NITGA predicts tour guiding opportunities for 2021 & beyond
Tourist Guides in Northern Ireland have, like colleagues all over the world, had little or no work since the onset of Covid-19. But they are not giving up! They have learned to adapt and find new ways of connecting with past and potential visitors so that they can continue to offer a world class experience when it is safe for visitors to return.
We spoke to Catherine Burns, Chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Guides Association (NITGA) to find out how they see the future.
“What a difference a year makes! We never imagined at the beginning of 2020 what would lie ahead for us all. Normal life as we knew it has disappeared, but with the implementation of the vaccine programme, we can see a brighter future ahead.
At NITGA we recognise the changing face of tourism and we are ready and willing to rise to the challenge - we know the importance of being innovative and the new tours we have developed will meet the needs of our Visitors. Although welcoming overseas visitors again to Northern Ireland seems far in the distance, and it is hard to be optimistic when our tourist guides’ livelihoods were wiped out overnight. We as guides, depend on the hotels, attractions and infrastructure all being open and functional before we can work.
However, folk in Northern Ireland are a resilient bunch! That’s why so many visitors love us dearly. We can see the funny side of everything and don’t take ourselves too seriously. So even with all the grim news globally, I can see energetic local people willing to adapt and change their usual plans.
This I think, is the year of ‘the local’. Maybe it should be a hashtag for Northern Ireland! The year when we all look at what is here on our doorstep, and explore! With so many delights reachable within an hour, and the whole of Northern Ireland accessible within two, 2021 will see us all going to visit the hidden gems, taste our really good food and be tourists in our own land.
As qualified guides, we can be your friend, plan your itinerary, book or recommend restaurants, and ensure everyone in the family is catered for- from grandparents to toddlers! Will this help? Oh yes! It will tick every box anyone can think of.
We will be supporting our local businesses who have struggled financially, minimising our travelling distance, be sustainable and ‘eco-friendly’, plus we will be eating good local food and supporting our producers.
Staff at restaurants and attractions will be able to have a bit of banter, and be understood. Or we can teach visitors from the British Isles our lingo, and make them feel like a local!
It will all add up to a fun year, full of craic, when we see ourselves for what we are- a special little corner of the world!”