The three day business workshop on ‘Homestay Capacity Building’ , organized by the Directorate of Tourism for interested stakeholders and intending local entrepreneurs, concluded here today at TRC Jammu. The first of its kind workshop intended to sensitize the participants regarding various aspects of Homestay Business and skill enhancement of participating stakeholders in this regard.
The valedictory ceremony was presided over by Secretary, Tourism, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, and was also graced by MD and CEO J&K Bank, Baldev Prakash. The workshop witnessed various capacity building training modules, brainstorming sessions along with detailed informative presentations by experts from J&K Bank, Grameen Bank, Make My Trip and faculty members from Jammu University besides detailed presentations by senior officers of Tourism Department.
The participants were acquainted with different aspects of Homestay Registration Process with the Tourism Department, schemes of J&K Bank, formal aspects of functional operations for Homestays, guidelines and procedural aspects involved therein. A field exposure visit was also organized for all the participants on the second day of the workshop in which the participating delegates were taken to Hotel visits for formal interaction and on field exposure of the Hospitality sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary stressed upon the need to organize more such workshops and exposure interactions for the interested Homestay stakeholders. He appealed the participants to keep themselves updated about technological advancements and sustainable practices, focus on socio-cultural tourism aspects and take benefit from various government schemes.
He assured that the Tourism Department shall provide all assistance to all interested stakeholders and youth volunteers for establishing their own Homestay enterprises. Secretary hoped that boosting rural tourism enterprises shall have multiplier effect on overall economy of J&K and shall usher in an era of self reliance and growth.
He reiterated the immense tourism potential in Jammu region and its cultural richness which provides for great opportunity to all stakeholders to invest their resources in the Hospitality Sector. While addressing the participants, Baldev Prakash assured that the J&K bank is committed to support all budding enterprises and shall afford all assistance to the young entrepreneurs especially interested Homestay stakeholders.
Director LEAD, Manish Ahluwalia, also appealed all participants to keep working in their endeavour to establish and run Homestays and boost the rural economy along with generation of self employment opportunities. He highlighted the need for continued engagement and collaboration to attract tourists from different parts of the country in Jammu region.
He emphasized the importance of creating tourism cooperatives to foster collective efforts in developing a robust tourism ecosystem in the region. Director Tourism, Vivekanand Rai, highlighted the tourism potential of Jammu region vis-à-vis Rural Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Experiential Tourism and Leisure Tourism.
He also highlighted the role of tourism in fostering cultural exchange and building bridges between communities in the modern day context.
In her detailed presentation on Procedural aspects and legal framework for Registration of Homestays with the Department of Tourism, Joint Director Tourism, Sunaina Sharma Mehta, sensitized the participants about various procedural aspects of Homestay Registration Policy of Tourism Department.
She also elaborated various significant guidelines and mandates for Homestay Proprietors and presented it under the tagline of “Proneyo Aao Sadhe Behde” signifying the significance of guests in Dogri Culture. The 3 day workshop concluded with certificate distribution, felicitation of esteemed guests and volunteers.
Among others present during the workshop were Amarjeet Singh, Special Secretary, Tourism Department, Sachin Dev, Additional Secretary Tourism, CA Rajeev Gupta, Board Member and Secretary LEAD, Dr. Umesh Shan, Deputy Director Tourism, Jammu, Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Director Tourism (Publicity) Jammu, Neha Mahajan, Deputy Director Tourism (Planning), Amit Sharma, Deputy Director Tourism (M&W), GM JKTDC Sham Abrol and other officials of tourism department.