Visa and Skill India Partners to Train 20,000 Youth for India’s Thriving Tourism Sector

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has signed an MoU with Visa to upskill at least 20,000 Indian youth in tourism-related skills. Know details here

The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has entered into a three-year partnership with Visa (NYSE: V) through a Memorandum of Understanding valued at up to USD 1 million. This initiative aims to upskill at least 20,000 Indian youth in tourism-related skills. The MoU was signed in the presence of Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India.

Building on Visa’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, this partnership aims to enhance the tourism service experience by training youth across 10 States, including Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal. The program will focus on key roles within the domestic tourism industry, such as tour guides, customer service executives, naturalists, and paragliding tandem pilots.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Minister Jayant Chaudhary, said, “India’s tourism industry has immense potential to drive economic growth and generate millions of jobs across the country. This partnership with Visa is a pivotal step towards realising and unlocking that potential, equipping our youth with skills needed to thrive in the tourism sector and make India a premier global tourism destination. The collaboration reflects our shared commitment to empowering young Indians with the skills and opportunities they need to shape their futures and contribute to the nation’s growth story.”

Kelly Mahon Tullier, Vice Chair, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer at Visa, said “By empowering the youth of the country with skills to thrive in the tourism industry, we aim not only to elevate their employment prospects but also to improve the overall experience for tourists visiting India. The partnership with Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) and the support of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship underscores Visa’s unwavering commitment to India by nurturing talent and supporting the Government’s vision of making India a top destination for global tourists.”

As a leading payment network in India, Visa has strategically bolstered the country’s tourism landscape in recent years. Leveraging its deep expertise in data and analytics, Visa has played a key role in boosting inbound tourism by providing the Ministry of Tourism with valuable insights, helping to promote India's diverse destinations on the global stage.

The tourism sector is a vital contributor to India's economy, generating over $231 billion in GDP and employing more than 42 million people in 2023. As travel continues to rebound in the post-pandemic era, the NSDC-Visa initiative will help build a skilled workforce to support India's aspirations of becoming a global tourism hub.

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