DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has trained a group of tour guides from various backgrounds to guide shore excursions throughout the country’s busiest cruise season.
Participants will be evaluated and successful candidates will receive specialist licence. The training aimed at preparing tour guides from across the country to welcome passengers and deliver enjoyable, smooth and memorable excursions.
During the cruise season, which begins in October and continues until April next year, 32 cruise ships are confirmed to call at Qatar’s ports with an expected 50,000 passengers.
This marks a three-fold increase in the number of ships and an increase of over 1,000 percent in the expected number of passengers, from the 2015-16 season.
The guides sharpened communication and commentary skills, knowledge of Qatar’s tourist sites, and how to build relationships with their tour groups to ensure a wholesome and unique experience.
“A tour guide plays a crucial role in shaping a tourist’s experience of a destination, and by equipping them with the right tools, we are ensuring the success of Qatar’s biggest cruise season yet,” said Najd Al Marri, Head, Tourism Product Support Section, QTA. “This course is designed for tour guides that will work with cruise passengers, addressing the unique needs of guiding shore excursions, which are often condensed in a day and include large groups.”
Al Marri said the course targeted participants from different backgrounds to cater to the multiple nationalities that will arrive at Qatar’s shores. The guides were given a test at the end of the course through a practical evaluation that involved guiding a group on a moving bus and giving a tour of Msheireb Museums. Those who pass the test will receive certificates and a licence from QTA to become cruise ship tour guides.
The Peninsula
