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Strategic Action Plan

NO	STRATEGIC AIM	OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS	TIMELINE FOR ACTION
1	REPRESENT	*Represent the common voice of all guides in Kenya at the national and international level through:*
		1. Establishment of a Secretariat Office that shall be fully operational. a. The Secretariat will make its services available to address issues of concern to its members and the guiding profession more generally. b. The Secretariat shall represent the guides at national and international levels by engaging with external stakeholders as appropriate and effectively putting forward the collective problems and issues faced by guides.	*By 31^st June 2015*
		2. Raising awareness of the existence of the Kenya Tour Driver Guides Association a. Contact all active guides in Kenya, and inform them of the process of becoming a member of the Association. b. Publish a notice in the newspapers.	*Continuous, Targeting at least 1000 members by the end of 31^st December 2015.*
		3. Creation of a web site for the Association (www.kenyatourguide.co.ke / www.ktdga.co.ke) a. The web site shall contain information so that KTDGA’s members know what is happening in the Association and in the tourism sector in general. b. The web site will contain a profile of all member guides.	*By 31^st September, 2015*
2	Protect	*Protect the shared interests of all guides t through:*
		4. *Identifying issues of mutual concern to guides which include but are not limited to:*
		a. Try to assure employment to licensed guides by checking the operation of unlicensed guides in Touristic sector. b. Provide services (such as training) which enable the up grading of the guides, working in collaboration with TRA, KWS, KUC and any other relevant stakeholder as appropriate. c. Work to ensure guides are treated professionally, and are comfortable while disbursing their services. d. Try to develop a standardized system and uniformity of rules and regulations so that the guides will not face problems while executing their services. This will be done in close collaboration with TRA, KWS, NTSA, KATO and any other relevant stakeholders. (Badges, Uniform,) e. Resolve issues of mutual concern by working with appropriate governmental, public and private tourism related organizations such as NTSA , TRA, KWS, KAA, KUDHEIHA and KATO
		5. Work to standardize the minimum professional charges for all guides in consultation with members, TRA, KWS, KATO, NTSA and any other stakeholders as appropriate with respect to qualification of guide.
		*Protect the image of Kenyan guides trough:*
		6. Identify issues and factors that are affecting the image of guides and the guiding profession in the following ways:
		a. The Secretariat shall receive all complaints and feedback relating to guides from tour operators and other stakeholders, and endeavor to resolve…… such issues mutually where possible. b. The reputation of the guides should be maintained by promoting and enhancing their guiding skills and knowledge through repeated training and refresher courses.
3	PROMOTE	*Promote the highest degrees of professionalism amongst all guides through:*
		7. Develop and promote adherence to a universal code of ethics and skills through:
		a. Draw-up a standard Code of Conduct for the guides. b. Circulate the Code of Conduct to all the member guides (e.g. during general meetings) and make all guides aware of the importance of strictly following the Code of Conduct. c. Make full compliance with the Code of Conduct a mandatory requirement of being a member of KTDGA; cancel the membership of guides who are found to have seriously breached the Code of Conduct.
		8. Upgrade and promote guide quality
		a. Conduct regular training, seminars and refresher courses. b. Regularly update the guides’ profiles on our website (www.ktdga.co.ke). This shall be the most important part of our website. We will ensure that guides’ profiles are strictly based on authentic feedback and firm evidence that credentials and qualifications claimed are genuine.
		9. Combat untrained and unqualified guides
		a. Establish a strong self-monitoring and supervision team to monitor and supervise guides, working in coordination with TRA and KWS and report instances of untrained and unqualified guides to TRA for appropriate action. b. Maintain a list of all the trained and licensed guides in the country. c. Ensure that tour operators are not using unlicensed and untrained guides. This will be done in collaboration with KATO and TRA.
		*Promote pride and respect amongst guides for Kenyan’s unique cultural, historical and natural heritage*
		10. Making the guiding body aware of the importance of our age old cultures and traditions
		a. Making all guides aware that our rich culture and traditions are one of the main tourism ‘products’. b. Encouraging guides to have a sense of preservation and respect for our culture and tradition.
		*Promote the guiding profession as an important and worthy profession in the tourism industry and as a permanent and attractive career for the Kenyan youth.*
		11. Raise the profile of guides as the ‘face’ of Kenyan in the tourism industry; highlight the importance of guides in ensuring Kenyan remains a high-end tourism destination
		12. Work to ensure that only serious, interested people, seek to join the guiding profession.
		13. Facilitate a sound and comfortable working environment for guides.
		*Promote a sense of fellowship and friendship amongst guides.*
		14. Organize networking and get-togethers amongst guides to exchange experiences
		a. Introduce an online discussion forum to exchange experiences and knowledge. b. Set up an ‘internet café’ and space for group discussion for guides at the Secretariat office. c. Organize cleaning campaigns and other activities to socialize.
4	Educate	*Educate guides with respect to their knowledge of Kenya’s history, culture and other aspects of the country*
		15. Follow the KTDGA code of conduct and the TRA, NTSA and KWS regulations.
		16. Conduct workshops, lectures and time-to-time refresher courses for Kenya’s history, culture and other aspects of Kenyan knowledge
		17. Establish an information center at the Secretariat’s office
		*Educate guides to enhance their leadership and guiding skills*
		18. Conduct training and refresher courses on leadership and guiding skills
		19. Conduct field trips, e.g. to botanical gardens and other related centers, to enhance guide knowledge
		20. Provide specialized training to guides (e.g. birding, botany, cycling, rafting, etc.), in collaboration with TRA, KUC and KWS as necessary.
5	INFORM	*Inform guides by providing them with relevant information on the policies of the Government, tourism industry, and any other matters of interest which may be of benefit to them*
		21. Establish an information center in the Secretariat office
		a. The unit will be responsible to inform all the guides on the policies and any matters of interest at national and international level. b. The information center will be open to guides who wish to come in and get information.
		*Inform the general public, tourists and other stakeholders of the importance and value of professionally accredited tour guides to the country*
		22. KTDGA will from time-to-time inform and publicize to relevant stakeholders the importance of guides in the tourism industry
		23. Conduct seminars and workshops to educate the guides
		24. Procure materials for self-improvement on tour guiding and make these available for guides to read and enrich (e.g. accessible at the information center)
6	BUILD KTDGA’S STRENGTH AND SUSTAINABILTY	*Develop KTDGA’S capacity so that it becomes a key player with respect to efforts to further professionalize and enhance the quality of guides in Kenyan*
		25. Ensure KTDGA’S longer-term financial sustainability and independence by diversifying its funding sources
		26. Develop high-quality membership services
		27. Strive to continuously enhance the skills and capacity of KTDGA’S Secretariat staff and Executive Members ( cap executive to 250k)

