Held from June 16 to 27, the ninth batch of Professional Training and Licensing of Tourist Guides Program included both theory and practical lessons by the University of Sharjah faculty and veteran industry professionals and experts besides field visits to a number of tourist attractions and cultural and tourism landmarks in the emirate.
SHARJAH – As part of its efforts to promote excellence and professionalism in the tourism sector, Sharjah continues to turn out trained tourism professionals fit for a changing industry. A new batch of professional tourist guides is all set to join the travel and tourism industry after they underwent a successful training and licensing program by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and University of Sharjah.
Held from June 16 to 27, the ninth batch of Professional Training and Licensing of Tourist Guides Program included both theory and practical lessons by the University of Sharjah faculty and veteran industry professionals and experts besides field visits to a number of tourist attractions and cultural and tourism landmarks in the emirate. The trainees included a diverse mix of nationalities besides several Emiratis and SCTDA staff members.
Expressing his satisfaction over the successful graduation of the new batch of professional tourist guides, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority said the initiative is part of the strategy to train and license tourism professionals, strengthening their professional skills and competencies and ensuring best possible tourism experience for the visitors.
It is important for the tourism industry professionals to arm themselves with the right grounding and training and to keep pace with new developments and trends in the tourism sector in the emirate and the UAE that have dramatically grown and evolved over the past few years, said Al Midfa.
“More important, tourism professionals need an understanding of our heritage, history, tourism landscape, culture and traditions. This is what this course seeks to do,” said Al Midfa saying the Authority is keen to inculcate a sense of Emirati identity and heritage in all professionals engaged in the tourism sector in Sharjah and the UAE and enhancing the experience of international tourists.
A total of 13 professionals representing UAE, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany and Ukraine and employed by industry leaders such as Arabian Adventures, Dnata, Travco, Destinations of the World etc., graduated as part of the program.
The first half of the course was devoted to fundamentals and concepts of tourism, background and theoretical knowledge about the history and evolution of Sharjah as an emirate. The second half focused on practical aspects, duties, and challenges of tourism professionals arming them with an understanding of the Emirati and Arab and Islamic values and sensitivities and the role of a tourist guide ensuring the best possible tourism experience.
The course included field visits to numerous tourist attractions, monuments, museums, archeological sites and infrastructure projects in the emirate renowned as the Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic world. Practical lessons and tips on dealing with people with special needs and offering critical first aid in medical emergencies were also provided.
The SCTDA Director General said that the Professional Tourist Guides Licensing and Training Program, introduced by the Authority in 2009, has been a huge success and significantly contributed to the travel and tourism industry in the country. More than 100 tourism professionals from diverse backgrounds and leading travel and tourism operators and agencies have been trained and licensed by the Authority so far.
Field visits included the ancient city of Maliha dating back to the third century BC and famous Jebel Al-Buhais site, dating back to fifth millennium BC. The Sharjah Desert Park, which includes the Natural History Museum and the Botanical Museum, and Arabian Wildlife Centre, unique to the region were also part of the itinerary with detailed commentary and backgrounders by experts. All the necessary details and information about the course are available on the SCTDA’s website both in Arabic and English.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
