Sharjah Unveils 2013 Tourist Guides Course
PROGRAM WILL ENSURE HIGHEST STANDARDS, PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM SECTOR, SAYS AL NOMAN
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has announced dates for the professional training and licensing course for tourist guides for Year 2013 and registration is now open for public. Launched in 2009, the Tourist Guides Licensing and Training Program is offered by the Authority in association with the University of Sharjah and is aimed at encouraging excellence in the tourism sector and improving the quality of services offered to the growing number of international travellers visiting the emirate and the UAE.
The Authority has invited aspiring tourist guides professionals to visit the SCTDA website to register themselves for the upcoming course and get all the necessary details and dates: http://www.sharjahtourism.ae/en/training-programmes/sharjah-tourist-guide-training.
SCTDA Chairman HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman said that the course is part of the efforts and strategy to boost and ensure highest quality standards in the tourism industry by providing an in-depth knowledge of the destination, its history, culture, architecture, archaeology, landscape, environment and the economy.
“Tourist guides play a critical role in promoting tourism and the image of a country. A tourist guide is today considered the cornerstone of the tourism promotion process. It’s therefore important to develop their skills and abilities that in turn helps the industry,” said the SCTDA Chairman.
Following is the timeline for the 2013 Tourist Guides Licensing and Training Program:
No. Registration Deadline Entrance Exam Tourist Guide Course Dates 2013 Final Exam
1 21st March 2013 3rd April 2013 21st April – 2nd May, 2013 2nd May, 2013
2 25th April 5th May 26th May – 6th June 6th June
3 23rd May 2nd June 23rd June – 4th July 4th July
4 22nd September 30th Sep 20th – 31st October 31st October
5 10th October 27th October 10th – 21st November 21st November
The intensive professional course is for both beginners and advanced learners and involves theoretical lessons and practical training. Established tourist guides as well as professionals who aspire to be part of an ever growing tourism industry in Sharjah and the UAE can benefit from the Sharjah government initiative that has helped scores of professionals since its launch four years ago.
While most of the features of the course remain the same covering all aspects of life in Sharjah and the UAE, this year a new subject, Wildlife and Protected Areas of Sharjah, is being introduced. It will be taught by officials from Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA).
The course is particularly useful for all those who look forward to meeting and interacting with new people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds and would like to be cultural ambassadors of the emirate and the UAE. Since its launch, the professional tourist guides licensing program, conducted and accredited by University of Sharjah, has been receiving tremendous response from the leading travel and tourism agencies operating in the UAE. A diverse range of the tourism industry professionals belonging to different nationalities, including the Emiratis, have benefited from the popular course.
Emirate: Sharjah
Date: Jan 8, 2013
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