Freelance tour guides licenced after first-ever course |12 April 2011

A six-week training programme was drafted and tailored for the trainees at the Seychelles Tourism Academy by a group of lecturers there.

Topics covered included the tourism industry as a whole, marketing, communication, geography and general knowledge.

Course coordinator Kevin Albert said they also brushed up a lot of existing knowledge as well as made sure information clients will receive is standard and appropriate.

Both practical and theoretical work was done, with some of the on-field sessions taking place on trails, marine parks and even Silhouette island.  

Mr Albert said there is a great demand for such work and this course should open up a niche market, but more importantly there is also a demand for this course by other people from the tourism industry.

“With the demand for a second and even third such course, we are scrutinising this first one, learning from it and we think that eventually we will have another course for those interested,” he said.

The twelve were given their licenses and certificates in a ceremony at the STA at the beginning of this month. With trade partners and STA board members present, Cliven Ah-Kong, Jude Belle, Lucie Harter, Ralph Henrie, Juana Horter, Andrew Marie, Daniel Marie, Padmini Mathieu, Farah Mathiot, Elvis Morel, Christopher Pool and Hieke Vierling were given their papers.

STA principal Flavien Joubert said in their jobs as tour guides they have a lot more to give, show and tell their clients.

“As a freelance tour guide, visitors to Seychelles will be paying you to provide them with up to date information on history, culture, customs of Seychelles, geography, land and sea-based flora and fauna to name a few,” he said.

“To stay in business, to be able to pay back loans, taxes, take home profit, you need to stay focused to achieve dominance in this new niche market. Remember to practice effective marketing principles and sustain it and make use of available opportunities.”