Tourist Guide Gir Somnath

Description

Tourism in Saurashtra, particularly in Gir Somnath district, offers vast opportunities with its unique mix of wildlife, religious, coastal, and cultural attractions, yet the lack of skilled tourist guides has limited the visitor experience. To address this, the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development and Shri Brahma Samaj Sewa Trust, launched a skill-based training program aimed at empowering local youth from mining-affected areas with professional guiding skills. This initiative not only enhances the quality of tourism services for domestic and international visitors but also fosters sustainable self-employment opportunities for rural youth in Una, Talala, and Veraval blocks of Gir-Somnath.

The Objectives of the Scheme are:

  • i) To create a pool of professional tourist guides in the Saurashtra region.
  • ii) To provide skill-based training to 90 youth from mining-affected villages.
  • iii) To enhance tourism experiences through culturally informed, knowledgeable guide services.
  • iv) To foster sustainable employment opportunities and boost local livelihoods.
  • v) To strengthen the ecosystem of tourism development and promotion in Gir-Somnath.

Prospective Vocational Programs:

  • i) Tourist Guide Training & Certification Programs.
  • ii) Hospitality and Guest Management Skills.
  • iii) Eco-tourism and Wildlife Interpretation Training.
  • iv) Heritage and Cultural Tourism Promotion Modules.
  • v) Communication Skills & Foreign Language Basics for Tourism.
  • vi) Entrepreneurship Development in Travel & Tourism Services.