while guiding tourists,” said Sherpa.
The 28 days programme will also include
activities such as tent pitching and map reading, rafting, kayaking,
cliff-jumping and river-crossing among many more. The trainees will also
visit historical places, tea estates, monasteries and learn first-aid
administration.
Elaborating on the programme, the first
of its kind since the formation of the new administrative body, GTA
tourism assistant director Dipak Kumar Lohar said, “This is the first
time a training programme is being conducted for guides employed with
various agencies. We felt the need for the training to ensure guides are
properly trained in various aspects of tourism. Some of them are not
aware of historical places in the hills.”
Lohar said a similar programme had been conducted under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.
“When the DGHC was functional, we did
have a programme to train guides who were registered with the tourism
department. We will see how the current programme takes shape and take
steps accordingly,” he said.
Once the training is over, the
participants will receive certificates of acknowledgement from the GTA.
The tourism department also plans to get the guides listed under its
aegis to ensure tourists they are in safe hands.(EOIC)