The new Rethymno Public Tour Guide School opens its doors in November to all young people who want to learn and study about the Greek heritage, archaeological sites, historical monuments, museums, and all places of historical interest, and in turn, offer this knowledge to millions of tourists who flood our country every year.
The facilities of the School, situated in a newly renovated building, provided by the Municipality of Rethymno, are located in the Agios Andreas area, a picturesque spot in the district of Rethymno very close to the main town. The place itself is of outstanding natural beauty with friendly, hospitable residents, and is an example of an exceptional architectural style. It meets all requirements and makes not only Rethymno but also Crete an attraction for students interested
in tourism education, not only from Greece and Europe but all over the world
As was commented by The Mayor of Rethymno Mr. George Marinakis in the inauguration ceremony, this School makes Rethymno one of the best and safest destinations for students not only in Greece but the Mediterranean as well”. The Vice Minister of Tourism Mr. Manos Konsolas pointed out that in addition to cultural heritage, there is also the need for specialization for tour guides in the fields of gastronomy, pilgrimage tourism, and environmental tourism (scuba diving, mountain climbing, etc.), while the Vice Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis declared Rethymno as “a world destination for Tour Guide Education”.
During the training procedure, young tour guide students will learn how to be informative through conversations on sensitive issues such as responsible travelling, recycling, philanthropy, donations, and conservation of endangered species. The newly found school will support the local economy and entrepreneurship and will also portray locally-produced traditional products. It will train students in dealing with modern customers who are more educated and experienced, a challenge in looking for ways to contribute to sustainable tourism.
Besides, the school is also expected to educate students in practical procedures and guidelines.
Aside from guided tours, self-employed Greek guides also work in related activities such as exhibitions, back to back meetings, conferences, festivals and many others.
