The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) proudly announces the completion of its Community Tourism and Tour Guide Training courses, aimed at strengthening human capital in community tourism through enhancing service quality and tourism awareness.
A brief ceremony was held recently to present Certificates of Achievement to the participants who successfully completed these rigorous training sessions.
The primary objective of these training sessions is to fortify human capital by equipping participants with essential skills in service quality and tourism awareness. The Tour Guide Training initiative, in particular, is designed to develop a proficient cadre of tour guides who can effectively support the BTMI and other stakeholders, whenever needed.
“At the BTMI, we understand that the reason our visitors keep returning to our shores is because of the warmth and hospitality of our Barbadians. We are thrilled to see such a passionate and dedicated group of individuals complete the Tour Guide Training programme. Their commitment to excellence in service quality and tourism awareness is inspiring, and we are confident that they will significantly enhance the tourism experience in Barbados.
“Our ongoing efforts to develop skilled tour guides are vital to preserving and promoting our rich cultural heritage, and we look forward to the positive impact these graduates will make,” said BTMI’s Chief Product Development Officer, Marsha Alleyne.
Conducted in collaboration with the Department of History at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill and facilitated by Dr. Henderson Carter, the Tour Guiding programme spanned two cohorts from September to October 2023.
This programme attracted a diverse group of participants, including individuals from Worrells Tour Guiding Company, the Archives Department, the St. Andrew Independence Committee, Codrington College, Culture Tours, the Moravian Church, UWI, and various independent participants. Out of the 40 registered attendees, 23 participants were on hand to receive their certificates at the ceremony.
The comprehensive training emphasised the importance of knowledgeable and passionate tour guides who can effectively communicate the rich historical, anecdotal, and geographical narratives of Barbados. While historical expertise is not a prerequisite, a fervent interest in tour guiding and storytelling is essential.
The intensive six-day course covered a wide range of crucial topics, including Communication Skills; Conducting guided tours on a bus; Presenting information in chronological order; Effective body language; and First Aid training.
The BTMI is committed to continuous improvement and is pleased to announce that the next cohort for the Tour Guide Training programme is scheduled for August 2024.