TDCP to conduct tourist guide course

LAHORE:Secretary of Tourism, Archaeology and Museums Department Punjab, Raja Jahangir Anwar, has made a significant decision for the promotion of tourism and the provision of employment opportunities.

The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (ITHM) will conduct tour Guide course. Secretary Tourism Punjab, Raja Jahangir Anwar, stated that formal education for tourist guides is essential to make the experience of tourists visiting Punjab memorable.

With over 400 tourism destinations in Punjab alone, a trained tour guide can narrate the anecdotes and details of these places in a more engaging manner. A systematic course for Tour Guide designed by ITHM will enable individuals to better inform others about historical sites and cultural heritage.

Furthermore, he highlighted that, for the first time, the tour guide course could be taken online from the comfort of home at a nominal fee. Approximately 10,000 individuals will be enrolled in the tour guide course. He mentioned that the registration would be free for the first batch, with minimum educational qualification and other details made clear.

The tour guide course will span four weeks, open for applicants from all over Punjab, with no age restrictions for application. The minimum educational requirement for the course is intermediate or equivalent. Preference will be given to women and minorities for admission. The four-week course will consist of three weeks of online sessions and one week of practical training. Seventy percent of the course will be completed online, while 30 percent will be conducted at the TDCP ITHM centre in City. On completion of the course, successful candidates will be eligible for a licence from the Department of Tourist Services within the Tourism Department.