BVI Tourist Board Historian, Ermin Penn will further the knowledge of taxi drivers and tour operators with a second round of workshops on BVI history and geography beginning this Thursday. (Photo BVITB/ S. Barnes)
Road Town, Tortola, March 16 – This Thursday the BVI Tourist Board will continue its training of the Territory’s transportation industry professionals with a series of workshops geared towards further educating taxi drivers and tour operators about Virgin Islands history and geography.
Tourist Board Business Development Coordinator, Jamila Vanterpool said the Board received an overwhelming response to its last workshop held just two weeks ago. “The workshops were successful as many drivers and tour operators participated. Based on their comments and realising their interest to learn more, we decided to have a second round of workshops to expound on what was thought about our history and geography.”
These sessions will be a continuation of the previous round of workshops and therefore drivers that successfully completed the first round are asked to register for this final round. On each island, focus will be given to its historical sites with the aim of each session being to present the facts of history about each site and draw any essential links to the general history of the Virgin Islands
The Board’s Historian, Ermin Penn, will facilitate the workshops. It is anticipated that industry professionals will be better prepared to share quality information about the BVI. The workshops provide sufficient information on the geography and historical sites to enable drivers to talk with guests in basic terms on either subject. Industry professionals will also have a broader concept of what is tourism and how their expertise fits in the Virgin Islands socio-economy.
Vanterpool added, “We realise the importance of our transportation professionals in leaving a lasting impression on our guests. These sessions are designed to enhance their knowledge which will add to their tours and ultimately further add to the appeal of our Territory.”
Drivers on Tortola can look forward to workshops on March 18. Virgin Gorda taxi drivers and tour operators will have the opportunity to participate in a session on March 19, on Anegada, March 26 and April 1 for Jost Van Dyke drivers. The Board is inviting interested persons in the wider tourism industry to learn more about the Territory’s history in workshops scheduled for March 23 and 25 on Tortola.
Space is limited and persons are required to register to guarantee placement in sessions. For registration and further information, please contact Tourist Board’s Business Development Coordinator, Jamila Vanterpool at telephone 494 3134 or via email at jvanterpool@bvitourism.com.
In April the Board will also be offering introductions to foreign languages, German, French and Spanish as well as workshops for front office staff, chefs and wait staff.
- BVI Tourist Board
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This is a great idea!! I freguently visit the BVI/Tortola and several times taxi drivers has shared with me different stories regarding the history of the islands. Wait, I did my reserach on the internet before my trip therefore I was a little surprise of the information they shared. However, I was very kind and respectful and did not even let them know I already had the answers on my IPhone. I kindly ask both gentlemen where they native born and they replied “no” , but where citizens. I am not saying only natives will have the knowledge regarding the history because later one afternoon a native born shared some information that had my head spinning (confused). I hope ALL taxi drivers take advantage of these trainings to help the island and the visitors who come (like myself) seeking history and to learn more about the culture. The training should be a requirement for those who choose to become a tour guide/taxi driver and continue as a yearly refresher course or renewal expectation. I am not writing to offend anyone, but hopefully shed some light from the outside….all the best and Kudos to the trainer and the gov’t to see that there was a need for such a class…..Great !!!