Over 191 tourism service providers have been trained to help strengthen and maintain high standards of the tourism sector in Dominica.
The training which was organized by Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) took place from June to September.
Head of Product Development at DDA, Kathleen Cuffy- Jno Jules said at a press briefing at the Fort Young Hotel on Wednesday that the series of training are expected to ensure quality tourism service and impact the level of visitors on island.
“We are expected that at the end persons will receive good customer service and ultimately increase our arrival,” she said.
She mentioned that vendors, waitresses, taxi drivers, hair dressers, bartenders among others, were trained.
“First of all we had the hair braiders, the Indian River tour guides, vendors, taxi drivers, and community tourism services along with craft artisans,” she noted. “Under the hair braiders, we had a total of 13 hair braiders in training. The training focused on customer service and professional development…”
She stated further that a total of 23 India River tour guides were also trained since the attraction is the most popular in the north.
“Then we had 24 vendors being trained in customer service and stall designs,” Cuffy- Jno Jules stated. “We also have taxi drivers training that we conducted, 23 wait staff received training in fundamental table service and techniques for service and how to counteract with guests, 27 bartenders also received training. Both sessions were facilitated by Mr. Lenard Lewis of Old Stone Bar and Grill.”
Do you know the kind of salary these people make at DDA and we are embarassed in Dominica by their Speeches. Can you imagine when they send these same persons all over the globe to represent Dominica. Piper cannot handle his staff He even has favorite. Oh please .
Wey boy! What a mess of a press conference. “…Counteract the guests?” Poor grammar. Nothing exciting or thrilling here. Sorry we need new pple in the DDA! Grow up Dominicans. Our tourism is going down…down..down. We can do much better.
Hope she have sat down with some more educated persons to proof read what she have said and written. I don’t understand and not impressed with anything she said. I hope Mr Douglas, the PM and other ministers who I know have studied abroad see what she have written and said on the world wide web.
My first grader would write and talk better than Jno Jules. Does she have a degree in her field? This is 2014, and we have to come out from same old, same old talk. Technology is there to stay, and we have to try to keep up our standards with how we advertise Dominica, or we will be left behind.
I think Jno Jules just like to show off without no substance. She need to be trained is writing, speaking, and advertising.
why the negative talk? why try to trash Mrs Jno Jules for making a positive contribution. Dominique!!! If negativity is your contribution you are definitely in the wrong forum. Ask youself this question (Did I get the message?)
without a STRAIGHT FLIGHT into Dominica we are really not ready. me and my many contact could come to Dominica often BUT that wait in Antigua hours and hours is a headache,often missing personal luggage.
There are other options…Straight flights from PR is now an option
what about us taxi operators you all dont want to respect its time to stop it… CUFFY JNO JULES AN MR PIPER
This is an excellent start for providing service to toursts. What has hair braiders got to do with this? How many tourists would have their hair braided? They should be trained in overall hair dressing not merely hair braiding.
Training must be ongoing so they do not forget good customer service. Also, Dominica needs to focus on more visitors coming to our shores – come on this is the 21st centur. We are being left behind in everything.
i dnt understand why some people sit in positions and promote their country,for business,vacation,staycation, and weddings and they run over to do what they want other people to come to our to do.if it not good enough for them why should others come
Can you put that in English please or Creole, what are u saying?
Good ideas keepmit going
“We are expected…” and “counteract with guests” from a ‘Head’… no wonder we in a sorry state of affairs
Anonymous
I am so exasperated by the communication skills of Dominica’s Senior managers.
These people are failing so very badly in communication skills.
I wish to recommend that the entire administration attends a bespoke communication course or failing that, they should join the kindergarten kids and go back to basics.
Very embarrassed Dominican.
Please tell me that whom ever wrote the piece misquoted her – is her level of English that bad? The same old training – nothing new – where is there training in art and craft so that we can offer the tourist additional locally made items? SMH – Alas – the more things change the more they stay the same.
Trust me! I agree with you. I always listen to her and shake my head. She is unrefined; rough toned and speaks poorly. She means well but needs training on speech and public speaking.
Alas, poor communication skills appear to be a pre-requisite for securing a senior management post in this administration.
Have you read any of our Prime Minister’s spiel’s? I have been advised that Mrs Malaprop is unhappy with him for the demolition of the English language.
How embarassing!
Ah!
This is not as bad as the spiels coming from the rest of the administration! I refer you to our P M’s et al brilliant speeches.
I have been advised that Mrs Malaprop is not very happy about this administration’s demolition of the English language.
Don’t worry, as they are all joining the kindergarten kids in class one to learn the basics!
All our training over the years we cannot beat Barbados, St.Lucia or Jamaica in tourist arrivals why not focus on bringing in more tourist instead of training and workshops with less visitors.
you expect to beat any island without an international airport?
Travel and Training that’s all they do at DDA!
It’s all good. The point is that customer service skills are just as important for bringing in more tourist. Truss me on dat.
13 hair braiders!!!! ChinaNica offers homeless people, unemployed people, alcoholics, crooks, no modern tourism facilities and a completely corrupt government. On top of that Dominicans are lazy and wait for handouts.
13 hair braiders trained for customer service. Think about that.
Fourth World Country.