F
ebruary 21st is
observed globally
as Tour Guide
Day. This is an
initiative of the World
Federation of Tourist Guide
Association
(WFTGA).
This year will be celebrated
under the theme: Travel,
Love,
Respect.
The
observance of this day
was conceptualized in
1990 with 15 participating
countries. Since then an
ever-growing
number
of countries have been giving support to this venture that it now has global impact.
Tour Guiding is an increasing tourist activity in many countries, giving support to their lo-
cal communities, conducting tours for physically challenged persons, children, industry partners and the general public.
What is the WFTGA?
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Association (WFTGA) is a non-profit, non-political organization which groups togeth-
er, tourist guide associations around the world; individual tour guides from countries where no association exists; tourism
partners of both the WFTGA and member associations; educational institutions in tourism, convention and visitor bureaus
and affiliate members who have direct or indirect association with tour guides. With an active Executive Board, the WFT-
GA’s main purpose is to promote and ensure that tour guides are recognised as ambassadors of a region. The Federation
is based in Cyprus, Greece with area representatives in every continent and members across the globe. The area repre-
sentative for the Caribbean is TPDCo’s Negril based Training Officer, Maxine Blake, who is a certified International Trainer.
Currently, TPDCo provides a seven-day (7) hands-on training for Tour Guides. This intense training fo-
rum seeks to build the capacity of Tour Guides to deliver credible information with synergy and practical-
ity. Experienced and non-experienced Guides are accepted.
However, persons without prior experience
are supported after training to apply what they have learned through work experience at attractions and
tourist ground transportation providers. The TEAM JAMAICA programme is a pre-requisite for the tour guide training.
Over the years, positive feedback has been received from our visitors. With regulations and compliance, more favourable
accolades will be expressed by our visitors as they continue enjoying “the journey of words” with Tourism Ambassadors.
Testimony from Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience and River Tour
“Two weeks prior to the UNWTO Global Conference last November, we were graced with the presence of the TPDCO training
team. The TEAM JAMAICA training was conducted during the first week while the second week focused on Tour Guiding Skills.
We
applaud
the
trainers
for
doing
such
an
excellent
job
in
teaching
and
demon-
strating.
Our
trainees
were
also
very
receptive
of
the
impeccable
training
sessions.
When the UNWTO delegates visited our attraction, our employees executed based on the lessons taught and did so in such
a professional way. The guests were impressed with their skills and thought the tour guides were, in their own words “superb”
Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience & River Tour could not have done it without TPDCO and will forever be thankful.”
O'Brian & Clover Gordon
Owners and operators of the Bunkers Hill Xperience and River Tour. For bookings call 370-2864
Contributor: Maxine Blake, Training Officer, TPDco Negril
Acting Community Tourism Manager, TPDCo,(left)Belinda
Dowe poses with a group of participants at a recently concluded
Tour Guide training.