Financial Sustainability

Core Sources of Funding

KTDGA will strive to sustain itself financially through the following means, in addition to any others that are deemed appropriate:

Membership fees;
Lawful donations and contributions from government agencies, associate organisations and institutions;
Lawful fundraising activities;
Commission resulting from guides and properties hired through KTDGA;
Web hosting charges; and
Training fees.

The membership projection is hereby illustrated below both in tabulation and graph:

ILLUSTRATION 1: TABLE ILLUSTRATING THE MEMBERSHIP GROWTH PROJECTED TILL DEC 2015

Month (2015)	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEPT	OCT	NOV	DEC
Membership no.	100	120	140	200	250	300	380	400	550	700	850	1,005

ILLUSTRATION 2: GRAPH ILLUSTRATING THE MEMBERSHIP GROWTH PROJECTED TILL DEC 2015

About Us

KTDGA presents a Strategic Plan for the three year period April 2015 to April 2018. The Plan is structured into four sections:

KTDGA’s Mission, presenting KTDGA’s common purpose and reason for existence.
Our Vision, describing what KTDGA aspires to become and achieve.
Our Strategic Action Plan, detailing KTDGA’s priorities and objectives for the period ahead, including our plans to:
1. Develop benefits and services for our members; and
2. Achieve longer-term financial sustainability.
Organizational Overview, outlining KTDGA’s structure and working groups, and including:
1. Job descriptions for the Chairman, General Secretary and other key positions.

KTDGA MISSION

As KTDGA, our mission is to represent, inform, educate, protect, and promote, all tour guides in Kenya. KTDGA achieve our mission by uniting guides into one representative body able to:

Represent the common voice of all guides in Kenyan at the national and international level.
Protect the shared interests of all guide and the image of Kenyan guides.
Promote
a. The highest degree of professionalism amongst all guides, by:
- i. Developing and implementing a universal code of ethics and skills;
- ii. Upgrading and promoting guide quality; and
- iii. Combating untrained and unqualified guides.
b. Pride and respect amongst guides for Kenya’s diverse and unique cultural, historical and natural heritage.
c. The guiding profession as an important and worthy profession in the tourism sector industry and as a permanent and attractive career for the Kenyan youth.
d. A sense of fellowship and friendship amongst guides.
Educate tour guides with respect to their knowledge of Kenya’s history, culture and other aspects of the country provide a platform for tour guides to enhance their leadership and guiding skills.
Inform
a. Tourguidesby providing them with relevant information on the policies of the Government such as vision2030 and the role of the sector in it, the Tourism Act, the NTSA act and related policy document and how all this can be of benefit to them.
b. The general public, tourists and other stakeholders of the importance and value of professionally qualifies, registered and accredited tour guides to the country.

KTDGA VISION

KTDGA envisions itself to become the single collective voice of all the tour guides in Kenya and as a result be recognized as a key player in enhancing the professionalism of the country’s tourism sector.

Single Collective Voice of Guides

KTDGA shall work to establish ourselves as the foremost legal body in Kenyan to represent, protect, promote, inform and educate professional guides in the country.
KTDGA will be an open, transparent and inclusive association, with membership open to all reputable guides who commit to adhere to KTDGA’s Code of Conduct.

Key Player in Enhancing the Professionalism of Kenya’s Tourism sector

KTDGA shall develop its capacity so that it become a key player with respect to efforts to further professionalize and enhance the quality of guides in Kenya.
KTDGA shall work particularly closely with our members, with the objective of helping them obtain the highest level of skills and experience possible so that together they represent a resource of national importance with respect to Kenya’s competitiveness as a tourist destination.

Membership Benefits

Becoming a member of KTDGA is an investment in the future of Kenyan’s tourism industry. In addition to representing the enjoying the benefit of having a collective voice of all guides in Kenya, KTDGA members will be entitled to receive additional benefits and services. The listing below gives some of the benefits and services to its members that KTDGA hopes to develop over the period of this Strategic Plan.

Membership Benefits and Services

Entitlement to participate in all KTDGA activities
Automatic invitation to KTDGA’S Annual General Meeting, and any other KTDGA organized meetings or conventions
Right to vote at the Annual General Meeting, and other important meetings
Access to a representative body able to raise concerns at the national and international levels
Preferential access to all KTDGA facilitates or organized training courses, workshops and lectures (e.g. early notification and discounted prices)
Promotion and marketing of members as per their classification and specialization (e.g. to tour operators and tour companies, or via KTDGA’S web site).
Members can avail information from the Association on anything related to their profession
Members can put forward any genuine and appropriate concerns or problems to the Association for resolution
Access to KTDGA’S online discussion forum for tourist guides and industry partners to discuss online
Access to KTDGA’S national network of guides and other tourism related contacts
And more…