Telangana: 3,000, Including PhDs, Vie For Heritage Guide Posts
500 shortlisted candidates to undergo training: Reports
HYDERABAD: The state government has received around 3,000 applications, including from PhD holders, for recruitment of tourist guides, marking the first such exercise in nearly two decades.
Officials said over 500 candidates have been shortlisted and will undergo phased training in history, heritage and visitor interaction before deployment at tourist destinations across the state.
The government plans to deploy about 30 guides in each district to cover key heritage sites, while major monuments such as Ramappa, Warangal Fort and the Thousand Pillar Temple will have up to four guides each.
Heritage department director Prof. Arjun Rao Kuthadi said the initiative aims to promote tourism, create employment and improve visitor awareness of historical sites. He said the programme was launched by Special Chief Secretary (YAT&C) Vani Prasad and is being implemented by the tourism, heritage and NITHM departments.
Deputy director P. Nagaraju said the objective is to ensure tourists receive accurate information at monuments and sites.
Several locations, including Nelakondapalli, Ghanpur temples, Panagal, Bhuvanagiri Fort, Laknavaram Lake, Thousand Pillar Temple and archaeological museums, currently lack trained guides, affecting visitor experience.
Existing guides, however, said demand remains limited as many visitors rely on online information. They said guided explanations provide more detailed historical and cultural context.
Vijay Kumar, a guide at the Ramappa Unesco World Heritage Site, said many visitors do not opt for guide services and pointed to financial constraints faced by guides.
“Of the 29 tourist guides recruited in 2004, only 12 are still working due to poor income and lack of government support,” he said.