Bengaluru: Taking the saying “first impression is the best impression” seriously, the state tourism department has decided to train the very first people most inbound tourists interact with — auto rickshaws and taxi drivers — in soft skills.The announcement was made in CM Siddaramaiah’s recent budget speech, though the department worked on the plan for the past few months. The move came after repeated complaints from tourists, especially foreigners, about being overcharged or harassed by drivers, even in Bengaluru. “The objective of this programme is to improve the first impression tourists carry about a destination or about our state in general. We want to improve the visitor experience,” said Thrilok Chandra KV, secretary, tourism department.As part of the programme, drivers, tourist guides, porters, and even police personnel will be trained in basic soft skills such as greeting tourists, interacting politely, and improving their communication skills. The govt earmarked Rs 1 crore for the programme. Training will be conducted district-wise in phases and tailored to suit the needs of each destination. “For drivers and porters, we will tie up with associations in different districts and design their modules. While the core skills will remain the same across districts, the training will be slightly customised depending on what tourists expect from that destination,” Chandra added.The tourism department also plans to collaborate with police department. “We will first understand the problems the police face while dealing with tourists and then design solutions accordingly,” he said.Stakeholders in the tourism industry say such a programme is long overdue. “Even today, auto drivers charge Rs 200–Rs 300 for rides that should cost just Rs 60–Rs 70 from Majestic in Bengaluru,” said Patrick George, president of the Karnataka Tourism Forum.According to him, soft skills can make a significant difference to a visitor’s experience. “Simple things like a clean-shaven driver at an airport or a well-presented guide at a tourist destination go a long way in making a good impression,” he said.However, he stressed that the success of the programme will depend on how consistently it is implemented. “If the govt does it just for the sake of doing it, it will not make much difference. The modules must be updated regularly, and the drivers, porters, and guides should undergo training repeatedly,” he added.
