Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav witnessed the signing of a significant two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) and Tata STRIVE (Tata Community Initiatives Trust), with a provision for extension by mutual consent. The MoU was signed by Shri D.P. Singh, Director (Skill), Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, and Shri Ameya Wanjari, Chief Executive Officer, Tata STRIVE.Dr. Ilaiyaraja T, Secretary,Tourism and Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board was present on this occasion.
The partnership aims to enhance the income of rural homestay operators, develop services in line with global hospitality standards, and create new employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth.
The primary beneficiaries of this initiative will be rural homestay operators, local youth and tourism service providers. The collaboration will also facilitate the availability of skilled manpower for hotels operated by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) and private hospitality establishments. It is expected to create thousands of employment and self-employment opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sector, thereby further strengthening the State's rural tourism ecosystem.
In the first phase of the MoU, nearly 1,000 stakeholders associated with the rural tourism and homestay ecosystem will receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification and upskilling training. The training programme will cover practical aspects such as homestay management, digital booking and the use of Online Travel Agency (OTA) platforms, front office operations, housekeeping, local cuisine, food and beverage services, tourist guiding, safety, hygiene, sustainable tourism and revenue management. In the subsequent phases, refresher training will be provided to the staff of MPSTDC hotels and resorts, while young people across the State will be imparted industry-oriented hospitality skills.
The agreement is financially advantageous for the State Government, as the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) will not incur any expenditure on training. Tata STRIVE will bear the entire cost of trainers, their remuneration and the development of training modules, while MPTB will provide only the training venues along with accommodation and meals for trainers and trainees. Upon successful completion of the training, all participants will receive an industry-recognised joint certification from IHCL–Tata STRIVE and the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, enhancing their professional credibility and improving their prospects for employment and entrepreneurship in the tourism and hospitality sector.
