Date:05/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/05/stories/2008070559010300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tourist-friendly programme

Staff Reporter

Photo: M Vedhan

Friendly chat: Tourists interact with autorickshaw drivers at the TTDC-MCCSS programme in Chennai on Friday. —

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) and Madras Christian Council for Social Service (MCCSS) organised a programme, ‘Virundhinar Porthuthum; Virundhinar Porthuthum’, to sensitise tourist-friendly autotickshaw drivers to various issues.

An exhibition on HIV and AIDS was organised and the drivers were given medical kit to help prevention.

“The autorickshaw drivers are no longer a high-risk group as they have understood the gravity of the condition. Yet, they remain crucial as they come in contact with those who are susceptible. So they are the target group for such prevention initiatives,” said R. Isabel, Executive Secretary of MCCSS.

Mr. Iraianbu, Secretary, Tourism and Culture affairs, said, “Autorickshaw drivers can play a key role in projecting the tourism facets of our country. All the 51,000 drivers should be made tourist-friendly rather than just 39 drivers.”

“Always tread the straight path. Don’t take foreign tourists through short crammed routes. Instead take the wide straight road while you serve a foreign tourist. This will help the tourist appreciate the good aspects of Indian tourism,” he urged the autorickshaw drivers.

He also told the drivers, “We will be always with you in your endeavour to promote tourism. Try to win the hearts of the tourists with honesty, sincerity, integrity, and courtesy. This will enrich our tourism potential.”

He also said that the ‘Earn While You Learn Programme’ for tourism students and the ‘spiritual tour’ would help the tourism industry.