The Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) held a training course on Tourism Guidance Skills in Jeddah recently. The first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, the five-day course focused on various issues concerning the work of tourist guides. The course also covered topics that directly relate to the profession of tourist guidance, such as how to handle and use research tools, developing communication techniques, and practical aspects of guiding a tour, such as making transportation arrangements and scheduling museum visits, among other things. Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Haza'a, engineer Abdurrahman Al-Rakban and Dawood Al-Wadi, the trainers who gave the course, are internationally accredited tourist guides. Rakban told the Saudi Gazette that there were 21 trainees in the course. “After the success of the first course, we are planning to have many more, at least two or three courses covering all the Kingdom's areas,” said Rakban, who is the manager of the tourism guidance project at the SCT. He added that the course was compatible with international standards. “These standards are important in showing tourist guides the basic skills needed for their careers and teaching them how to best entertain tourists,” said Rakban. The SCT is promoting the profession for all Saudis, and spreads the word that those who desire to become tourist guides should come forward and apply. Also, they can visit the tourist guide website Prince Sultan Bin Salman, the Secretary General of the SCT, had inaugurated recently. The link to the website is www.Sauditg.org. __
