C'Wealth Games to create jobs boom

Highlighting the tremendous scope for the hospitality sector in the coming year, a top government official today said there would be immense opportunities during the Commonwealth Games.

"Commonwealth Games are coming next year and there will be immense opportunities for the hospitality sector. In fact, it will be double than any other sector," said tourism secretary Sujit Bannerjee here while giving away National Awards for Excellence in hospitality education for the year 2007-08.

He said there will be a demand for personnel in the hospitality sector in large numbers during the Games in the capital and "We have to cater to it."

Trained personnel will be required to manage the Games Village and also the Vasant Kunj flats being readied for the Games, Bannerjee said.

National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, an autonomous body under the tourism ministry, is currently coordinating the hospitality education and training in the country.

There are 21 central institutes of hotel management, seven state institutes of hotel management, seven food craft institutes and 12 private institutes of hotel management as its affiliates.

Taking note of the crisis of trained personnel in hospitality industry, Bannerjee said, "Opening up of new institutes in government and private sector and broad basing of hospitality education will go a long way in meeting the shortage of manpower at different levels to this sector."

He said the tourism ministry is steadfast in its commitment to provide quality manpower to the hospitality industry and the forthcoming Games in 2010 will yield a greater role for institutes, their faculty and students to shoulder the responsibilities assigned for success of the Games.