20 new tourism graduates for Knysna
Twenty Knysna Ambassadors graduated recently at a ceremony hosted by Belvidere Manor.
The ambassadors successfully completed the three-day Tourism Ambassador course run by the Francois Ferreira Academy, sponsored by Skål International and coordinated by Knysna Tourism in March. The course was aimed at staff employed in the tourism industry to enable them to assist with information about Knysna.
Knysna Tourism worked with CPF chair Cheryl Britz to identify a parking attendant who would benefit from the course and Daniel Ryneveldt passed all the tests and graduated.
Knysna Tourism chair Elmay Bouwer says, “It was a wonderful opportunity for all people who interface with tourists to learn the skills and be empowered to promote various aspects of Knysna to our visitors.”
At the graduation ceremony on 9 April, the participants each received a certificate and a Knysna Ambassador badge. The establishments they are employed by received stickers to say they belong to the Tourism Ambassador programme.
Thirteen local businesses sent their staff on the course, including Belvidere Manor Hotel, Muse Restaurant, VXT Architecture Building Plans, Shell garage, Pezula Golf Club, Stannard Guest Lodge, Wessa, 34 South, Tapas & Oysters, Drydock, Jonas Tours, The Featherbed Co and Knysna Tourism’s Sedgefield office.
Thandeka Diamond of the Francois Ferreira Academy said she has had excellent feedback from both the employers who sent their staff on the course and the ambassadors themselves. “Marcile Nel from Muse Restaurant, for example, told me that she has received better tips since she completed the course, because now she can talk to guests about Knysna and recommend places for them to go,” she said.
“We have created a WhatsApp group for the Tourism Ambassadors to communicate with and help each other, and it has been a great tool. They communicate and refer guests to one another. The training has really helped them a lot.” –