ISLAMABAD – Durawa Development organisation (DDO) and Institute of Rural Management (IRM) are jointly implementing a training programme funded by USAID for the youth of the Neelam Valley, AJK on tourism hospitality for securing improved livelihood opportunities.
Programme interventions are directed towards training young human resource in tourism hospitality that otherwise has fewer choices to earn a decent living. It is also aimed at stimulating socio-economic rural development in the valley.
Under the programme, IRM-Vocational Technical and Educational Centre Rawalpindi is imparting residential training to the young community members of the valley in five different fields which include hotel management, cooking, receptionist, waitressing / housekeeping and tour guide/marketing. These events are designed to build and enhance personal and professional capacities of the young community members for effectively running hotels and guest’s houses in their area as well as abroad.
Sessions on life skills and business management are also included as a value addition to the programme to orient trainees about how to run own hotel with entire Customer/client’s satisfaction. To practice and learn in professional environment, trainees are attached to different hotels and guest houses where they are gaining hands on practical experience in their respective trades.
The programme will go a long way in promoting tourism industry in AJ& K and will address dire economic needs of rural youth for earning a decent living.