The World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations in conjunction with Progress International is launching a new training course for tourist guides, who undoubtedly provide a key service for cruise ships, as part of the value service chain. Shore excursions are a highlight of the overall cruise experience and they are invariably the core reason why cruise guests select a particular cruise ship itinerary in the first instance. Excursions also generate important economic benefits to the local communities of each respective destination in addition to the cruise companies.
WFTGA International Trainers will be the sponsored guests on board the Costa Concordia from 26th January to 3rd February 2008 to discover more about the special requirements of cruise guests from the independent experts of Progress International in collaboration with the Costa Cruise team. WFTGA International Trainers will subsequently launch a global cruise guide training programme from Larnaca for tourist guides across the globe, to enable them to better meet the expectations and constantly evolving demands of the cruise industry and their clients.
WFTGA President Rosalind Newlands said:
“Many cruise guests are visiting new destinations but often they will return independently if they have a good experience. Tourist guides are usually the only local person that visitors meet and they are therefore ambassadors for their city or country and can influence whether the visitor will decide to return. Tourist guides are also representatives of the cruise ship companies and their shore agents and it is vital that they fully understand the expectations of the guests and of the whole cruise experience. In that way they will be able to tailor their tours appropriately and help the visitors enjoy the experience and plan future excursions during the cruise.
Tourist guides who take part in WFTGA Cruise Training will receive a certificate and pin from the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations to add to their own qualifications. Cruise companies and their clients will know that the “WFTGA Cruise Tourist Guides” are not only fully qualified and/or licensed guides for their city, region or country but also specially trained to meet and exceed the expectations of these very important guests.”
The first WFTGA Cruise Training Course will take place in Larnaca, Cyprus from 4th to 6th February 2008. For future bookings and further information, please contact WFTGA on info@wftga.org
Note for Editors
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is a not for profit, non political organisation which groups together, around the world, tourist guide associations; individual tourist guides; tourism partners of both the WFTGA and member associations; educational institutes in tourism for tourist guides; convention and visitors bureaux and affiliate members who have direct or indirect association with tourist guides. WFTGA has members in 53 countries and represents around 93,000 tourist guides around the world.
The WFTGA’s main purpose is to promote, market and ensure that tourist guides are recognised as the ambassadors of a region. WFTGA offers services to our members but also communicates to those in search of the services of professional area specific tourist guides and where to hire them. We also actively promote our members’ associations and industry partners worldwide.
WFTGA supports the UN WTO Responsible Tourism Campaign and Green Globe.
The next biennial WFTGA Convention will be held in Bali Indonesia in January 2009 - Eco-tourism the Tourist Guides Role
Cruise Industry Facts & Figures
RAPID GROWTH
•ü The cruise industry is the fastest growing segment in Tourism achieving more than 2,100 percent growth since 1970. More than 12 million people took a cruise vacation in 2006. Industry estimates an addiitonal 1.5 million more will cruise in 2007.
INCREASED CAPACITY
•ü Nearly 40 new ships were built in the 1980's & 1990's comprising a total of 80 new ships. In comparison by the end of 2007, 88 new ships will have been introduced since 2000.
CRUISE EVOLUTION
•ü Strong growth has fueled the continuing evolution of the cruise vacation experience. Cruise lines have expanded itineraries to include diversified ports of call and convenient embarkation ports. Also innovative onboard amenities and facilities.
FUTURE GROWTH
•ü The industry's commitment to adding new capacity is based on high growth potential. 83% of adults never cruised and there remains a significant untapped market in Europe.
DEMONGRAPHICS
•ü Cruise Lines cater to a diverse demographic mix. Cruisers average 50 years of age, with above-average ($104,000) annual household income.
CRUISE SALES
•ü 90% of all cruise vacations are booked through travel agents, and account for more than half of all vacation sales among travel agents.
MARKET SHARE
1) Carnival Group 44% approx
Carnival Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, P & O Crusies, Cunard, Ocean Village, Holland & America, Seabourn Cruises & Windstar Cruises.
2) Royal Caribbean International RCI 25% approx
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises & Pullmantur Cruceros.
3) Star Group 11% approx
Star Cruises, NCL & Orient Lines
4) Other 20% approx
Main Player in other is MSC
BUSIEST CRUISE REGIONS
•1) Caribbean
•2) Mediterranean
•3) Baltics / Fjords (summer only)
Best emerging regions are Asia and Eastern side of South America (Brasil)
EUROPEAN CRUISE STATISTICS
•ü Cruise companies, shipyards & cruise passengers account for €8.3bn ($10.7bn) of direct expenditure in Europe, according to the EU economies report February 2007.
•ü ECC expects direct expenditure to increase by 50% to €12.7bn by 2010. Italy, the UK and Germany accounted for two thirds of direct expenditure
•ü The industry already provides 180,000 jobs across Europe with this figure predicted to rise to over 250,000 by the end of the decade.
