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Sharjah taxi drivers to play tour guides under new initiative

The drivers will undergo training over a period of one to two years, with an average of 20 to 25 trainees attending each session over two to three months.

Mohammed Ali Al Noman (second from left), Yousuf bin Saleh Al Suwaiji (third from left) and other officials inspecting Sharjah taxis after announcing the Marhabtain initiative. — KT photo by M. Sajjad

Sharjah - The over 5,000 taxi drivers in Sharjah will be educated on essential tourism-related information including key facts about the emirate, important tourist locations and major activities and events. The drivers will undergo training over a period of one to two years, with an average of 20 to 25 trainees attending each session over two to three months.

Addressing a Press conference on Sunday, Mohammed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), launched the ‘Marhabtain’ initiative to promote the emirate as a destination with world class tourism facilities and capabilities.

He told reporters that taxi drivers will be equipped with skills to showcase Sharjah as a preferred destination for shopping, dining, sports and hotel stay. Attractive incentives will be provided to taxi drivers and operators, he said.

The training programme for taxi drivers will be carried out in cooperation with the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA). “The sessions will include initial assessment of customer service, and evaluation efficiency standards system and training workshops for drivers. Successful participants will be awarded certificates,” said Al Noman.

“Marhabtain will also include another initiative to encourage training of UAE nationals and enhance the Emiratisation process in the tourism sector.”

The SCTDA recently launched the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which aims to attract 10 million tourists by 2012 by focussing on four main pillars — Ideal family tourism destination, innovative tourism approach, world class tourism facilities and capabilities, and international cultural hub — to strengthen the status of the emirate as a leading destination for family tourism. Officials said that this is the first step towards achieving this goal.

The programme will also train drivers on handling passengers with special needs.

Yousuf bin Saleh Al Suwaiji, Chairman of the SRTA, said: “Transport sector is the biggest service sector that deals directly with tourists. The main (aim of) ... the programme is to improve their service delivery and equip them with capabilities to provide a better experience for visitors to the emirate.”

Battling the problem of diversity of nationalities among taxi drivers, the training programme will be conducted in English and Arabic languages.

The programme will include many topics, both theory and practical.

Pakistani taxi driver Noor Ul Waddab said: “Most of the tourists we get are from Russia, Tajikistan and a few other Eastern European nations. They mostly want to go to places like the Sharjah Corniche, Al Khan beach, few malls in Sharjah and sometimes to Dubai — especially The Dubai Mall and Jumeirah beach road.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com