Macroview

IATO enters education domain

To set up its own travel and hospitality institute

Dinkar Farwaha - Bhopal

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is set to open its own travel and hospitality institute in the city within a couple of years. The institute will be a joint venture between IATO and Madhya Pradesh tourism department. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department and IATO has been agreed upon to develop this institute. Revealing the latest developments, Vijay Thakur, president, IATO said, "The objective of the MoU is to promote hospitality and travel education in the state." He continued, "Both the tourism and hospitality industry are witnessing tremendous growth in the country and Madhya Pradesh is no exception. However, inspite of the presence of various hospitality and travel institutes in the country, the industry is facing an acute shortage of skilled manpower, which is primarily due to the gap between the existing course syllabus and industry requirements. Our upcoming institute will bridge this gap and help the industry by producing skilled professionals," he added.

The land to be used for the development of the institute is situated adjacent to the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation office in Paryatan Bhawan and is owned by the state tourism board. When asked about the courses and the fee structure, Thakur refused to divulge any further details on this front. "We are doing extensive research at present, and will offer courses which have the best blend of theoretical and practical training to students," he concluded.