Chinese training scheme

THE Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) is aiming to boost the country’s skills in hosting Chinese visitors and expand its ranks of bilingual tour guides under a new training program.

The organisation has partnered with TAFE NSW to develop a course that will form part of the Certificate IV in Guiding.

“With the extraordinary growth in our inbound tourism numbers from China has also come increased demand for bilingual guides,” ATEC managing director Peter Shelley said.

“Ensuring we provide proficient, quality bilingual guides, with an ability to enhance the visitor experience, is an important factor in our continued success in this lucrative market.”

Shelley said growing numbers of Chinese travellers, particularly in competing destinations in Asia, had led to a shortage of qualified guides in the region.

ATEC will this week begin conversations with representatives from inbound tour operators, attractions, China market expert trainers, Tourism Australia, Destination NSW, TAFE NSW and Austrade to begin course development.

MEANWHILE, ATEC will offer its Online Health & Safety Checklist to Tourism Australia (TA) for use with its international trade and media famils.

The checklist provides a centralised platform for sharing health and safety due diligence information about Australian tourism products, created in response to requests from international wholesalers and inbound tourism operators.

TA will now use it to ensure the safety of those on its famils.