New Delhi, July 17 - Tourism Minister Kumari Selja Friday said there is a shortfall of at least 200,000 trained manpower in the tourism sector and they are taking steps to fill the gap.

The minister informed the Lok Sabha that as per the estimation of the ministry based on a specific study in 2003-04, the yearly additional requirement of trained manpower of the hospitality industry is of about 200,000 people.

Selja said considering the shortage of skilled manpower in the sector, the government has initiated a programme for skill development for youth in the age group of 18 to 25 years and for those who are at least Class 8 pass.

'The programme will impart training in food and beverage service and food production so that the trainees become employable,' she said.

She said under the ministry's scheme of capacity building for service providers, they enable training of cooks, waiters, drivers and other service providers.