IITF online from January 1

Meenakshi Sharma, Director General – Tourism, Government of India, shares that the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITF) certification is commencing its first module from January 1.

Nisha Verma and Manas Dwivedi

The tourism sector is highly dependent on skill development, claims Meenakshi Sharma. “We all know that tourism is one sector that provides employment to many people, right from the top of the line to the lowest level, and across all sectors including hospitality, travel operators, and guides. Hence, in order to meet the demand of the industry and fill the gap, Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has launched the ‘Incredible India Tourist Facilitator’ (IITF) certification, which would create and give them the required skills. If anybody wants to know about an experience or a destination, they can do this through an online learning management system. It can  be done full-time or part-time, in the remotest parts of the country. This is something that can bridge the gap, in at least providing tourist information and offering a wholesome experience to tourists coming to India,” she reveals.

The online learning system offers four levels of courses— Basic, Advance (Heritage & Adventure), Linguist, and Refresher. Being a centralised, pan-India e-learning module, the course delves on skill development. “It is already online and the payment gateways opened on December 20. The first module starts from January 1, 2020. We already have this programme in English and Hindi, and we are working with state governments to provide this programme in other regional languages as well. The best part is that this course can be done at any level,” she explains.

MOT will promote the programme on social media and offline channels, and will also organise workshops at the state level. Going forward, MOT will develop an e-marketplace, which will be accessible by individual travellers as well.