ITMI Delivers Cross-Cultural Learning for “Joy Holiday’s” Chinese Tour Directors as they Prepare to Welcome a Record Number of Chinese Visitors to the United States
San Francisco, Calif. (PRWEB) June 25, 2014 -- The number of Chinese visitors to the US is expected to grow to 2.1 million this year. (Source: US Department of Commerce) Chinese visitors now represent the most important segment in the American tourism industry.
To ensure that Chinese visitors to America enjoy a positive experience, the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), has developed a ground-breaking tour director training program for Chinese tour directors, many of whom only possess a superficial knowledge of America. This customized course includes important tools for problem solving as well the psychology of group travel. It also provides a working knowledge of customs and etiquette, so that tour directors can help their guests avoid unpleasant and embarrassing situations.
“Having our entire team of Joy Holiday tour directors complete the special training program at ITMI has been the best thing that we've ever done from a management's stand point,” states Harry Chen, General Manager, Joy Holiday Corporation. “Our tour directors gained insight into this profession from the best and most experienced instructors in the industry. Their level of confidence and professionalism were immediately elevated and our customer feedback reflected this result.”
“ITMI has truly brought the industry to the highest standard of excellence and made us realize that tour directing is a social and psychological science that can be developed into an art form. I know this, because I have also gone through the classes myself and it helped me to look at the entire industry with a new set of lenses,” Harry Chen added.
“The tour director is often the only person with whom visitors interact, thus they become the face of America,” states Ted Bravos, CEO of ITMI. “It is important for them to explain some of the cultural differences that exist between the two countries so that visitors are prepared rather than unpleasantly surprised. For example, the fact that the smoking restrictions common in America do not exist in China.”
“It would have taken me a year of trial and error to understand what I learned during the four-day ITMI class,” remarked Derek Yu, a newly certified tour director. “This course is incredibly valuable.”
ITMI’s experiential instruction provides hands-on training that gives tour directors and guides the confidence to effectively navigate between cultures.
About ITMI:
Since 1976, ITMI has been America’s premier training and certification program for professional tour directors and guides. For more information about ITMI or the Chinese tour director program, contact Annemarie Osborne at (949) 237-2906 or by email annemarie(dot)osborne(at)gmail.com.
Annemarie Osborne, International Tour Management Institute, http://www.itmisf.com, +1 415-957-9489, [email protected]
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