THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in attempting to bridge the language barrier in anticipation of an influx of Spanish speaking passengers travelling to Guyana, recently facilitated a five days basic Conversational Spanish Language Training Programme at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

It began on May 6 and customer service representatives, taxi drivers, red cap porters, Customs and Immigration Officers, airlines counter staff and aviation security officers participated in the interactive sessions.
The 220 participants who interact directly with passengers were trained in basic Spanish as part of the CJIA’s mandate to offer the best quality service to all visitors.
This training, that will reduce the processing time a passenger spends at Immigration and Customs, was conducted by Ms. Gemma Wenner, who has extensive background in various relevant areas, including Spanish Language.
Their approach
At the launch of COPA Airlines in January 2014, Acting Minister of Tourism, Mr. Irfaan Ali reaffirmed that “our front line staff from immigration, customs, GTA, among others, would have to change their approach and the first order of business, which started in the Ministry of Tourism and GTA, is to ensure that the staff can speak and understand Spanish.”
This is essential as “we expand into new markets and bridge the language gap which, over the years, has caused many barriers between Guyana and Latin America,” he pointed out.
GTA Director, Indranauth Haralsingh told those at the workshop that it was designed to facilitate Spanish speaking visitors, as well as, promote Guyana’s tourism and hospitality.
“We have to bridge the language barrier, after all we are a customer service corporation and the passengers are our first priority, the training could not have come at a better time now that Venezuelan airline, CONVIASA, is already operating in Guyana and COPA – a Panamanian airline – will begin its operations at Timehri in July 2014,” he said.
He congratulated the participants on a job well done and for being the first to be trained in Spanish by the GTA.