Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Tourism authorities plan to launch a training programme for students to be junior tour guides across the kingdom.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the programme.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to set up a training programme for students in more than 3,000 schools nationwide under the Education Ministry's "Teach Less, Learn More" pilot scheme, to help them become accredited local tour guides.
TOURISM RISING
More licensed tour guides are needed to cater to a rising number of tourists, says Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul. Kobkarn on October 5 held talks on the scheme with Education Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan at the Education Ministry. They discussed how the ministries can promote learning outside the classroom as part of the project.
Thailand once had about 57,000 accredited tour guides nationwide, but that number has fallen to about 30,000, Kobkarn said. Official ministry tour guides number about 20,000, while 10,000 work as freelancers.
AFTERNOON CLASS
"Thailand forecasts that 28.8 to 29 million foreign tourists will visit the country this year, while we only have 20,000 tour guides. We have to do better," Ms Kobkarn said, adding that a programme to train students as guides will be included as one of the extra-curricular activities offered in schools when regular classes end at 2 pm.
MORE HOSTS
Students wishing to join this programme can take courses giving them a valuable grounding in the tourism industry that could also lead to productive careers.
Students who finish the course will receive "Little Host" certificates and can work as local tour guides, she said. No details were available on whether they would get paid for their efforts, though advocates say the idea is likely to prove popular with tourists, who would also get the chance to meet locals.
BETTER SKILLS
Dapong said the project would provide schoolchildren with better knowledge about their hometowns, tourist attractions and local traditions. It will also help boost their communication skills and foreign language proficiency.
He expects the programme to create a positive image for the local tourism industry and to foster favourable impressions of the country among tourists.
Exercises
Read the story and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. Dapong Ratanasuwan is Minister of Foreign Affairs.
……………….
2. According to Kobkarn, Thailand currently has about 57,000 accredited tour guides nationwide.
……………….
3. Kobkarn said Thailand forecasts that 28.8 to 29 million foreign tourists will visit the nation this year.
……………….
4. Students who finish the course will be granted “Little Host” certificates.
……………….
Vocabulary
- accredit (v): to officially approve something or somebody as being of an accepted quality or standard
freelancer (n): a person who earns money by selling their work or services to several different organisations rather than being employed by one
advocate (n): a person who supports or speaks in favour of somebody or of a public plan or action
foster (v): to encourage something to develop
