Standards for tour guides in the offing

Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has drafted guidelines that will help in setting up standards to have qualified tour guides, Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, has said.Rwigamba made the remarks during a dinner organised to recognise 36 tour guides who had completed three weeks’ training on how to protect birds living in Nyungwe National park. The training was sponsored by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “We have considered what is in the region and we came up with requirements that also include skills that can transform the industry through effective service by the guides,” said Rwigamba.She explained that consultations are being made to involve tour guide associations from the region. “After acquiring the necessary skills, guides will be categorised because we want them to offer quality services that will promote tourism or encourage tourists to visit,” she said.The Chairman of the Tourism Chamber at the Private Sector Federation (PSF), Edwin Sabuhoro, promised that more trainings was to be conducted soon.“Tour guides are our ambassadors to tourists since they spend a lot of time with them. It is, therefore, important to have the best ambassadors,” Sabuhoro said.He explained that the first measure that was taken is to put guides under one umbrella–Rwanda Tours and Travel Association (RTTA) “Tour guides should be able to interact with tourists and explain or respond to concerns that tourists may have in the various areas they visit,” he said. The Chairman of RTTA, Manzi Kayihura, called on tour guides to implement what they learnt.