Qatar Tourism Authority signs A Letter of Agreement with Stenden University Qatar for a Special Program on Tourism guidance

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Stenden University Qatar today signed a Letter of Agreement to initiate a new Training Program to develop professional tour guides for Qatar that are knowledgeable about the nation’s rich past and history, its culture and heritage as well as tourist sights.

The Letter of Agreement was signed by QTA Chairman, Eng. Issa Bin Mohamad Al-Mohannadi and Stenden University Qatar President, Wayne Johnson.  Also in attendance from Stenden University Qatar were Otmane Sadoki, Head of Academic Operations, Simone Arnheiter, Head of Marketing, Sohair Abul-Haija, Senior Academic Specialist Advisor and Vera Rassam, Student Affairs Manager.

QTA Chairman, Eng Issa Al-Mohannadi, said: “As part of QTA’s mission in developing human capital, we initiated the Tour Guide License Program to ensure Qatar’s tour guides are professional. By initiating this Program it comes in line with QTA’s plan to develop the human resources in the tourism sector. Thus, launching this program is considered to be a first step in a series of training programs for developing human resources working in the tourism sector and to raise efficiency in the local market to provide tourist services matching international standards” 

The Tour Guide License Program will cover the history of Qatar from the Al Ubaidi Period through the Bronze Age, Kassite Period, Greek and Roman influences, Sasonid Period, Islamic Period, Umayyad and Abbassid Period and Bani Khalid Time right up to British Rule and recent contemporary history of Qatar.  The Program will also cover the rulers of Qatar, the Al Thani Dynasty and the country’s geography, plants and wildlife, land characteristics and weather.  In addition, the course will include an introduction to tourism and tour guiding, the tourism system, developing communications skills, customer care, conducting tours, health and safety and legal and ethical issues.

The Tour Guide course at Stenden will be open to Qatari high school graduates  who are already familiar with the country’s history and culture and able to speak both English and Arabic.

Stenden University Qatar delivers four-year bachelor programs in business administration with the three majors of International Business and Management Studies, International Hospitality Management and International Tourism Management.

All the programs offered are recognized by the Supreme Education Council of Qatar. Stenden University Qatar was established in 2000 under the patronage of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, also its Chairman, in a close partnership with CHN University, which was then, renamed Stenden University.