Guide Training and Partnership Development for Tourism Associations
October 26. The continuing successful cooperation between the Competitive Armenian Private Sector Project (CAPS) and the the USAID-funded Human and Institutional Capacity Development project implemented by AED resulted in another jointly-organized project – the Guides Training Program. The seven-day training during the period of October 24-31 for the members of the Armenian Guides’ Guild and the graduates of the Guide School of Armenia aims to help the participants further develop their ability to provide quality services to tourists. The program will also assist with the design of further educational programs for guides.
The trainings are conducted by Certified Trainers of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), Ms. Jenny Oulton and Ms. Felicitas Wressnig. The training program will cover the subjects of:
- Develop communication and presentation skills of the guides;
- Develop practical guiding skills for tourist guides
- Improve the knowledge management skills;
- Develop training skills for tour guides trainers.
As a part of the guide training program, visits will be organized to popular tourist sites where the participating guides will have an opportunity to practice their knowledge.
Twenty five participants are attending the training which is held in Ani Plaza Hotel. The training will be followed by another program — the Training of Guide Trainers — to be delivered on 2-4 November. Ten guide trainers will be attending this session.
Houri Nazaretian, a WFTGA official, has volunteered to provide a range of services to further benefit the Armenian tourism industry. Ms. Nazaretian has a strong background in developing partnerships between stakeholders in the tourism industry such as tour guides, tour operators and hotels and restaurants and is enthusiastic about supporting Armenia.
The training programs and Ms. Nazaretian’s technical assistance are a part of CAPS’s efforts to enhance the sustainability of business associations in the tourism cluster through helping them design specific non-dues income generation activities, advising on the establishment of a tour guide’s training school, building partnership between major associations in the cluster, and addressing critical issues of business planning for tourism associations.
