Noida, Apr 23 (KNN)  The Indian Institute of Tourism and Management (IITM) was inaugurated by the Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi here today.

IITTM is an autonomous organization of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and is one of the premier institutes in South Asia offering education, training, research and consultancy in sustainable management of tourism, travel and other allied sectors. 

Speaking on the occasion the Minister said India has a long lived tradition of Athiti devo bhava that has been shadowed by social tensions of modern lives.
 
“We cannot promote tourism if our visitors do not trust hosts and hosts do not welcome visitors.  The host community must provide the landscape for tourism. To revive the tradition of Athithi Devo Bhava; tourism students can act as the brand ambassadors and also help the host community in realizing the importance of this industry,” he said.

Referring to the many gaps in the tourism supply chain the Minister expressed confidence that constant and active efforts would bridge those gaps, helping the country to emerge as one of the leading tourism destinations of the world.
 
To create a pro tourist environment in the country, the Incredible India campaign, he said needed a lift both in domestic and international tourism.   However, “Safety of tourists is our top most priority and there shall be zero tolerance for crime against tourists,” he said.
 
With centres in Gwalior, Nellore, Delhi, Goa and Bhubaneswar, IITM has contributed in various capacity building programmes of the Government and has been instrumental in training of more than 5000 students.
 
The two year PGDM programme in tourism and leisure is focussed towards higher tourism education and has a unique distinction of 100 per cent placement of its eligible students since inception.   
 
With special emphasis on sensitization and capacity building, the institute has even trained many officials of organizations like Bureau of Immigration, tourism officers of various states etc.  It also provides training to the regional level guides.
 
IITM has also joined hands with CBSE in the wake of promoting tourism education at all levels and has been actively involved in the designing of tourism curriculum for the National Vocational Educational Qualification Framework. 
 
Spread over 10 acres of land in sector 62 of Noida, the campus has been constructed at a cost of Rs 27.70 crore.  (KNN)