Srinagar, Jan 15: Despite introducing hospitality courses in curriculum, the J&K government has failed to absorb tourism professionals in the state sector.
 According to sources there are about 125 posts — four gazetted, 71 non-gazetted and 60 class-IV — lying vacant in the department despite about 200 tourism professionals with requisite qualifications jobless in the state.
 “As there are only 200 odd tourism professionals with certificate courses, foreign language courses, diplomas, degrees and post-graduations, it should not have been difficult for the government to fill up these posts,” said Asad Malik, a tourism graduate from Rajouri, adding that the government however has not chosen to do the same.
 He said that with relevant degrees, the tourism professionals can work more skilfully to help promote tourism in the state.
 Muhammad Hashim who is post-graduate in tourism management from IGNOU said the government has created a number of development authorities, but no professional has been recruited for them.
 Many professionals also expressed concern with the present recruitment rules. “The recruitment rules in respect of posts available in tourism sector should be redrafted to give preference to the tourism professionals,” Hashim added.
 The professionals said that despite the introduction of tourism subject at 10+2 level and college level, government has shown no seriousness to advertise posts for these professionals. The professionals said that many of them are at the verge of crossing the age limit beyond which they won’t be eligible for the government job.
  “I passed my post-graduation way back in 1998 and  though I have crossed the upper age limit, I am yet to get a job,” said one Mubashir Ahmad who is Masters in Tourism Administration (MTA) from Bangalore University (AMU).   
 When contacted Secretary Tourism, Atul Duloo said, “ We are contemplating to amend the rules, so that the tourism professionals are preferred in the jobs . Besides, the recruitment agency should also consider the professionals”.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST