TMP seeks tour guides to boost visitor experience

The Mersey Partnership, the official tourist board for Liverpool, is launching an initiative to train designated hosts to greet international visitors as part of its Destination Welcome project.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the overall visitor experience for those people from other countries visiting the Liverpool city region.

International visitor hosts will complete a programme co-ordinated by TMP and will then be accredited to work with overseas groups and individuals in roles such as meet and greet, tour hosts and guided tours.

The hosts will work on a self-employed basis and have the opportunity to work with the two official tour guide booking agencies, Liverpool Tour Guide Service and Pool of Life Tours, which TMP said are both fully committed to the programme.

Currently, foreign language speaking tour guides work with school and leisure groups, conference delegates, cruise liner passengers, travel trade and travel media, visiting European football teams, and with companies hosting overseas visitors.

Pam Wilsher, TMP's head of tourism development, said: "Liverpool city region has always held many international connections. Today, these international connections are manifested in the growing number of business and leisure visitors coming to the region from overseas. The visitor industry wants to ensure that our renowned warmth of welcome can be extended to people in a language they understand – their own.

"We are looking for multi-skilled linguists with a real passion for the destination. Liverpool city region's visitor industry is a lively, vibrant and growing part of the local economy, and this is an opportunity to play an important role in one of our great success stories."

TMP is currently recruiting for the scheme, with a selection process starting in February. Applicants should be fluent in at least one overseas language, have strong knowledge of the area, and be flexible in their availability to work.

TMP said that there is a particular shortage of Italian, Chinese/Mandarin, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese and Scandinavian language speakers.

• Visit The Mersey Partnership website for more details or call TMP on 0151 227 2727 for more details