Over 31000 Saudis get tourism training

The National Project for Tourism Human Resources Development (Takamul) at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has undertaken the execution of the program “Development of Skills in Dealing with Tourists”. The program includes a number of training courses to the employees of a number of security and service agencies that deal with tourists directly. Takamul has so far given training to 31,166 persons who are employed with a number of related authorities involved in dealing with tourists, including rangers of nature reserves, taxi drivers, and security personnel from the public security departments in addition to employees of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) and Saudi customs employees. The program includes informing the trainees on the importance of tourism in the Kingdom and its impact on domestic products in addition to the importance of dealing with tourists to reflect a positive image of Saudi citizens’ generosity and their good dealings with others in accordance with the great Islamic principles and values. The Takamul program that has been devoted to taxi drivers addressed the importance of taking care of vehicle readiness, safety and observing proper driving, paying attention to vehicle maintenance, and observing traffic rules in order to ensure the tourists’ safety. The Takamul training program so far has trained 21 nature reserves rangers in 2011 and 181 rangers this year. Training was also given to 817 taxi drivers belonging to different airports in addition to the Al-Ahsa Railway Station. In 2012, the program trained 181 drivers from several areas in the Kingdom. Takamul, in collaboration with King Fahd Security College and a number of departments in the Ministry of Interior, has trained 94 officers within the “Training the Trainers” program. The trainees belonged to the department of training of security forces in the ministry. The program resulted in training of 29,549 persons in the skills of dealing with tourists. Takamul also trained 189 Haia employees, the commission’s field workers, on the skills of dealing with tourists. Besides, it trained 217 Saudi Customs officials in international airports on how to deal with tourists. The Takamul outreach programs and training courses illustrate the great attention the SCTA is paying to increase awareness among public on how to deal better with tourists as well as to enhance the skills of people who deal directly with tourists. From arabnews