The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has announced its cooperation with the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WTFGA) to host a training program for ‘tourism guides’ organized in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The six week program, held across two phases, will be entitled ‘tour guiding principles’. The preparatory course will provide the necessary training and practical guidance skills for about 100 participants. The course also targets those who wish to improve their practical skills. The second phase of the program will target 12 participants and will be held under the theme of “Train the Trainer”. It will focus on training the mentors to become trainers or trainers who wish to enhance their training skills and gain accreditation from the World Tourism Organization.
“The Authority has always sought to develop its human capital and sharpen their skills, which stems from its belief in their vital role in the progress and development of the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Providing services to visitors and meeting their needs, thereby enhancing their tourism experience,” said the Director of Facilities and Tourism Services at the BTEA, Hesham Al Saken.
“Due to the vital role played by tour guides, this course has been specially designed to develop their abilities and ensure that they have the highest standards of quality so that they can perform their job in the best possible manner. We will announce more training courses across various fields in the future,” he said.
The training course aims to develop common standards for capacity building and guidelines, in addition to enhancing the experience of tourists by facilitating access to cultural and historical sites, develop specific tourism products and services, and prolong the stay of visitors in the Kingdom which will lead to the increase of tourism expenditure.
It is worth mentioning that these courses are part of the overall strategy of the BTEA to promote and promote tourism identity (Ours.Yours), which focuses on promoting the Bahraini tourism product on the regional and global levels in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.