The revised National Tour Guide Training Program is divided into two main components: the General Core which consists of seven chapters and the Professional Core which consists of four modules. The courses are offered in different destinations by partnering associations and institutions. These courses are offered to new guides, yearly in some destinations and also by demand.
General Core Component
The General Core component consists of six chapters covering key tour guiding skills, with exercises, recommended readings, and bibliographies to support learning and encourage further development. Chapter seven features an internship, where trainees apply their skills in the field under the guidance of an experienced, licensed tour guide.
Internship: In addition to the one-day Field Experience assessment, tour guide trainees are required to undertake an internship with a recognized, licensed tour operator or an active licensed tour guide who has at least five years’ experience. During the course of this internship, the mentor will evaluate the trainee on a field guiding experience. The internship component is divided into three areas of assessment; this includes the Tour Brief, the Main Tour and the Tour Wrap Up.
Assessment: There are 7 exams in the General Core component of the tour guide course. Upon satisfactory completion of each chapter of the training course, with a minimum grade of 70 on each assessment, and satisfactory completion of the internship component, with a minimum of a satisfactory rating on the field experience evaluation, the trainee will be able to proceed and begin the professional core component of the National Tour Guide Training Program.
Program Overview Approx. 166 Hours
| Chapters | Contact Hours | Class Sessions | Core Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1: The Effective Tour Guide | 20 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Why People Travel – Unit 2: Responsibilities of an Effective Guide – Unit 3: Tour Guide Personalities and Characteristics – Unit 4: Methods and Techniques for Presenters |
| Chapter 2: Belize Today | 15 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Introduction to Belize – Unit 2: Modern Belize – Unit 3: Tourism Activities |
| Chapter 3A: Natural History of Belize Units: 1 and 2 | 24 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Introduction to Ecosystems – Unit 2: Terrestrial Ecosystems of Belize |
| Chapter 3B: Natural History of Belize Units: 3 and 4 | 24 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 3: Marine Ecosystems of Belize – Unit 4: Protected Areas of Belize |
| Chapter 4: History and Culture of Belize | 15 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Historical Background – Unit 2: The Creole – Unit 3: The Mestizo – Unit 4: The Garifuna – Unit 5: The Maya |
| Chapter 5: The World of Maya | 24 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: The History of the Maya – Unit 2: Life in the Maya World – Unit 3: Archaeological Sites of Belize |
| Chapter 6: Basic Swimming, Snorkeling, Water Safety Survival Skills, Non-Swimming Rescue & Boating Safety | 15 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Basic Swimming Skills – Unit 2: Basic Safety/Survival and Non-Swimming Rescue Skills – Unit 3: Basic Snorkeling Skills and Snorkeling Etiquette – Unit 4: General Boating Safety |
| Chapter 7: Field Experience/Delivery (4 Internships) | 32 hours | 8 hours (field) | – Unit 1: Taking visitor’s needs and expectations into consideration on field – Unit 2: Specific interpretive tools for presenting Belize’s Natural Environment – Unit 3: Specific interpretive tools for Belize’s Anthropology – Unit 4: Delivering the Product Effectively – Unit 5: Delivering the Product on Field – Assessment |
Professional Core Component
The Professional Core component provides material in four modules, allowing guides to be knowledgeable and resourceful, and learn how to communicate efficiently and effectively.
Internship: Trainees must complete an internship with a certified trainer, who evaluates their field guiding performance in three parts: conversational skills, use of briefing/debriefing models, and demonstration of the T-O-R-E method. Preparation and tour knowledge are essential.
Assessment: There are 3 exams in the Professional Core component of the tour guide course. Upon satisfactory completion of each chapter of the training course, with a minimum grade of 70 on each assessment, and satisfactory completion of the internship component, with a minimum of a satisfactory rating on the field experience evaluation, the trainee will be able to proceed with the Tour Guide Licensing Process.
Program Overview Approx. 85 Hours
| Module | Contact Hours | Class Sessions | Core Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module 1: Communication Skills and Techniques | 20 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Communication and the Communication Process – Unit 2: Types of communication – verbal and nonverbal Conversational Skills – Unit 3: Listening Skills – Benefits of active listening – Unit 4: How to conquer nervousness |
| Module 2: Briefing and Debriefing | 20 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Briefing Standards – Unit 2: All about briefing (importance, parts of Tour Briefing, etc) – Unit 3: Debriefing Standards |
| Module 3: The Thematic Interpretation Approach To Professional Guiding T-O-R-E Model | 26 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Developing Thematic Interpretation themes and tour commentary using the T-O-R-E Model – Unit 2: Introduction to the T-O-R-E Model – Unit 3: Interpretive Props – Unit 4: Developing a thematic tour commentary using the T-O-R-E model – Putting it all together |
| Module 4: Field Experience/Delivery | 8 hours | 8 hours | – Unit 1: Communication – Unit 2: Briefing – Unit 3: TORE method/model |
Program Modality & Duration
- Delivery Mode: In-person face to face assessments
- Duration: Approximately 3 months
Assessment & Certification
Completion Requirements
- Full attendance of scheduled sessions
- Successful completion of all chapters
Assessment Criteria
- Minimum passing score of 70% on each exam
Certifications Awarded
Participants who meet all requirements will receive:
- National Tour Guide Certificate of Completion
Issued by BTB’s Elevate Training Institute