DoT, Govt of Karnataka appoints licensed ‘Tourist Guides’ and deploys 472 ‘Tourist Mitra’

The Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, issued Guide License & ID cards to new ‘Tourist Guides’. The new ‘Tourist Guides’, who have completed the Comprehensive Guide Training programme at various universities, will be available at various tourist destinations in the state to provide information to tourists. They play a very important role in promoting the destination and thereby, act as the ambassadors of the state and country.

The ceremony was inaugurated by Sri R.V. Deshpande, Hon’ble Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Tourism, Government of Karnataka along with Sri S.A. Hussain, Chairman, KSTDC, Sri AsagoduJayasimha, Chairman, JLR, Sri S. Sampath Kumar, Corporator, Vasanthnagar Ward and other senior officials of the Tourism Department. The Department of Tourism tied up with five universities across the state to provide comprehensive guide training programme. 111 students the training programme successfully and were handed over the guide license & ID card on the occasion.

‘Tourist Mitra’ is a programme by the Department of Tourism and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) along with the Home Department, Government of Karnataka. The first batch of 174 ‘Tourist Mitras’, covering 13 districts were deputed in November 2015 at selected tourist destinations; a total of 472 tourist friendly home guards are deputed to provide proper safety and security to the visiting tourists. The second and third batches of ‘Tourist Mitra’, consisting of 298 home guards were also inducted on the occasion.