The Coimbatore division of Skal Club International, a global organisation for tourism and travel industry professionals, joined hands with the Ministry of Tourism to conduct a workshop for taxi drivers in the city.
The workshop aimed to create awareness among taxi drivers about their important role in the tourism sector. It was held at Hotel Grand Regent on 6th October 2025, with the support of Tamil Nadu Tourism, under the leadership of Ramesh Chandrakumar, President of Skal Club International – Coimbatore.
Ravi Arjun, Managing Director of Arjun Tours and Travels, participated as the resource person and addressed the drivers. He emphasised that they are not merely taxi drivers but ambassadors of Coimbatore’s tourism. He spoke about the basic etiquette they should follow and shared valuable insights from his own experience in the industry.
Venkatesan, Regional Director (South), Ministry of Tourism, and Jegatheshwari, District Tourist Officer, participated as special invitees at the event.
On the sidelines of the event, Ramesh Chandrakumar addressed the press and media. He shared that Skal Club International – Coimbatore is conducting this skill development program for taxi drivers for the second time this year. While the previous session saw the participation of 70 drivers, the number has now increased to 250.
He highlighted that taxi drivers are not just vehicle operators but also serve as informal guides for tourists. “They are the first people tourists meet upon arriving in the city by flight or train. Therefore, it is essential that they are aware of their role and responsibility in promoting tourism,” he said.
He further noted that the speaker of the day’s event is a renowned tourism professional with years of experience, and his session was interactive and highly beneficial for the participants.
Ramesh Chandrakumar concluded by stating that this would not be the only skill development initiative. More such programs will be organised in the future, and upcoming sessions will also focus on topics related to sustainable tourism.
