16 MAY 2024
Tour Guides Australia recommend five priorities to grow a secure and resilient visitor economy workforce.
Earlier this month, leading industry association Tour Guides Australia met with The Hon. Martin Ferguson AM, former Minister for Tourism, who is facilitating consultation on the THRIVE 2030 Consolidation Phase (2025 – 2027) on behalf of Austrade. The THRIVE 2030 strategy sets a long-term plan for growing Australia’s visitor economy.
The meeting discussed outcomes achieved by Tour Guides Australia during the Thrive 2030 Recovery Phase (2022-2024).
Tour Guides Australia President Greg Esnouf says: “Our major initiative towards Phase One was the successful development and delivery of Tour Guide Australia’s industry-led Tour Guiding Fundamentals micro-credentialing course. It’s a cost-effective short course that provides a clear pathway to accreditation as a professional tour guide.”
The recommendations Tour Guides Australia made towards Phase Two of the THRIVE 2030 strategy are expanding access to and national recognition of micro-credentialing courses such as the Tour Guiding Fundamentals course.
Tour Guides Australia’s recommendations for the long-term sustainable growth of the visitor economy policy by growing a secure and resilient workforce include:
- Encourage tour guide training programs for First Nations people
- Promote the advantages of tour guide accreditation at a national level
- Improve employment standards for tour guides
- Encourage tour operators to implement formal in-house training
- Supporting REVIVE – the national cultural policy
Greg says: “The Tour Guiding Fundamentals Course will assist visitor economy businesses with fast-track training to deliver high-quality experiences, aligning with the national strategic outcome to increase the acceptance of micro-credentialing as a recognised and valued form of training in the visitor economy for tour guides.
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