01/02/2024
Tour Guides NI Press Release
31st January 2024
Issued by Francis Higgins Press Officer Tour Guides NI who can be contacted for further information here:
[email protected] Mob 07825631550
STATEMENT: Members Meeting to Announce Strategic Policy Overview and Ongoing Work with Public Bodies on Guiding Quality Standards (Accreditation.)
A meeting with over fifty members of Tour Guides NI (TGNI) was held at the Freemasons Hall in Arthur Square, Belfast. Professional guides from across Northern Ireland and also from the ROI listened to a presentation delivered by the TGNI Chairperson Ken Martin who outlined a strategic shift in TGNI to meet the needs of the increasing tourism industry. Ken outlined that the organisation will need to reshape itself to meet the growing visitor needs for guides without compromising the quality and standards of the association. Ken also outlined the input of TGNI into the Tourism NI strategic Ten Year Plan and the wish that Tourism NI integrate all guiding associations in Northern Ireland into a single accountable industry body. Ken said “It is vital that TGNI are part and parcel of the Tourism NI 10 Year Plan. Without Accredited Guides there is no quality assurance, it is akin to asking a teacher to teach without a PGCE. TGNI are a community of trained guides who have a passion for the heritage and history of Northern Ireland.”
Francis Higgins, the Training and Education Coordinator, informed the members of the work the association has done to reinstate the Level Four Tour Guiding Qualification at Belfast Metropolitan College. Francis informed the meeting of the communication TGNI has had with Tourism NI and the Department of the Economy to ensure that training and recognised quality standards are maintained within the industry. Francis also informed the meeting of TGNI's submission to the Tourism NI strategy document that was formulated by the TGNI Educational team and verified by a member of the senior management group and Collette McCafferty, from Travel & Tourism Associates.
Francis informed the meeting “It's critically important to our industry and the Northern Ireland economy that the high quality of tour guides is maintained through worldwide recognised courses. We are the front-line ambassadors of the tourism industry for millions of visitors to Northern Ireland and we above all should seek support to regulate and control the quality of guides here through an Arm’s Length Body.”
The members were treated to a wonderful meal and complimentary drinks after the meeting and also had the chance to visit the many rooms of Arthur Square Freemasons Hall.
Notes to editors:
Ken Martin ’Ken Martin B.Sc. Honours has for the last 15 years enjoyed working as a heritage tour guide. He was always interested in local history and after obtaining an Honours Degree from Q.U.B. in the Social Sciences he then went on to do an M.A. in Irish History. He now does something which he has always loved and that is explaining the history, culture, and heritage of Northern Ireland. He is also the Chairperson of Tour Guides Northern Ireland which is a 100-plus membership organisation and he liaises with all the relevant tourism bodies including Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance, Visit Belfast etc. He also promotes Northern Ireland’s heritage through a strong link with OCN NI and Belfast Metropolitan College who run the courses. Over 15 years he has worked at different locations and conducted innumerable heritage tours: he has worked at various visitor attractions, for example, for a few years at Hillsborough Castle explaining the heritage of the sites. He also works as a step-on guide taking students mainly around Belfast explaining the impact that heritage has had on the communities. He works with local schools and the education authorities and their teaching staff and with the College of English Studies based in Dublin and escorts their foreign language students around Belfast, again illustrating the city's heritage. He also conducts tours of Co. Down and Holywood for Ards and North Down Borough Council. For the last 10 years, he has enjoyed working from the ever-increasing Cruise Ship market highlighting Ulster’s heritage. He updates regularly through continuous professional development and the ongoing events organised by Tourism N.I and Visit Belfast.’’
Francis Higgins is an Ulster University Tour Guide graduate and former owner of an accredited training company. An internal verifier for over twenty years he also developed and delivered accredited training packages across the industry and won the UK National Training Award in 2000 and the Regional Award in 2003. Francis also studied Irish-accredited quality assurance systems in tour guiding as part of his 2020-21 Ulster University recognition.
Further information can be found at www.tourguidesni.com
Ken’s contact details are – [email protected]
Francis’ contact details are – 07825631550 (mob) [email protected]
Picture Caption
Ken is the Centre of Attention Once Again by the Committee Members of TGNI
