2018 Tour, Site and Coach Guides Training

In her bid to streamline the activities of tour, site and coach guides in order to maintain industry standards while creating a pool of professional to drive tourism, the Ghana Tourism Authority has organised training programmes for operators across the country. The Tour Guides Training Programme  was organised in collaboration with the Tour Guides Association of Ghana (TORGAG).

Strategy

The country was zoned into 5 groups to afford opportunity to as many people as possible to be trained as follows:

• Greater Accra/Tema –  ZONE 1, 12^TH  -14^TH  September,2018
• Eastern /Volta –  ZONE 2, 3^RD   –  5^TH  October,2018
• Cape Coast /Western –    ZONE 3 ,10^TH  –  12^th   October,2018.
• Brong Ahafo/Ashanti –   ZONE 4  ,18^TH  -20^TH  October, 2018
• Upper West/Upper East/Northern –  ZONE 5, 22^ND  – 24^TH October, 2018

The training was also to afford the GTA that opportunity to register, train and license Tour Guides as well as discuss related issues for an enhanced industry output.

Topics

The course structure for the straining consisted of both theory and practicals where field exercises were undertaken to give participants hands on experience. The Tour took the participants to tourist sites and attractions such as the GMMB Museum and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum.

Some of the topics treated Include:

• Tourism in Focus – Current Trends
• Tour Guiding Today
• Tourism Enterprises
• Tour Guide at Work
• Role, Function and Ethics
• The Tourism Product
• Tools of the Tour Guide
• Transfers and Check –in Procedures
• Communications, Presentations  and Interpretations
• Industry Safety and Security
• Practical Field Procedure
• Report Writing
• Classification of Tour Guides
• Professional Training
• Application, Licensing and Renewal Procedures

Amongst the course facilitators were seasoned professionals in the industry such as:

• Mr. Nkunu Akyea, Executive Member, TORGAG
• Mr. Cosmos Sracooh, Executive Member, TORGAG
• Mr. Kwaku Passah, Executive Member, TORGAG
• Dr. Biney, Security Expert

Certificates

Participants were at the end presented certificates of participation by dignitaries such as Mr. Isaac Adomako- Mensah (Dep Exec Dir./ F&A), GTA, Mr. Kuntaa Dominic Dekumwine (Head of Museums, GMMB) and Josephine Ohene Oseiwho represented the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Cathrine Afeku. Also Gracie the occasion were Mrs. Bella Ahu (GHATOF President and chairperson for the closing ceremony Mr. Awuku Yirenkyi (TORGAG President).

The participants expressed appreciation to the the organisers for making their long cherished dream a reality and promise to use the skills acquired in their various endeavours.