Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel to Inaugurate Three Day Incredible India Mega Homestay Development & Training Workshop in Darjeeling

Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel will inaugurate the three-day Incredible India Mega Homestay Development & Training Workshop in Darjeeling on 22nd February 2021. The Ministry of Tourism’s Indiatourism Kolkata, Regional Office (East) has organized this workshop from 22nd -24th February 2021 in association with Eastern Himalayas Travel and Tour Operator Association (Resource Partner) and IIAS School of Management (Knowledge Partner) to enrich the hospitality skill of Homestay owners to ensure a better experience for the tourists.

The concept of Homestay is getting popular in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of the Northern part of West Bengal. The involvement of the local community is more than ever in this Homestay Tourism at one of the most favoured Hill Stations for Domestic and Inbound Tourists. However, most of these homestays lack professional training in Hospitality etc. which would impact the destination in the long run.

A total of 450 Homestay owners would be trained in the aforesaid Mega Workshop where IIAS School of Management (Knowledge Partner) would train them free of cost in different spheres of Hospitality (i.e. Behavarioul Skill, Marketing and Sales Skills, Destination Promotion Skills etc.). The Workshop would start every day at 10 A.M. and continue up to 3 P.M. Post Workshop an interaction between Tour Operators/Travel Agents (Appx. 40 Operators) in form of B2B would be organised.

The aim of this robust hospitality training workshop is to upgrade the hospitality skills of local community stakeholders by capacity building. This initiative is directed towards rural development through tourism and the preservation of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of local communities.