TGCS

Tourist Guide Certification Scheme

Goan youth can enhance their career prospects in the tourism sector by obtaining training and certification as tourist guides. The scheme reimburses fees for the Basic course and sponsors the Advanced curriculum, which covers local history, culture, and essential skills, ultimately leading to certification by the Department of Tourism.

State Composite

States / UT: Goa

Nodal department: Tourism Department

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Categories: Travel & Tourism, Skills & Employment

Sub-categories: Tourism in India, Employment services and jobs

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Training, Certification, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Employment

Details

The scheme “Tourist Guide Certification Scheme” was launched by the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa. The scheme aims to increase the number of certified tourists guides in Goa, thereby generating employment opportunities for Goan youth and improving the quality of tourist facilitation services in the State. It provides (i) reimbursement of the fee paid by Goan participants for the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (Basic) Certification Programme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and (ii) sponsorship of the cost of an Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum developed by the Department of Tourism, Goa. The applications are accepted offline.

Benefits

Reimbursement of Fees
Reimbursement of the fee paid by the participant for the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (Basic) Certification Programme (IITF Basic) conducted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
SC/ST category candidates are already exempted from payment of registration fees under the IITF programme and therefore are not eligible for reimbursement under this scheme. Sponsored Training
Sponsorship of the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum developed by the Department of Tourism, Goa, covering local history, heritage, culture, tourist destinations, soft skills, and etiquette. Certification
On completion of the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum, the Department of Tourism awards a Tourist Guide Certificate. Optional Language Specialisation
Participants may optionally pursue Foreign Language Courses after certification at their own cost. Special Provisions
Existing tourist guides registered with the Department of Tourism as on the date of notification may register for the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum at no cost
Examination fee of ₹500for the IITF Basic course shall be borne by the candidate

Reimbursement of Fees

Reimbursement of the fee paid by the participant for the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (Basic) Certification Programme (IITF Basic) conducted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
SC/ST category candidates are already exempted from payment of registration fees under the IITF programme and therefore are not eligible for reimbursement under this scheme.

Certification

On completion of the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum, the Department of Tourism awards a Tourist Guide Certificate.

Optional Language Specialisation

Participants may optionally pursue Foreign Language Courses after certification at their own cost.

Special Provisions

Existing tourist guides registered with the Department of Tourism as on the date of notification may register for the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum at no cost.
Examination fee of ₹ 500 for the IITF Basic course shall be borne by the candidate.

Eligibility

The applicant must be a person of Goan domicile.
The applicant must be between 18 and 40 years of age.
The applicant must have passed 10 + 2 (or equivalent) examination from any recognised board in India.
The applicant must have successfully completed the IITF (Basic) Certification Programme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
The applicant must not belong to SC/ST category for claiming reimbursement (as these categories are already fee-exempt under IITF).
The applicant must register with the Department of Tourism, Goa after completion of the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum to be recognised as a certified guide.
Existing tourist guides registered with DOT before the publication of this scheme are eligible only for the sponsored Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum.

Exclusions

Application Process

Offline

Step 1: The applicant shall register for the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (Basic) Certification Programme offered by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Step 2: After successful completion of the programme, the applicant must download the completion certificate and retain the fee receipt or challan. The applicant shall fill in the Reimbursement Application Form available at the Office of the Department of Tourism, Goa, and submit it along with the required documents.
Step 3: The Department of Tourism verifies the documents and details submitted by the applicant. After verification, the Department of Tourism reimburses the IITF (Basic) Course Fee through the applicant’s bank account.
Step 4: After completion of IITF (Basic), the participant shall register for the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum offered by the institution engaged by DOT. Upon successful completion of the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum, the Department of Tourism will award a Tourist Guide Certificate to the participant.
Step 5: The participant shall download the Registration Form from www.goatourism.gov.in, fill it out, and submit it to DOT along with the documents required for registration.
Step 6: After registration, the certified tourist guide may opt for one or more foreign language courses at their own expense to enhance employability.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

Can individuals from outside Goa apply for this programme if they meet the educational requirements?: No, only persons holding a valid Goan domicile certificate are eligible to apply under this programme.
Is there any age restriction that applicants need to meet to participate in the training courses?: Yes, the applicant must be between 18 and 40 years of age at the time of application.
Is there any minimum qualification required for participation in the training programme?: Yes, the applicant must have successfully completed 10+2 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board in India.
Can existing tourist guides already registered with the tourism department participate in this initiative?: Yes, registered tourist guides are eligible to apply for the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum sponsored by the Department of Tourism.
Are candidates from Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe categories required to pay any course or registration fees?: No, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category candidates are exempted from paying the registration fee for the Basic Course and may directly enrol in the Advanced Course.
Who is responsible for reimbursing the course fee after successful completion of the basic certification?: The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, will reimburse the applicant after due verification of submitted documents.
What types of documents are needed to apply for reimbursement after completing the basic certification course?: Applicants must submit a Residence Certificate of Goa, Aadhaar Card, 10+2 Passing Certificate, Bank Passbook, Certificate of Completion of the Basic Programme, and the Fee Receipt.
Can an applicant apply for the advanced training course before completing the basic course?: No, applicants must complete and obtain certification in the Basic Course before registering for the Advanced Tourist Guide Curriculum.
Will the Government bear the examination fee for the basic certification course?: No, the examination fee of ₹500 for the Basic Course must be paid by the applicant.
Is there any provision for applicants to specialise in foreign languages after completion of both courses?: Yes, applicants may opt for a Foreign Language Course after completing the certification programme, but its cost must be borne by the applicant.
Are there any additional benefits for those completing the advanced certification module?: Yes, upon successful completion of the Advanced Course, the Department of Tourism will issue an official Tourist Guide Certificate.
How does an applicant register as a certified tourist guide after completing both courses?: Applicants must submit a duly filled registration form along with required documents to the Department of Tourism for verification and approval.
Can an applicant pursue language specialisation in multiple languages at the same time?: Yes, candidates may opt for specialisation in more than one language at their own expense.
What is the purpose of launching this initiative for the youth of Goa?: The programme aims to enhance employability among Goan youth by training them as certified tourist guides and promoting entrepreneurship in the tourism sector.

Official links

References

Guidelines

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Documents Required for Government Schemes

Most government schemes require basic documents for verification. While the exact requirements vary, common documents include:

Aadhaar Card
Income Certificate
Caste Certificate (if applicable)
Residence Proof
Bank Account Details
Educational Certificates (for student schemes)

How to Apply for Government Schemes?

The application process for government schemes may be online or offline depending on the scheme. In most cases, you can follow these steps:

Check eligibility criteria
Collect required documents
Fill the application form
Submit the application online or at the relevant office
Track application status