Interpretation and Communication Skills of Regional Guides of Himalayan Region of North East India

Rural tourism is a sustainable model holding benefit for the host communities of the Himalayan destinations of North East India providing a satisfying experience to the tourists, visitors, travel writers, tour operators and researchers (Dutta &Barua, 2016) where the homestay providers, guides , and home-based food providers serve as exchanges for leisure interests of ethnic cuisines, beverages, souvenir, craft sales, and natural attractions of the destinations. This model ensures that a part of the tourism receipts are provisioned for initiatives like guest management, conservation, advocacy programs, and capacity building of the actors of the destination. As for cultural exchange between demand side and supply side, understanding and proficiency of non-native languages for these actors is a must. The non-native languages are English, Bengali, Assamese,and, and Hindi and there could be an inherent urge for the demand side to converse in other languages as well. The conversation skill of the host community, the ease of communication with homestay providers and the foreign language skills of the regional guides are three pragmatic competences having positive correlation to the comfort level of the tourists, travel writers, researchers and tour operators visiting Himalayan destinations.