Sharjah Museums Department successfully introduces series of tourist guide training courses

Considering a continuous increase in visitor numbers to the emirate of Sharjah, the growing interest into Islam-related subjects and the enormous size of the museum's collection with more than 5,000 objects on display, to offer such training courses has become highly imperative to the work of Sharjah Museums Department as it goes in line with the organisation's mission 'to deliver the highest quality of museums services for the people of the Emirate of Sharjah and all its visitors.'

Further, the training course also contributes towards SMD's vision 'to achieve locally and internationally an understanding, appreciation and respect for Sharjah's identity and for the value of its cultural and natural heritage.'

Many practising tourist guides, both employees of the UAE's key destination management companies and freelance guides attended this training yesterday.

The programme features a series of lectures about Islamic Civilization and Islamic Art, presented by the expert Dr. Ulrike Al Khamis who is the museum's collection advisor.

In addition to training about the museum's collection, tourist guides are also taught about appropriate guiding manners inside museums.
This is important as many tourists expect their existing knowledge to be deepened with the help of tourist guides.

Nonetheless tourists wish to receive this new information in a less formal and often in a more entertaining way as they are on holiday where relaxation is given high priority.

This part of the programme is led by Jasem Zaiton who is an accredited tourist guide trainer and also heads the tourist guide department at Alpha Tours, one of Dubai's leading destination management companies.

After the successful completion of this course, tourist guides will have gained an advanced knowledge of the museum's collection and will also be able to guide in a well-balanced, educating and entertaining way.

By achieving this, their work shall reflect positively on Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, contribute positively towards tourists' holiday experience and ultimately reflect positively on Sharjah as a holiday destination per se.

The training course concluded with an Iftar meal at the museum.

To cater for the great demand for such a training course and to accommodate a large number of tourist guides, SMD will hold more courses over the next few weeks.