Pilikula Nisargadhama to use student volunteers as tourist guides

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 29, 2016:  Pilikula Nisargadhama, taking forward efforts to attract tourists, is all set to induct students to double as tourist guides.   Students who are appointed as temporary guides from this summer will guide tourists to make their trip more informative at Nisargadhama that has a regional science centre, botanical garden, biological park, walk through aviary, aquarium, boat club, heritage village, medicinal plant nursery, traditional guthu mane, kambala field, artisans village, water park and other holiday spots. For this, the Nisargadhama authorities are training students to in the role of tourist guides.

Nisargadhama executive director S A Prabhakar Sharma stated that very soon training will be held for a batch of candidates who volunteer to act as tourist guides. "We plan to train a batch of around 50 candidates and after the training they will be deputed as tourist guides. We will use trained guides depending on the increase in the number of visitors. Training the students is expected to start in a week," he said adding that nearly 20 students have already volunteered to take part.

Sharma said that those who work as tourist guides will be paid an allowance based on the time given. "It is not possible for us to hire permanent tourist guides as the number of visitors to Nisargadhama decreases during off peak season. It is decided to appoint temporary tourist guides. It will be an opportunity for students to experience a different form of service. The exposure is bound to enhance their communication skills,’