GTA looks to mandatory training for taxi drivers

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) held a two-day training session with 13 taxi drivers on delivering quality service.

The sessions were held on August 20 and 21, with drivers of local taxi service establishments.
According to GTA, the programme was aimed at improving the level of service offered by taxi drivers specifically, and of course, other members of the transportation industry in light of COVID-19.
Marlon George, CEO of Guyana Payroll Solutions, who facilitated both days of training used his practical yet seemingly ordinary method of delivery, to engage the sessions.
George guided the participants through the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) established “Delivering Quality Service” curriculum where they were exposed to topics such as Understanding the Tourism Industry, Defining Customer Service Excellence and Understanding the Customer.

In addition, the GTA’s Hygiene and Sanitation Protocol was used to place emphasis on the importance of maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation protocols within their vehicles to safeguard the health and wellbeing of their customers and themselves.
In keeping with the COVID-19 guidelines, participants were housed within the Amerindian Heritage Village Benab located within the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, and adequate social distancing, frequent hand-washing/sanitising, wearing of masks were adhered to at all times during the sessions.
Upon completing the training, the drivers were provided with a certified badge, valid for two years and were encouraged to take a refresher training every two to three years.
“This is something the GTA will be working towards becoming mandatory for all hire-car drivers to help raise the quality of service that they provide,” the GTA said on Friday.
When asked about their experience during the sessions, Homesh Persaud, a taxi driver attached to the Guyana Marriott Hotel, expressed that “the Guyana Tourism Authority is doing a remarkable job by training taxi drivers to be ambassadors of tourism”.
“I would like to encourage other drivers to take advantage of this opportunity because I learned a lot within just a day and a half. I thoroughly enjoyed the two days of training,” remarked Ann Maribelle Rickford of Nigel’s Taxi Service.
“It was a great, interactive and beneficial experience which will allow us to improve the level of service we provide. We look forward to participating in much more of these workshops. I also think that this type of training should be made compulsory for persons within the taxi service industry. It would greatly improve the quality of service, especially for tourism during these times,” she further added.
GTA in a release underscored that in these perilous times, it is imperative that the local transportation sector follow and maintain all the COVID-19 guidelines as provided by the Ministry of Health.
“They must ensure that all passengers are safe and comfortable, despite the circumstances. It is only through this that we will be able to keep ourselves and those around us as safe and healthy as possible as we strive to flatten the curve and prepare for reopening” the release read.
Persons/taxi drivers who wish to be a part of the next session of “Successful Taxi Driver’s Training in Delivering Quality Service” can contact the Training and Tourism Development Officer, Chetnauth Persaud on +(592) 219 0094-6 or [email protected] for more information.
Meanwhile, GTA said it remains committed to elevating the quality of service provided by the tourism sector and will be hosting a series of training programmes throughout 2020 to strengthen the capacity of the travel and tourism industry workforce. (G9)