JK ushering towards economic prosperity by tourism boom: Jora

Certificate distribution ceremony of IHM held

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora today said that Jammu and Kashmir is emerging a premier destination in the world, adding that the tourism has now become cutting edge of the economy of the State, which needs skilled manpower under hospitality and protocol sector.
Speaking at Certificate distribution ceremony function of Indian Institution of Hotel Management (IIHM), Srinagar here at SKICC on Thursday, the Minister said that the State has received record number of tourists during last season. “This only became possible by the endeveaor of the Government and whole hearted cooperation of the people which they rendered for maintaining peace and normalcy in the State”, he added and hoped this year State would surpass all previous records of tourist arrival and usher towards era of economic prosperity.
Mr. Jora said that thousands of people are interlinked with tourism trade and need of the hour is to impart quality skilled trainings to the youth not for only for their employment in and outside the State but to facilitate tourists with quality hospitality& Protocol.
The Minister said that the endeavour of the Government is to impart skilled professional trainings to more and more youth of the State under the sector and for the purpose, Hunar Say Rozgar Scheme is under implementation in the State, which provides ample chances to the desired youth to skill themselves with various tourism and hospitality professions.
The Minister on the occasions distributed certificates among 14 passing out students of the institution. He also released textbook of “Hotel Communication” written by Nisheeth Srivastava and Amrit Pal Singh Jolly
Secretary tourism and Culture, Atul Dulloo, who is also chairman of IHM Srinagar in his address, said that the institution during the last year has offered skilled trainings to 1909 youth in hospitality and protocol besides tourism professions, adding that this year the institution would also impart such trainings to over 2000 youth of the State in different trades.
Principal IHM Nisheeth Srivastava gave a detailed resume of activities of the institution and re-affirmed that the institution would continue its efforts to make it more vibrant in preparing the youth of the State in different professions.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Farooq Ahmed Shah, who was former Director Tourism Kashmir, Director Tourism Kashmir Talat Parvez, Senior officers of the Tourism department and IHM , representatives of tour and travel trade besides students and staff of IHM attended the function.