ANANTNAG, JUNE 26: Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir today organised a day-long training programme on Homestay Entrepreneurship at Kokernag here.
The programme is sponsored by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) under the Cluster Development programme and is being implemented by JK Developmental Action Group (JKDAG) and KPMG.
The programme aims to train the local youth/families to establish Homestay facilities for the tourists which will create employment avenues for youth as well as lift the economic conditions of the families.
Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Dr. G.N Itoo said that Homestay entrepreneurs will be supported by the Tourism department to market their facilities through digital platforms. He added that the entrepreneurs will be certified by the Tourism department and post-certification the department will also facilitate the entrepreneurs for registering their units with the department.
Dr. Itoo further said that in the coming months with the help of SIDBI, the training programme will be held across other potential tourist destinations of the valley to make the youth of these places self-sufficient and job providers rather than job seekers.
Pertinently, the Homestay Entrepreneurship Training programme is a month-long course which includes three weeks of in-house training in the hospitality sector and one month on job training.
CEO, Kokernag Development Authority, DDC Member Kokernag, President Municipal Committee Kokernag, Director Programmes JKDAG, representative of KPMG, a large number of youth and the general public were present during the training programme.