In keeping with its mandate to increase visitor arrivals and expenditure, Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) embarked on a Customer Service Training Series in January 2016. The training targets Frontline Personnel such as Immigration Officers, Custom Officers and Forestry Park Wardens.
The training objectives are to:
• upgrade tourism service providers in the key components of the tourism product and the delivery of quality service;
• understand the importance of their jobs in visitor satisfaction;
• improve people relations through the utilization of effective communication;
• understand ways in which to develop positive visitor contact resulting in satisfied visitors.
To date thirty six (36) Immigration Officers and Custom Officers have benefited from the training series. The third leg of the training series will commence on April 11, 2016. This session will be facilitated by Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Human Resource Development Consultant, Sharon Banfield-Bovell.
DDA recognizes the need to strengthen the Customer Service aspect of Dominica’s tourism product. With growing competition from similar destinations, it is felt that the delivery of excellent service is one way in which Dominica can increase its market share.
At a restaurant in Scotts Head:
Customer: “May I have a hamburger and fries for lunch, Please”.
Waitress: “Sorry, we have no ham to put on your beefburger”….
Gassa, we have a long way to go.
The following quote (variously attributed) has been around for decades. I suggest that it should be nailed above the counter of every store and above every desk, including management, in the public and private sector.
WHAT IS A CUSTOMER
A customer is the most important person in our business. He is not dependent upon us, we are depended upon him. He is not an interruption to our work, but the purpose of it. A customer is a flesh and blood human being complete with biases, prejudices and emotions. A customer is not someone to argue with or match your wits against: no one ever won an argument with a customer. A customer is a person who brings to us his wants. Our task is to handle them profitably, both to him and to ourselves.
Yessss, it’s about time! Because Jah knows, some needs thorough training!!