Induction ceremony for tour guide course trainees

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is launching a tour guide licence programme in association with Stenden University Qatar (SUQ).The initiative aims to provide comprehensive training to aspiring tour guides in the history of Qatar, tour guide essentials, knowledge of tourist attractions in Qatar, general tourism information, and developing trainees’ competencies. QTA and SUQ had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last March to develop this special programme for the training of tour guides in Qatar.At an induction event last week, 24 trainees were selected for the 16-week training programme, which will start on December 1 at SUQ.“Tour guides are a key touch point on the frontline of a tourist’s first interaction in Qatar. A guide acts as an ambassador of a destination, therefore they need to be well equipped with the training and tools that allow them to represent Qatar well,” said Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, chairman, QTA.The official pointed out that a tour guide has an important and multifaceted role in contemporary tourism. How a tour guide performs can determine whether the visitors in their charge feel welcome, want to stay longer or decide to come back to Qatar. Thus they contribute considerably to the way a tourist destination is perceived. Tourist guides are instrumental in helping travellers understand the culture of the country visited and the way of life of its inhabitants.“While on one hand Qatar is making investments to grow the tourism sector through infrastructure improvement to woo more tourists to the country, we are also developing human capital as a top priority,” al-Mohannadi said.The initiative is part of QTA’s mission in line with the development of a knowledge-based economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.The tour guides course at SUQ is open to Qataris and Qatar-born high school graduates who are familiar with the country’s history and culture and able to speak English and Arabic.