ATTTO 2011 Tourism Training Ambassador Award Winner

Tourism New Zealand China Market Development Coordinator Cici Huang was recognised last week when she was awarded the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) 2011 Tourism Training Ambassador Award at the Inbound Tour Operators Council (ITOC) Annual Conference in Tauranga.

The award was presented to Ms Huang in recognition of her efforts to drive up the quality of the Chinese visitor experience, having assisted more than 150 tour guides to complete training with ATTTO and gain Approved Destination Status (ADS) tour guide accreditation.

ATTTO Chief Executive Elizabeth Valentine said Ms Huang was nominated because of her outstanding commitment to helping Chinese tour guides up-skill and gain qualifications.

"The work that the ADS team does behind the scenes has been an important part of the development of the Chinese market over the last few years," said Ms Valentine.

"If we are to continue to improve the yield and length of stay of Chinese visitors, we need to ensure they receive top-notch service from well-trained and qualified guides.

"Cici has been a fantastic ambassador who has motivated and mentored guides to complete training, represented the needs of trainees and helped ATTTO overcome the cultural and language barriers that come with working across cultures."

Tourism New Zealand General Manager Tourism Operations Paul Yeo said the award was testament to Ms Huang's hard work that has contributed to a significant increase in the quality and number of qualified tour guides operating in the Chinese market.

"This award is great recognition for Cici and the small team she's part of, who work incredibly hard to ensure Chinese visitors receive the experience in New Zealand that they are promised.

"The China market continues to face quality issues, but up-skilling guides with ATTTO training has helped ensure we set a standard for the quality of tour guiding these visitors receive."

New Zealand's ADS Code of Conduct specifies that ADS approved tour operators can only contract or employ ADS Accredited tour guides. In order to gain accreditation, guides must meet a number of criteria including holding an ATTTO tour guiding qualification or award, unless certain exemption criteria are met.

Tourism New Zealand has been working with ATTTO to train ADS tour guides since the revised ADS Code of Conduct took effect in 2007. For more information about the ADS Code of Conduct click here.