‘Back to Basic’ training for skippers and boat crew |08 July 2023
The training session in full swing
The Ministry of Tourism together with HMC (PTY) Ltd organised a ‘Back to Basic’ training under the Lospitalite Lafyerte Sesel programme for skippers and boat crew.
This training, which has been described as “long overdue”, attracted some 20 participants.
The trainer, Terry Lablache, explained that the training will provide the skippers and the boat crew with simple, yet effective skills and techniques which, when used as guided, will improve your customer contact and interaction, help to develop others.
“No matter what we call our customers, your interaction with a specific customer will likely be the basis for that customer’s entire impression of the service your organisation/department offers. Customer service is an experience that you create to ensure the ‘customer’ is satisfied in every step of the dealing with you. Customer service is a combination of several factors where you listen, assist, you recommend, you consult and guide,” explained Mr Lablache.
The representatives of Lospitalite Lafyerte Sesel programme explained that the programme will benefit the participants in various ways such as: increased confidence from having the right tools; reduced stress by better handling challenging situations; increased job satisfaction from doing something well; that great feeling you get inside from helping others and increased value to the country, the industry, our stakeholders.
Justin Joubert shared that service on the boat reflects how the person was brought at home. “You always need to touch up on your knowledge though. It’s been 25 years I am in the industry and everyone is different but we need to meet client’s expectations as they are the ones paying. Many youth are lacking the knowledge on how to groom themselves.”
Gilbert Victor started working on the boat since 1976 and does local and international trips and he exclaimed that it’s been a long time that the skippers have been asking for such a training.
“We have often been criticised on the way we dress. We hope this workshop will help us gain knowledge on the topic. Still we are quite disappointed that the major companies did not send any of their skippers for the training.”
Mr Victor is once again urging the Seychelles Tourism Academy to consider courses for students who will work on the boat as skippers.
“We have been asking for this and also the Seychelles Maritime Academy should consider training for skippers for yacht. Not everyone will go work on tankers. We do have a serious gap and if we want the youth to take up a job at sea, we need to offer more facilities.”
The aim is at the end of the programme the participants leave with a mindset towards outstanding service delivery, doing their jobs and carrying out their tourism related roles with: spirit, pride, commitment, integrity, passion and determination.
Photo: Leanne Alcindor