Credit: 123rf
IN AN effort to improve the skillset of Singapore’s tour guides and to better recognise their contributions to the industry, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), in conjunction with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), have launched a range of new training and development initiatives set to begin in 1H2016.
The announcement was made at a media briefing on August 20, which included the reveal that the Society of Tourist Guides Singapore (STGS) can tap into part of the S$15 million (US$10.7 million) Association Development Fund (ADF) in order to further grow the guiding profession.
Ong Ling Lee, director, travel agents and tourist guides at STB, said the industry was consulted before arriving at the changes. “Among the stakeholders we engaged include two tourist guide associations, the guides themselves, travel agents, as well as training providers,” she added.
For new entrants to the industry, a streamlined but more rigorous assessment process awaits.
Pre-licensing training requirements will be upped to 188 hours from the current 146 hours, with new curriculum such as ‘writing tour commentary’ and ‘creating a better customer experience’ added in order to better prepare guides to face the changing tourism landscape.
For existing tourist guides, a wide spectrum of professional development courses, with modules like social media strategies and marketing skills, will be introduced. A mandatory refresher course with assessment will also be required every three years.
Lastly, in recognition of their contributions to tourism in Singapore, long-service awards in the form of customised pin badges will be given to guides who have served for 10, 20 and 30 years.
Jean Wang, a veteran tour guide and honorary secretary at STGS, said: “This is something that we look forward to. Before this, there weren’t any courses for the existing guides. Also, now there are more funding possibilities for guides so that is a plus.”
