Tour guides working in Qatar stand to benefit from a Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) initiative that gives them the opportunity to hone their skills through specialised training programmes.
The initiative, introduced by QTA in partnership with Stenden University Qatar (SUQ), aims to raise the standard of tourism service providers as the country welcomes a growing number of tourists.
By upgrading their skills, tour guides will become eligible to get an official tour guide license, brought into effect by QTA.
In a statement, QTA said 10 fast-track courses led by expert instructors from SUQ will be offered between February and October.
The courses, which will run for eight hours daily for 10 days, is open to practicing tour guides and desert safari guides, as well as eligible residents interested in taking up this activity.
By completing the course and passing the related assessments, tour guides can meet the code of standards associated with the new QTA-issued licenses for tour guides, which was developed based on international best practices and in consultation with the UN World Tourism Organisation.
“QTA ensures tourism establishments, including hotels, tour operators, and providers of tourism products and services, operate at the highest standards and are able to perpetuate Qatar’s culture,” QTA’s public relations and communication director Saif al-Kuwari said.
“We also work hand in hand with the industry to ensure they have the tools to follow these practices,” he noted.
“As tour guides play a crucial role in shaping tourists’ experiences of a destination, it was a natural next step for us to develop a new code of standards for those operating in this field.”
QTA recognise the importance of providing the training and academic support needed for tour guides to achieve these standards, al-Kuwari stressed, as he thanked SUQ for providing the expertise to support the initiative.
QTA will subsidise the cost of training for Qatari tour guides as part of its commitment to attract and develop more home grown talent to the sector.
SUQ executive dean Dr Ivan Ninov said they are the sole provider of university-level tourism and hospitality management education in Qatar.
“We can proudly say that many of our graduates hold key positions in different governmental and non-governmental organisations in the country, and play an important role in the overall economic, social, human, and environmental development of Qatar,” he said.
QTA and SUQ officials also confirmed that two lengthier and more in-depth programmes are under development, and will be made available to less experienced tour guides or those who are new to the field.
Other governmental entities and organisations are also contributing to the course content, to ensure that tour guides deliver fruitful information about Qatar’s history, culture and ecosystem.
Saif al-Kuwari
