The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage has launched the second series of training programs aimed at developing the guiding profession among Emiratis.
The training is inscribed in the Authority’s 5 year Strategic Plan and emphasizes ADACH’s commitment to invest in developing capacities among the Emirati community in the fields of guiding and heritage interpretation. It is expected that both disciplines will be highly in demand in the coming few years, especially considering Abu Dhabi’s growing role in the international tourism market and the Authority’s plan to rehabilitate several cultural sites in the emirate and re-open them to the public as visitor attractions.
The training, which takes place in Al Ain during the 3rd and 4th week of April 2009, is unique in the sense that it is the first training program aimed at Emiratis and delivered by Emiratis. The course is attended by ADACH’s fifteen Emirati guides and is provided by the Emirati firm Embrace Arabia.
The participants to the course, all of which are currently working either at Al Ain National Museum or at Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum in Al Ain, will benefit from two intensive days of teachings supported by a series of practical role-play exercises designed to help them strengthen their skills and gain confidence in the daily practice of their profession.
The training program addresses issues such as how to tailor messages according to different audiences and how to engage visitors with the resources they are visiting. The course pays special attention to the role of guides as UAE ambassadors and aims at emphasizing the story-telling side of guiding with the ultimate purpose of providing visitors with a unique and personalised experience in the emirate.
Several other training courses aimed at developing capacities in the fields of guiding and heritage interpretation are envisaged to take place in the coming months. In addition to that, ADACH guides will be enrolled in an ongoing foreign languages skills program, they will also undertake a course on protocol/ diplomacy and receive training on first aid.
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