LA HORE: The Punjab tourism department is going to have a squad for the protection and facilitation of tourists in the province.

The squad will have more than 100 officials, including 11 female staff, who are getting training from Rescue 1122.

A specialied training has been designed on community action for disaster response (CADRE), Cardio Pulborough Resuscitation (CPR) training and motorbike riding in hilly terrain. The 11-day training course from July 19 to 29 at Rescue academy (Punjab emergency services department) would enhance the professional capacity of the tourism squad to help tourists.

Experts are trainingthe ofñcials aboutñrst aid during any emergency/accident, motorbike practice, cycle practice on hilly areas, walking on mountains and climbing. One of the important aspects of daily training routine besides physical exercise is lectures on ethics and attitude as public f acilitation would be their prime duty.

After this emergency coaching, they will be imparted two-week training about behaviour, tourist facilitation, tourist guide and related activities from the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management of TDCP.

According to the tourism department, therewere complaints of visitors about high rates of hotels at tourist places and about hoteliers` behaviour. Also, tourists f ace dif ficulties in finding places, registering their complaints, redress of complaints, coordination among different departments like police, health, traffic police, Rescue 1122 and the administration. So to cope up with that, the provincial government has introduced the Punjab Tourism Sauad whichwill work in three zones (north, central and south Punjab).

There will also be a UAN number managed by PITB `1421` where any visitor can register complaint and PITB experts will divert to the respective department/zone of the tourism squad. The squad has not only been equipped with motorcycles for mobility but also related essential equipment.

They will firstly be posted at Murree during tourist season on the occasion of Independence Day. Afterwards they will be posted in central Punjab (Lahore and adjoining areas) and south Punjab (Multan/ Bahawalpur, DG Khan) wherever there is any need like festivals at shrines, gurdwaras, mosques, jeep rallies at Cholistan/Thal.The squad will not only provide guidance to them but also assist in finding locations/hotels underrelevantrules.

Tourism Secretary Ehsan Bhutta while speaking about the department`s effort said: `These people have been chosen for the service of tourists in Punjab and they will definitely change the image of tourism by ensuring discipline and facilitation at dif ferent points.