The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department will train 5,000 unemployed youth as tourist guides in the state. After the training, these guides will be sent to different tourist destinations of the state.

Urban Development Minister Sudheer Sharma said there was an acute shortage of trained guides in the state. The state government had taken this decision because except in Shimla and Manali, no tourist guides were available.

He said in the first phase, the state would impart training to 5,000 unemployed youth. Later, on demand, more youth would get training. He said the Chief Minister had already given its clearance to this plan. Sharma said that the training would be imparted free of cost and the department would register these guides and give them licences and identity cards.