Efforts being made to ensure India has tourist guides prolific in UN languages: Union Minister Prahlad Patel

Culture and Tourism Minister Prahl Patel on Thursday said efforts are being me to ensure that India has guides who are prolific in UN languages so that y can interact with foreign tourists on a one-to-one basis. re are six official languages of United Nations. se are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

"We have decided that wherever more than one lakh foreign tourists visit, if y are not comfortable in Hindi and English, we will have signages in ir language. Sometimes when a big group would come, we wouldn't have enough guides speaking those languages… Now, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel management on directions of PM is trying to ensure that we have guides in UN languages," he said while virtually inaugurating Association of Buddhist Tour Operators International Convention.

minister also shared initiative of having signages in international languages at important Buddhist sites in country, including signages in Chinese language that have been put up at five Buddhist sites/monuments in Uttar Presh.

Similarly, since Sanchi receives a large number of tourists from Sri Lanka, signages in Sinhalese language have been put up at monuments re.

He also said that Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was working on relisting ancient monuments and number of such sites could increase from present 3,691 to around 8,000 to 10,000. minister said government has been making special efforts to promote Buddhist tourism in country.

Patel said ministry has sanctioned more than Rs 350 cr for development of Buddhist sites under Swesh Darshan scheme and over Rs 900 crore has been sanctioned under PRASH scheme.

"re are many big sites of tourist interest where re are guides available, but in smaller sites y are not available. At those sites, we can have a tourist facilitator who can help tourists. y can give credible information and we are trying to do this," he said.

While mitting that tourism sector has been hit hard due to COVID-19 pandemic and that to make an estimate of se losses is a challenge, he assured tour operators and or stakeholders that things will get better.

"We have urged that process of easing restrictions on foreign tourists be started so that tour and travel industry can revive. When vaccine comes to India, we will issue new guidelines," minister said.

Patel also stated that Tourism Ministry is making efforts to register accommodation units in country in ministry's portal National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI). Till date, around 32,000 accommodation units have been registered on portal.

"Process is underway to have information related to tourism, such as details about hotels and or facilities at tourist destinations. This portal will also provide information about tours and travels," he said. minister appealed to tour and travel operators to register mselves with portal. 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/prahlspatel)