Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Stenden University Qatar (SUQ) have announced a new partnership through which tour guides working in Qatar will have access to specialised training programmes that will hone their skills and make them eligible for an official tour guide licence.
The initiative is part of several that have been introduced by QTA to raise the standards of tourism service providers as Qatar welcomes a growing number of tourists, said a press release.
Ten fast-track courses led by expert SUQ instructors will be offered between February and October. The courses will take place for 8 hours a day over a period of 10 days and is open to practicing tour guides and desert safari guides, as well as eligible residents interested in taking up this activity.
By completing the course and passing the related assessments, tour guides will have met the code of standards associated with the new QTA-issued licenses for tour guides, which was developed based on international best practices and in consultation with the UN World Tourism Organisation.
“QTA ensures tourism establishments, including hotels, tour operators, and providers of tourism products and services, operate at the highest standards and are able to perpetuate Qatar’s culture. We also work hand in hand with the industry to ensure they have the tools to follow these practices,” said Saif AlKuwari, PR & Communication Director at QTA. “As tour guides play a crucial role in shaping tourists’ experiences of a destination, it was a natural next step for us to develop a new code of standards for those operating in this field. We recognize the importance of providing the training and academic support needed for tour guides to achieve these standards, and are grateful to our partners at Stenden University Qatar for providing the expertise to support this initiative.”
AlKuwari added that QTA will subsidise the cost of training for Qatari tour guides, as part of its commitment to attract and develop more home grown talent to the sector.
“Stenden University Qatar is the sole provider of university-level tourism and hospitality management education in the State of Qatar. We can proudly say that many of our graduates hold key positions in different governmental and nongovernmental organisations in Qatar, and play an important role in the overall economic, social, human, and environmental development of the country. We feel privileged to enter into a partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority and be directly involved in the education and certification of all tour guides in Qatar," stated Dr. Ivan Ninov, Executive Dean at Stenden University Qatar.
QTA and SUQ officials also confirmed that two lengthier and more in-depth programmes are under development, and will be made available to less experienced tour guides or those who are new to the field.
