Shimla Tourist Guide Union affiliates with CITU
Tourist guides working in Shimla City have formed Shimla Tourist Guide Union regarding their demands and problems. Jagat Singh Rana was elected President, Balbir Singh General Secretary, Anil Sharma Treasurer, Indra Thakur Vice President, and Attar Rana Secretary. Sunil Sharma, Vikram Pundir, Attar Singh, Prakash Sharma, Raghuveer Sharma, Sita Ram Sharma, Lal Singh Chauhan, Surendra Thakur, and Atma Ram were elected committee members. The union has decided to affiliate with CITU.
The conference was addressed by CITU State President Vijender Mehra, Himachal Hotel Mazdoor Lal Jhanda Union President Vinod Birsanta, Chudeshwar Taxi Union General Secretary Suresh Kumar, and Vice President Rajesh Rana. The union has decided that soon their delegation will meet the President of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Vice President of the Tourism Development Board, Director of the Tourism Department, Deputy Commissioner, and Superintendent of Police Shimla regarding the demands of the guides and hand over the demand letter to them. Vijender Mehra, Jagat Singh Rana, and Balbir Singh have demanded that the registration process of all the guides working in Shimla city should be completed immediately. Renewal of old registered guides should be done immediately. He said that the share of the tourism sector in the total gross domestic product of Himachal Pradesh is about eight percent, which is about thirteen thousand crores. Guides have a very important role to play in this industry along with others. The protection and encouragement of tourist guides are very important for the expansion of the tourism industry because they give impetus to the tourism business and information about Shimla city’s historical heritage, heritage and history and tourist places reach tourists. For the protection and maintenance of the guides, the state government should make a solid policy so that the social security of the tourist guides can be ensured. To ensure the social security of taxi operators, drivers, tour and travel agents, guides, coolies, and hotel and homestay operators associated with the tourism sector, the state government has demanded the formation of a Tourism Welfare Board for all of them.