‘MoT Is Sensitive To Problems Faced By Guides And Will Make Every Endeavour To Resolve Them’

In the line of fire from a cross-section of industry veterans at the recently concluded sixth annual convention of the Tourist Guides Federation of India (TGFI), Rashmi Verma, additional director general, ministry of tourism, comes out with flying colours as she proposes solutions instead of justifications. Raadia Mukadam captures this exclusive dialogue. Excerpts

The Panel
P Asoka	Adi Katgara	Subhash Goyal	Ram Chopra	Gulshan Deboo

P Asoka, president, TGFI: The depleting income of guides due to a scant inbound season along with the presence of unauthorised guides has caused much distress. What remedial measures do you propose?

Not withstanding the importance of tourist guides, I am disturbed about the poor influx of inbound tourists, resulting in a significant drop in income and a bad season for guides. To remedy this situation, the department is taking the initiative of planning roadshows in countries that have not issued advisories against India. Tapping new markets is the only feasible strategy to successfully combat the current predicament. Regarding the presence of unlicensed guides in some touristic places, we are empowering department representatives to take action under the ASI Act. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is sensitive to problems faced by guides and will make every endeavour to resolve them.

Adi Katgara,director, TCI: Some arrangement has to be made to arrange foreign language speaking guides at least at key tourist attractions such as Khajuraho?
Times are bad and inbound tourists are dwindling. Since, we are looking at new markets, we are introducing Chinese and Japanese language training courses for guides since we cannot depend on traditional markets like UK and USA. Therefore guides speaking such languages are imperative to cater to these markets.

Subhash Goyal, president, ASSOCHAM, patron, TGFI: It is absurd to retire guides, can the MoT do something about doing away with the retirement age?
I empathise with the sentiments of the guides of not wanting to retire at a set age of 65. Since, the MoT is in the process of setting new guidelines for registered guides, whether, it is doing away with the retirement age or extending the disputed age, we will do our best to resolve this issue on priority.

Ram Chopra, regional director, GOITO, Western and Central India: The Government of India Tourist Office (GOITO)-WI has been holding regular refresher courses for guides in the Western region, why aren’t similar courses held all over India?
It is certainly imperative for guides to keep themselves updated and for us to host refresher courses to ensure the same. While we acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of GOITO-WI, we will try to introduce regular refresher courses in all zones. In fact with the assistance of the regional director, GOITO - North India, we are shortly organising a refresher course. The course which is scheduled to be held between July 10-25, 2002 will be attended by at least 50 guides.

Gulshan Deboo, president, TOGA (Tourists Guides Association) , Mumbai: Why don’t tourist guides also avail of tax benefits like other members of the travel fraternity?
Though tax benefits are not in the purview of the MoT, we will definitely put forth the issue of allowing guides to avail of tax benefits to the concerned ministry, which is the ministry of finance.

P Asoka: Do you think that the MoT can be gracious enough to grant us some space in the Capital to set up office?
It is necessary for the smooth functioning of any organisation to have an office, with no exception to the TGFI. I will put forth a proposal to have an office in the soon to be built ‘Paryatan Bhavan’ in Delhi. With this the organisation will also enjoy the advantage of having an office along with other tourism-related boards and associations under one common roof.