The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council (THSC) and Airbnb have inked a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer hospitality skills training to over 50,000 hospitality entrepreneurs in India.
Under the partnership, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Airbnb, NSDC and THSC, will work together to help hospitality entrepreneurs in offering home stay facilities by developing an accredited skill development module for them. These practices will offer unique accommodations and local experiences to the visitors.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan said, “We believe that this partnership will help to augment Skill India Mission by bringing in global best practices for the training of small hospitality entrepreneurs. The domestic tourism has immense potential in India and this partnership will benefit the ecosystem by creating opportunities for women and youth. We will extend all possible cooperation to make India a tourism hotspot.”
The aim of the MoU is to empower more citizens, including those in rural and underserved areas to join the ‘alternate accommodation’ sector and pursue new livelihood opportunities by sharing their homes. The step has been taken in line with the Government of India’s endeavour to promote entrepreneurship under its Skill India Programme.
According to the terms of the MoU, the three organisations will establish occupation standards and competency matrices for job roles and develop the courses for hospitality entrepreneurs offering homestay and facilities, other unique accommodations and local experiences for travellers.
The three will also look forward to create standards for certification and accreditation as per the requirements and global benchmarks of Tourism and Hospitality industry for hospitality entrepreneurs offering homestay facilities, other unique accommodations and local experiences for travelers.
They have to set the framework for long-term Council-Industry partnership and also strengthen the Skilled Labour Pool required by tourism and hospitality industry.
Pointing out Jayant Krishna, CEO, NSDC stated, “NSDC is committed to create impactful skill development programs for skill seekers across the country.”
Regional Director of Policy for India, Southeast Asia and ANZ, Brent Thomas said, “This partnership will help to create more skilled, digitally-literate hospitality entrepreneurs – especially among the women and those in underserved areas – who can create a homestay in every home, offer authentic experiences in every Indian locality and help spread the benefits of tourism”.
