Bhubaneswar: HIV awareness for tourist guides

[Guest guest]

Tips to tourist guides

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, May 14: In a bid to identify risk areas for employees

within the tourism industry and to generate awareness on AIDS, State

AIDS Control Society and the Indian tourism ministry jointly

conducted a sensitisation workshop for tourist guides today.

" The participants were told about how and why HIV and AIDS are

dangerous. Discussions were also held on vulnerability factors and

groups vulnerable to exposure were identified, " said Gobinda Bhuyan,

the assistant director of the Bhubaneswar office of the tourism

ministry.

Participants were sensitised on the necessity of using condoms and

sessions included counselling and testing at Integrated Counselling

and Testing Centres and interaction with HIV positive people — mostly

tourists.

Tourist guides, experts noted, could also share information regarding

the schemes launched by the government to aid those living with HIV

and AIDS.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080515/jsp/nation/story_9270853.jsp

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

I would like to share that the sensitization of Tourist guides on

HIV/AIDS issues is highly appreciated. Earlier also a nos. of

sensitization made in Orissa for hotel boys and Beauty Parlors

workers, at that time the involvement and participation also

encourage able. But the follow-up mechanism is very poor.

We all are trying to reach our target base achievement on project point of view.

I think the specific group sensitization / Orientation will be

successful after the involvement with the mainstream process and

regular follow-up.

Suggestions: Identified the Peers and active spokes persons among

the Tourist guides. Quarterly Sharing of issues and discussion

in the forum.

OSACS / Mainstreaming unit should be support the groups like , Hotel

boys , Tourist guides, Priests those who are involve with tourist

activities ( specially at Puri and Kendra Para) , Beauty parlors

Workers and Owners, Taxi/ auto Drivers in tourist place.

Thanks

Umesh Routray

e-mail: <uroutray@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

/message/8800

Thanks to Mr Routray, for his appreciation and very valid suggestions. In fact,

the workshop on tourist guides happens to be one of the many activities planned

for the tourism sector. While on one hand, there is the need to take up

mainstreaming activiites for employees, core stakeholders of the tourism

Department, Ministry, we are also working on trying to effect policy level

changes, and have a firm commitment from the Secretary, Tourism, and the

Director, Tourism, Govt of Orissa, as well as from institutes like the Institute

of Hotel Mgt, Institute of Travel and Tourism Mgt, Bhubaneswar, both of which,

like the India Tourism Office, come under the direct purview of the Ministry of

Tourism, GoI.

You could maybe share more of your suggestions on how to make the process of

mainstreaming more inclusive.

Regards,

Anita Anasuya

Project Officer, State Mainstreaming Unit, Orissa

e-mail: anita.anasuya@...