TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SKILL COUNCIL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Gov. Policies)

Context: The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), has signed an MoU with Visa (NYSE: V) to enhance skill development in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC)

• About: THSC is a registered Not-for-Profit Organization under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Promoted by; Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Industry-Driven Initiative: Formed by the industry and for the industry, THSC addresses the skilling needs of large manpower to meet industry requirements.
• Approved Awarding Body: THSC is an approved awarding body under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
• Mandate: The organization has a mandate to create a robust and sustainable skill development ecosystem across various sub-sectors, including Hotels, Tour Operators, Food Service Restaurants, Facilities Management, and Cruise Liners.

Key Points 

• Support for India’s Global Tourism: The MoU will ensure a skilled workforce to support India's goal of becoming a global tourism hub.
• Up-Skilling Indian Youth: The initiative aims to up-skill at least 20,000 Indian youth in tourism-relevant skills.
• Time Period: 3 years.
• Training States: The training program will cover 10 States, including Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal, enhancing the tourism service experience.

Visa

• About: Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. 
• Mission: To connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive.