The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Setting the benchmark for tourist guides

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 23, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Setting the benchmark for tourist guides

"Those in the travel industry should work with the motto, `Welcome a visitor and send back a friend'"

For those in the tourism circuit, Chennai-based approved guide P. Asoka is a household name.

T.S. Shankar speaks to the first recipient of the National Award for the `Best Tourist Guide' from the Union Tourism Ministry.

P. Asoka, who got the honour among 2,500 guides approved by the Ministry, is very happy to be recognised as the best tourist guide by the Government.

"... My hard work during the past 30 years has yielded recognition... " he says.

Starting his career in Chennai, Mr. Asoka expanded the area of his operation to all four southern States.

He went on to cover the entire country, and Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet.

"My proficiency in German and French helped me set the benchmark for a tourist guide. It has also helped me be president of the Tourist Guides' Federation of India for seven years and president of the Approved Tour Guides' Association since its formation in 1994."

"I would like to tell my colleagues all over India and those who aspire to become guides, that `guiding' is a noble profession. It gives you immense job satisfaction. Tourism is a fast growing industry and if you are sincere at work, giving authentic information to tourists, you will be recognised not only by the tour operators but also by the tourism department of both the State and Central Governments. India, being an excellent destination, should have repeat visitors round the year," Mr. Asoka says.

Mr. Asoka, who has studied history and law and has completed a Government of India guide training course, says that, "All my colleagues and those in the travel industry should work with the motto, `Welcome a visitor and send back a friend.'"

His humane side came to the fore when the tsunami struck.

He mustered 10,000 US dollars through his overseas contacts and helped the needy.

He also set up an English medium nursery and primary school at Sawyerpuram village near Tuticorin.

Those who want to learn the nuances of working as a tourist guide can e-mail him at pugazh@vsnl.com.

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