North eastern & Sikkim participants benefit from tourism training by TAAS

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 10 Nov: A total of thirty participants from different north-eastern states have completed a month-long a tour, trekking and specialised guide training course here in the state.
This training course was part of the Capacity Building for tourism stakeholders of North-Eastern Region programme organised by Travel Agents Association of Sikkim [TAAS] and sponsored by North East Council under Ministry of DONER and was supported by the Government of Sikkim.
A total of 38 resource persons were engaged at the programme from TAAS, Tourism Department, Forest Department, Sikkim Univeristy, Ornithological Society, International Mountain Guide from Switzerland, Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association and other organizations. The trainees were taken through theoretical, practical and other activities at East, West and South Sikkim.
On completion of the training, the participants were awarded with certificates by TAAS at the valedictory function which was held today.
In his valedictory address, TAAS president, Lukendra Rasaily mentioned that TAAS has been working hard to promote tourism in the region. He further mentioned that the objective of such training was also to promote tourism in the region by coming together on one platform.
While speaking to the participants, he urged them to share their knowledge of the training with the masses in their respective states and to work on tourism promotion in the region.
In his welcome address, TAAS general secretary, S Norgay Lachungpa informed on the various activities and initiatives undertaken by TAAS in and outside the state for tourism promotion. He further informed that TAAS has also been encouraging youths towards tourism activities in order to become self-employed by providing them with capacity building.
Project Manager, TAAS, Baraf Namgyal presented various technical details of the training. He expressed hope that the trainees would practice the knowledge and experiences they had learnt during the training to turn the North Eastern region into the most popular tourist friendly destination in India.
He further hoped that the training would open up opportunities for local people in income generation directly and indirectly.
At the experience sharing session, the participants expressed their gratitude to TAAS for providing such a beneficial and productive training and assured to use the knowledge gained for the promotion of tourism in the region. They also expressed the desire to be united under a single banner of tourism promotion in the region. They also appreciated the initiatives of the state government, TAAS and local media together for the promotion of tourism in the state.