Port Blair, Mar 15: A capacity building programme for the Eco Development Committee members, Glass bottom boat guides, snorkel guides, of Tourist Boat operators and executive Staff of Forest Dept., on identification of marine organisms was organized by Dept. Of Environment and Forests on 14.03.2016 at Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor. About 75 Participants actively participated in the programme.
On the outset Shri Jaison John, Range Officer, MGMNP welcomed the gathering and impressed upon need for the organizing this Capacity building programme for the youths engaged as Guides in Tourism Sector.
Later Shri. Ram Bala , Pradhan, Wandoor Panchayat addressed the gathering and expressed his gratitude to the Department for conducting such programme for the local youths for improving quality of Tourism in these Islands by providing skills for guides to provide proper information to the tourist . He has expressed that such skill development programme will build trust among the visiting tourist to this emerald Island.
Shri. P.T. Rajan, Zoological Assistant, ZSI, Port Blair, made presentation on reef understanding on identification of different coral types, reef fishes, importance of coral reefs and safe practices by the guides while conducting tourism were thread barely discussed. Pamphlets for identification of coral and reefs fishes were also distributed to the participants, later they were taken into the National park for field identification of corals and fishes. Subsequently in the feedback session the participants expressed their thankfulness to the Department for arranging such training programme which will change their quality of life as a tourist guide.
