The Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association (AHTA) is urging local tourism industry professionals to capitalize on the recent influx of tourists from French-speaking countries by learning the language.
Over the last winter season there has been a significant rise in the number of visitors from France as French tour operators started selling packages to the destination.
Administrator of the AHTA Learn French with the AHTA programme, Anthea Watkins, said the nation’s residents could take advantage of this opportunity that would improve customer service and increase revenue.
“Learning French would open tourism suppliers to a completely new niche market they otherwise would not be able to communicate with. Learning French will open the doors to increased communication and increased communication translates to dollars for Antigua and Barbuda,” Watkins said.
She added, “We are particularly encouraging hotel front-line workers and employees in the duty-free areas in St Johns to participate. They are on the frontier, learning French would not only enrich them, but their customers.”
Learn French with the AHTA is a 12-week course for beginner and intermediary learners. Emphasis is on imparting “basic survival vocabulary” skills, such as, greetings, shopping skills, transportation and conversational tools. Students will also be introduced to the diverse culture of France, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
AHTA general manager, Neil Forrester, who speaks French fluently, said the added bonus for programme graduates is having the opportunity to be selected for the French Cultural Exchange Programme between Antigua & Barbuda and Guadeloupe, organized in partnership with L’Institut de Cooperation Franco Caraibe.
“For those working in hotels that participate in the Tourism Development Fund Dollar-a-Day programme, the exchange programme would be free of charge. They would be able to liaise with persons who speak French and hone their skills,” Forrester said.
The first course began in January and graduated seven participants, mainly from the hotel industry. However, residents with a passion for the French language are also encouraged to register.
AHTA’s Learn French with the AHTA programme begins on June 2nd. Classes are held Monday through Wednesday between 5:30pm-7:30pm at AHTA offices on Newgate Street.
For further information or to register for Learn French with the AHTA, visit http://members.antiguahotels.org/training/or contact Anthea Watkins at 462-3703 or email anthea@antiguahotels.org
