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 31st 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 31st 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 31st 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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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) |
We are an examining body whose aim is to improve the quality of Driver Guides for the Kenya tourist industry. Tourists expect and are entitled to be accompanied by qualified guides during their visits to Kenya. We are committed to ensuring that this is the case.