Learning lessons from hospitality industry

Next time you are in Uttarakhand "" aka "Dev Bhoomi" (abode of gods) "" for your holidays, chances are that you might find a perfect host in the state tourism police.

Taking cue from the aviation sector, the state police is set for a makeover in the face of expanding international tourism industry. To groom its first batch comprising 100 young girls and boys, the Uttarakhand police has chosen Air Hostess Academy (AHA) and Frankfinn Institute.

On the initiatives of the state DGP, Subhash Joshi, the tourism police will learn lessons from the experts of the two institutes. Language, communication skills, self-control, personality grooming and etiquettes are the key components of the training. Stress will also be laid on improving their english, since thousands of tourists come from Europe and the US.

Initially, the tourism police would be posted at 22 tourist spots in the Garhwal region, which include Mussoorie, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rishikesh and Haridwar.

"All of these areas attract foreign tourists in great numbers. We are trying our best to play the role of a perfect host to them," said Ashok Kumar, inspector general, Garhwal range.

The main aim of the tourism police would be to provide peaceful and friendly atmosphere to the tourists. In the first phase, Frankfinn Institute would provide training to four sub-inspectors, 13 head constables, 58 constables and 25 women constables. In the second phase, AHA would impart similar training in the Kumaon region where top hill resorts like Almora, Kausani and Nainital are situated.

"The DGP will himself monitor the training programme," Kumar said.

When contacted, Tourism Minister Prakash Pant welcomed the move and said similar training would also be imparted to the employees of the state guesthouses. "This is an innovative idea, which will go a long way to promote tourism in Uttarakhand," said Pant.