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The first students in a new tour guide accreditation
system graduate today, marking a milestone in New Zealand’s tourism
relationship with China.
The Approved Destination Status (ADS) Tour Guide
Graduation ceremony in Auckland, will see around 70 tour guides
graduate from an intensive training course run by the Aviation,
Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO).
"The aim is to ensure that Chinese visitors have
the best possible experience in New Zealand," said George Hickton,
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive.
"There are now over 115,000 Chinese visitors to
New Zealand every year and this number is growing rapidly.
"Of all our key markets, the Chinese are one of
the most dependent on their guides with regards to language,
giving guides a high level of responsibility. We hope this
training will go some way to ensuring that guides help their
visitors experience the real New Zealand."
New Zealand gained Approved Destination Status
in 1999, making it one of the first countries in the world to be
able to allow Chinese holidaymakers to choose New Zealand as a
destination.
An ADS Code of Conduct was developed in 2007 by
the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism New Zealand in consultation
with Industry New Zealand, the Inbound Tour Operators Council and
tour operators.
The Code includes a number of obligations that
tour operators have towards visitors who travel with ADS tour
groups. Part of these obligations is to use tour guides who are
suitably experienced and qualified, and who are able to
communicate effectively in both Chinese and English.
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