1. Introduction
Meghalaya, a jewel in north-eastern India, boasts a rich tapestry of culture, biodiversity, and adventure that draws a huge footfall annually. Meghalaya, often referred to as the Abode of Clouds, possesses unique attributes that make it an ideal destination for discerning travelers. The Tourism Department has taken up various initiatives to develop the sector which can contribute substantially to the economy of the state. With the increase in tourist footfalls to the tourist destinations, the Tourism Department has realized for a need to provide maximum information to tourists visiting the state and also assist in all possible ways to make their trip memorable. The Department has developed the MTIME Tourism App with listing of hotels, guides, etc and also designed a fresh website which carries up-to-date information on the tourist sites of Meghalaya. The Tourism Department has also introduced the helpline for assistance of tourists planning to visit the state.
With the increase in footfall annually, the Tourism Department has also realized the need for deploying Tourist Assistants in prominent tourist locations to further help and guide the tourists with information on the destination, assistance in case of emergencies and also bringing a sense of safety & security for the tourists.
The Meghalaya Tourism Policy 2023 among other thrust areas also focuses on the importance of Tourist Safety & Security. Meghalaya is generally considered as a safe destination for all segments of tourists including females, elderly and solo travelers. The communities too have been welcoming and helpful to the tourists visiting their areas.
Meghalaya Tourism, therefore, proposes to introduce the Tourist Buddy scheme in prominent and important tourist destinations with substantial tourist footfalls on a pilot project. The tourist buddies will be selected from the respective destination considering that they have good knowledge of the area and its tourism offerings. The tourist buddies will be properly trained by the department on tourist handling skills with proper uniform and IDs so as to appear professional at all levels.
The Department of Tourism will authorize the District Tourism Promotion Society (DTPS) of each district to invite applications for the deployment of Tourist Buddy on a contractual basis for a period of 1 (one) year initially, which will be extended for another year as per the discretion of the Department.
3. Objectives of the scheme
i. The scheme seeks to actively involve communities of Meghalaya in the monitoring and reporting process of the tourist locations in the State. The scheme will enable the members of the community to interact with tourists, promote the tourist location, monitor the existing tourist activities and services and provide feedback to the Directorate of Tourism on the requirement of infrastructure and services at the tourist location.
ii. The tourist locations in Meghalaya are spread out throughout the State. With the Volunteers being deployed at their respective tourist locations, the Government shall be provided with immense visibility on the condition of the tourist locations and information exclusive to that tourist location, thereby enabling the Government to take informed decisions and offer solutions unique to each tourist location. Hence, strengthening the partnership between t Government and the people.
iii. As the Volunteers are local to their respective areas of operation, they will have better background knowledge of the area which will enhance their ability to provide accurate information to tourists, have visibility of the activities and services that are currently being operated and the infrastructure requirement at the tourist location.
iv. Through capacity-building initiatives, the scheme aims to empower the Volunteers with skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively. By investing in their training and development, the scheme fosters a cadre of capable volunteers who shall work towards improving the tourism potential at the tourist locations in Meghalaya.
3. About the Scheme
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities of the Tourist Buddy:
- Tourist Facilitation and Site Promotion
- Site Assessment (Infrastructure and Services)
- Site Operations and Maintenance
- Implementing Safety and Security Measures
- In case of any requirement, emergency or query the arises while undertaking the aforementioned activities, the Volunteers shall contact the nodal officer from the District Tourism Promotion Society (DTPS) in order to resolve the same at the earliest.
3.2 Training: Under the scheme, the Directorate of Tourism shall undertake capacity building activities for the Volunteers by providing workshops and training sessions on guide services, paramedic skills, rescue operations, story-telling, social media management and overall tourist engagement
3.3 Service Tenure: The Tourist Buddy shall be assigned a tourist location for a duration of 1 year which may be extended by the Directorate of Tourism for another period of one year based on their performance during the tenure period.
3.4 Remuneration:
- A monthly wage of ₹10,000/- PM is proposed for the Tourist Buddy which can be enhanced further based on performance on field, feedback and customer review, etc.
- Further, various non-monetary incentives shall be offered to the Tourist Buddy as follows:
- Uniforms
- ID cards
5. Selection Process
5.1 Pre-Selection Process
- Pre-consultations with the Village Traditional Heads / Management Committee shall be organized by the respective District Tourism Promotion Society (DTPS) to enable quick mobilization of eligible candidates.
- The list of tourist locations shall be populated by the Directorate of Tourism and communicated to the Village Traditional Heads / Management committee overseeing the tourist location.
- The Village Traditional Heads / Management committee overseeing the tourist location shall advertise the Tourist Buddy position in the respective villages, outlining the minimum eligibility criteria and the roles and responsibilities of the position. Interested candidates from the villages will be encouraged to apply for the position.
5.2 Minimum Eligibility Criteria
a. Domicile: The Applicant needs to be from one of the villages wherein the tourist location is located.
- This ensures that the Applicant has a strong understanding of the local context and cultural dynamics, enabling them to be effective in their role.
- Proof of domicile must be provided.
b. Educational Qualification: The minimum educational qualification for the Applicant will be set at Class 12th pass.
- This requirement ensures that Tourist Buddy possess a basic level of education and functional literacy to communicate effectively.
- However, the selection criteria may be relaxed for remote areas or on case to case basis.
- Proof of educational qualification must be provided.
c. Age group: The person should be between 18 – 30 years old as on the date of application
- Identity proof must be provided
d. Skills Required:
- Good Communication in both written and verbal
- Proficiency in using mobile applications, digital tools and usage of devices like smart phones.
- Candidates who possess a basic level of education and knowledge of their area/ village with skills in guiding tourists would be preferable.
e. Preferable Requirement for Tourist Buddy’s:
- Deep knowledge of the local areas (history, culture, geography) of respective area
- Connection and collaboration with the local community.
- Physical stamina ability to handle outdoor conditions.
- Basic knowledge in first aid training in case of emergencies would be preferable.
- Flexibility and adaptability to adjust plans based on weather or unexpected events.
- Familiarity with travel apps, booking platforms and tour guide system like MTIME app of Meghalaya Tourism.
- Basic hospitality and accommodation management.
- Tourist Buddy are expected to quickly carry out the tasks assigned without compromising on
- Tourist Buddy shall work with the Village Dorbar Committee.
- Any other activities required by the Government of Meghalaya, Tourism Department
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