Tourist guide

Promising Youth Embark on Tourist Guiding Program Field Tours for Participants to Introduce Qatar’s Most Prominent Landmarks; Training in Group Management and Providing Tourist Information Doha – Anshar Mustafa A number of participants in the tourist guiding training program, organized by Qatar Youth Hostels in cooperation with Qatar Tourism, affirmed that the program was an important step in honing their skills and boosting their self-confidence. They explained that the program targeted young Qataris and, for the first time, included participants with hearing impairments, who formed the core of the first cohort of licensed tourist guides accredited by Qatar Tourism. This step embodies the principle of inclusivity and empowers diverse segments of society. They emphasized that the program provided them with an opportunity to demonstrate their personal and professional skills by developing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as enhancing their presentation and communication skills. This was reflected in their field experiences and reinforced their conviction that disability and individual challenges cannot be an obstacle to serving their country or representing it in the best possible way. They explained that the training was divided between carefully designed theoretical lectures and field trips to prominent tourist attractions. Fatima Al-Sulaiti: An Elite Reflecting National Identity Fatima Al-Sulaiti, Head of Programs and Training at Qatar Youth Hostels, affirmed that the tour guiding training program is one of the most prominent specialized programs organized by the youth hostels. Its aim is to prepare an elite group of young guides capable of delivering exceptional and comprehensive tours that reflect national identity in its finest form. She explained that the program is based on an integrated blend of theoretical workshops and practical field trips to prominent tourist attractions, in partnership with Qatar Tourism. She noted that one of the most distinctive aspects of this year's program was the participation of a select group of individuals with hearing impairments, who demonstrated, through the Qatar Tourism platform, the majority of participants' readiness to practice the profession of tour guiding professionally. She pointed out that the program was not limited to tourism training alone, but also contributed to honing the participants' skills on both a personal and professional level by enhancing their problem-solving abilities and developing their technical thinking. She added that the practical training took place in August through field trips to prominent landmarks such as the National Museum of Qatar, the Qatar Museums 1 and 1, the Msheireb Museums, Souq Waqif, and a panoramic tour by tourist bus around the country. She noted that the program concludes with evaluation tests. Dima Mashhadi: Showcasing Qatar's Bright Image to Tourists Dima Mashhadi, one of the participants in the tourist guide training program, explained that she decided to join the program out of a desire to showcase Qatar's bright image to tourists from the perspective of a citizen who is proud of her country, government, people, and history. She explained that the program contributed to developing many of her skills, including self-confidence, idea generation and sequencing, as well as improving her communication skills and English language proficiency. She pointed out that it enabled her to connect with and understand Qatar's Arab history more comprehensively. Mashhadi added that her field trips were extremely enjoyable, during which she learned how to handle and explain artifacts to visitors and introduce them to tourist attractions in Qatar. She believes that knowing this information is a duty for every citizen. She noted that the program revealed her clear inclination towards the field of tour guiding, expressing her ambition to continue in this field. Abdulaziz Al-Marri: I am proud to work in tour guiding Abdulaziz Al-Marri, one of the participants in the tour guiding training program, said that this program was a source of pride and honor for him. He explained that, as a translator and hearing impaired, he found tour guiding to be a unique opportunity to gain experience and learn about many tourist areas in Qatar. He pointed out that it is the duty of young people to be the best representatives of their country and to possess a strong background in its history, customs, and traditions. He noted that his previous experience as a participant in the "Camping for an Hour" program at Qatar Youth Hostels was a primary motivation for joining the current program, especially after discovering that his fellow participants were graduates of the previous edition. Al-Marri explained that one of the most impactful experiences he had during the training was his visit to the National Museum of Qatar, where the pearl diving and trading exhibit left a lasting impression on him, bringing back memories of the past and the struggles of his ancestors in building the nation. He also emphasized that he benefited greatly from the trainers' feedback, encouraging his fellow hearing-impaired individuals to participate in future sessions to gain further experience. Khaled Abdul Raouf: The field experience was enjoyable. Khaled Abdul Raouf, a participant in the tourist guide training program, said he was proud to be the first deaf person to participate in this program, considering it an honor for himself and every deaf person, as it offers an opportunity to contribute to conveying Qatari culture to visitors and the public. He explained that he acquired several skills during the program, most notably leading tourist groups. He noted that he intends to highlight important historical events for tourists, such as the struggles of his ancestors in the pearl diving profession, the collapse of the pearl trade during the Great Depression, and then the discovery of oil, which marked a major turning point. Abdul Raouf indicated that the field experience was enjoyable and informative. Abdullah Al-Shammari: It's a Great Honor to Be a Tour Guide Abdullah Al-Shammari, a participant in the tourist guide training program, affirmed that joining this program is a great honor and source of pride for him. He noted that he is proud to be a tourist guide in Qatar, explaining its history and heritage to visitors in detail. He also expressed his pride in participating in this achievement, which has given him a unique opportunity to serve his country. He explained that he acquired several skills during the program, most notably the ability to manage tourist groups and take responsibility for their members in emergency situations. He pointed out that he learned new historical information about Qatar that he was previously unaware of, especially during his visits to the museum.