A program geared at improving human resource skills within the tourism sector is expected to get underway before the official start of the cruise ship season.
General Manager of Antigua Cruise Ports Donna Regis Prosper says the certification program will comprise of several courses.
“It is really made of four different courses, the first is Customer Service.”
“What we have done is that we have brought in a certified customer service trainer and her speciality is the cruise sector.”
“Another aspect of this program is COVID-19 protocols, the passengers that are coming to us are going to be a little bit different,” Propser added as she identified that a COVID-19 protocol training will also form part of the training program.
“If someone is taking a cruise now it means that person is a very motivated traveller, that person is looking for specific things in the destination. So we have a COVID-19 protocol training geared towards the port.”
“One of the key aspects of port management is security. So we have a standard program called the ISPS awareness program. Everybody who uses the port is supposed to be exposed to that training so that is a part of the certification,” she expressed.
“Finally, in being aware of port history we have partnered with the Antigua and Barbuda Museum and Dr Reginald Murphy will be doing a special presentation on the history of Antigua and Barbuda with a focus on St. John’s and St.John’s Port,” the General Manager of Antigua Cruise Ports, Donna Regis Prosper ended by saying.
