CUMBRIA TOURIST GUIDES WELCOME NEW BLUE BADGE GUIDE COURSE

The Blue Badge is the internationally recognised benchmark of excellence in tourist guiding.  Cumbria Tourist Guides www.cumbriatouristguides.co.uk is the Association of Professional Tourist Guides in Cumbria and Lake District National Park.

The course is welcomed by Cumbria Tourist Guides; the Association’s Chairman, Alan Heppenstall, says

“An influx of new Guides is urgently needed in the county, in order to take up the work opportunities that already exist and to carry out promotion of the Region in order to open up more”.

Blue Badge Guide Trainers have advised the World Federation of Tourist Guiding on its training programmes, and take an active part in training worldwide.

The training enables tourist guides at all levels to offer a high quality, professional and welcoming service, thus enhancing the visitor experience, and often leading to repeat visits. As well as the acquisition of knowledge, the training recognises the importance of selection and presentation of material appropriate to each group or situation. It also develops the skills needed to guide in a variety of situations: town and countryside walks; guiding at historical and archaeological sites; galleries and museums; sightseeing tours by coach and minibus.

A new ‘ecotourism’ module has been introduced with a view to encouraging responsible, sustainable tourism and an understanding of conservation and farming issues.

Successful applicants for the forthcoming programme will start with a four-day introductory course. They will then devote the summer to self-study and research before beginning the main programme.  Final exams, set by the Institute of Tourist Guiding, will take place in May 2011.

The new course is also welcomed by Cumbria Tourism, whose Industry Services Director, Cath Dutton, says:

“Blue Badge Guides are excellent ambassadors for our tourism industry.  Their specialist knowledge and skills offer a valuable resource to Cumbria.”

For more information please contact:

Nicky Godfrey-Evans 017684 84811 or Email info@culturaltourismtraining.co.uk .

Alan Heppenstall 015395 34793  www.cumbriatouristguides.co.uk

Julie Darroch, PR Manager, Cumbria Tourism on (01539) 825020