Ampati, September 22: A day-long workshop on Homestay was organized by the District Basin Development Unit (BDU) in collaboration with the Tourism department, South West Garo Hills for the partners, particularly the youth of the district under Tourism Mission of Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP) at Ampati on Friday.
The day-long workshop discussed on the need to identify potential tourism spots, create tourist-friendly infrastructures and tourism circuit and to generate awareness and train for the youth, among others.
In his inaugural address, South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Cyril Darlong Diengdoh highlighted on the huge potentiality of tourism in the State, which he said is one sector that can provide livelihood opportunities to maximum number of people, adding that this workshop would give basic idea on how to attract tourist and can promote tourism by taking advantage of our rich cultural heritage and hospitality which is our strength. Explaining the concept of Homestay and important aspects of tourism, the Deputy Commissioner also said that we need to look at tourism sector as a means to empower the youth and stressed the need ensure that there is a strong network to promote tourism in the region. He called for registering of partners who would be interested in creating homestays and rural resorts and also work out a model for creating tourism products exclusive to the area.
Extra Assistant Commissioner & Nodal Officer, BDU, Ampati W.R.G. Momin and District Programme Officer, BDU, B.Ch. Sangma also addressed the inaugural session, while Sarkline Sangma of Chandigre Rural Tourism Resort shared his experiences of running a rural resort and the pre-requisites for having a successful homestay or resort to attract tourists.
In the sessions that followed, Secretary of A’chik Tourism Society, Dipu N. Marak discussed about promotion of tourist destinations and successful tourism marketing with special reference to Garo Hills; Asstt. Lecturer, Food Craft Institute, Tura, Jenisha Ch. Momin gave a brief highlights on the courses offered under hospitality sector in the Institute and IPO, DCIC, Ampati, T. R. Marak briefed the participants on how they can advertise homestays, while Venetia N. Sangma, Project Manager, BDU, explained how this workshop was conceptualized under Tourism Mission of IBDLP and invited partners interested in setting up homestays to register themselves with the BDU.
