More than 364 transport service providers have participated in the ‘Merhba’ training programme organised by the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).

The participants included 137 taxi drivers, 96 bus drivers, 47 ADT dispatchers, 48 coach drivers, 18 car hire operators and 18 horse-drawn carriage (karozzini) drivers.

MTA chief executive officer David Mifsud said the demand for this kind of training was so overwhelming that the programmes had to be repeated.

Mr Mifsud was speaking during a certificate presentation ceremony at the ADT’s offices in Pieta yesterday afternoon.

He said the key to the success of the Maltese tourism industry was to offer quality service by ensuring value for money.

Such training programmes were intended to instil a culture of continuous change and improvement, which would in turn ensure that tourists’ expectations were lived up to. Continuous training would contribute significantly towards generating high visitor satisfaction ratings and repeat visits, said Mr Mifsud.

Addressing participants, ADT chief executive officer Gianfranco Selvaggi said the training was not only intended to teach participants to be courteous and smart, but also to improve the negative perception about service providers in the sector.

The ‘Merhba’ training programme is aimed at improving customer care skills of transport operators and related support services.

During the 32 programmes that were organised, delegates were given information about how to improve communication with tourists and provide them with helpful information about Malta.

In this respect participants were also taken on guided tours to various locations of historical importance in Valletta.

The training programme was one of the five main activities forming part of the Tourism and Support Services Training Programme.

The TSSTP was co-financed by the EU and the government. By September, when the programme draws to an end, more than 800 people will have been trained.

The development of this project arises primarily from the need to provide for a holistic approach towards training and human resources development in tourism and tourist support services.

The MTA implemented the programme with the support of a consortium composed of MISCO, JP Advertising and the Irish company ‘Optimum Results’, who were responsible for the training, public relations and information dissemination.

The certification ceremony was also attended by the Public Transport Association, and White Taxi Licensed Amalgamated, among other transport service providers.

The Industry Human Resources Development Unit in the MTA is responsible for the development of national human resource development initiatives for the tourism industry.

Further information may be obtained from MTA’s Industry HR Development Unit by calling 2291-5122/3/4 or by sending an email to [email protected].