The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, for a three-year partnership worth up to USD 1 million. This initiative, which aims to train at least 20,000 Indian youth in tourism-related skills, was launched in the presence of Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The partnership, which builds upon Visa’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, aims to train youth across 10 States, including Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal, to elevate the tourism service experience for tourists. The programme will focus on essential roles within the domestic tourism industry, such as tour guides, customer service executives, naturalists, and paragliding tandem pilots.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Hon’ble Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary said:
India’s tourism industry has immense potential to drive economic growth and generate millions of jobs nationwide. This partnership with Visa is a pivotal step towards realizing and unlocking that potential, tapping into the skills and energy of our youth to 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.
As a leading payments network in the country, Visa has taken strategic steps to strengthen India’s tourism landscape over the last few years. Through its deep data and analytics expertise, the platform has actively contributed to increasing inbound tourism by providing valuable data and insights to the Ministry of Tourism, facilitating the promotion of India’s diverse destinations on the global stage. Visa’s strategic role in shaping India’s tourism future is a testament to its commitment to its growth.
The tourism sector significantly contributes to India’s economy, accounting for over $231 billion[1] in GDP and employing more than 42 million[2] people in 2023. This substantial economic impact underscores the importance of the NSDC-Visa initiative, which will ensure a skilled workforce to support India’s ambitions of becoming a global tourism hub.
Kelly Mahon Tullier, Vice Chair, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer at Visa, added:
By empowering the country’s youth with skills to thrive in the tourism industry, we aim to elevate their employment prospects and improve the overall experience for tourists visiting India. The partnership with the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship supports Visa’s unwavering commitment to India by nurturing talent and supporting the Government’s vision of making India a top destination for global tourists.
Visa’s journey started in 1958 when Bank of America established the first consumer credit card programme in the United States. It went international in 1974 and launched the debit card in 1975. Visa Inc. was formed in 2007 by the merger of regional firms from around the world, and in 2008, the corporation went public in one of the largest IPOs ever. Visa now works in over 200 countries and territories, offering products and services via cards, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, and other channels. Its mission is to connect the world by providing the most creative, convenient, dependable, and secure payment network, allowing individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. The organization believes economies that include everyone, uplift everyone and prioritize access are essential to the future of money movement.
