Thirty participants across the Pacific benefitted from a Service Excellence Training Programme that was launched yesterday.

This was done in partnership with Rosie Travel Academy, Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

It was launched for participants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Tokelau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji.

The training will continue for two weeks.

The two virtual training sessions were run by Rosie Travel Academy.

The initiative is a response to former employees of the tourism sector affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme aims benefit participants by improving entity skills and knowledge.

The first training session was about service excellence, which aimed to enhance service delivery and reception for small medium enterprises.

The appeal service programme will be offered in four units over the course of two weeks.

The second training which ends in August will focus on inbound travel management,.

The aim of the second part of the training is to enhance participants knowledge and understanding of the tourism industry.

South Pacific Tourism Organisation chief executive officer Christopher Cocker said participants were from small medium enterprises.

The enterprises included accommodation providers, hotels, restaurants and operators of car rental companies.

“We sincerely thank the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat for coming on board to support the recovery of small medium enterprises and communities particularly in these difficult times,” he said.

Mr Cocker said he hoped this would raise the standards in the tourism industry.

He said he hoped to see more competitors amongst the tourism support market.

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