Abu Dhabi: Jasour – News Desk
The Sharjah Museums Authority celebrated World Tourist Guide Day on February 21st, emphasizing the pivotal role tourist guides play in boosting tourism and promoting the cultural and heritage assets of the nation.
The Authority’s celebration serves as an opportunity to highlight the importance of museum guides in introducing collections, enhancing cultural exchange, and strengthening bonds between people.
The Authority reaffirms its commitment to investing in its personnel to ensure the provision of rich educational and cultural experiences that reflect the diversity and richness of human civilization, thereby enhancing Sharjah’s status as a global hub for knowledge and culture.
The guides under the Authority’s umbrella are proficient in both Arabic and English. The Authority has also launched pioneering initiatives such as sign language guided tours, the first of their kind in the Gulf region. These tours are led by distinguished guides with hearing impairments who have undergone intensive training under the “Distinguished Sign Language Guide” program.
The Authority focuses on attracting and training local tourist guides through training courses that enhance their capabilities, considering them a cornerstone in supporting the tourism sector. Efforts to recruit more local talents for this vital field are ongoing.
The Authority also sheds light on the “Sharjah Museum Ambassadors” program, targeting youth aged 15 to 18, to strengthen their connection to history, heritage, and culture through museums and their collections in a contemporary and appealing manner. The program aims to equip them with basic museum guidance skills, helping them explore their future career prospects.
Additionally, the “My Journey” program is the first of its kind in the emirate to qualify Emirati tourist guides. Launched in collaboration with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, the program offers four specialized courses provided by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Mleiha Archaeological Centre, Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and Sharjah Museums Authority. The goal is to prepare national cadres capable of efficiently serving the tourism sector.”
