Our mission at WaWo is to introduce the local charms of Japan to the world, and in order to do so, we have been collaborating with various local governments and DMOs in various projects to learn and connect with local regions. The number of foreign tourists is increasing year by year, and we are continuing to aim to bring foreigners to places not well known, so that they can indulge in Japan’s rich culture and history while enjoying the less crowds.
One organization we have been working with for more than two years is the Setouchi DMO, an organization that promotes the 7 prefectures that surround the Setouchi Inland Sea (Hyogo, Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime). Alongside IGLOOO Co., Ltd., we have been operating a program to train the region’s guides from 2022, and were able to help carry through the program again for 2024.
Every year we have online sessions as a introduction to guiding, then we go around the area to do on-site training sessions for the participating guides. This year was special in that we welcomed foreigners living in Japan to act as actual guests for the on-site training sessions to make the training more real. We were fortunate to welcome a few of our international members!
Our aim: train guides who can introduce the seven prefectures of Setouchi
Guides play an essential role when touring a place you haven’t visited before, as they introduce places and things unknown to visitors, and adds to the experience. That is why the Setouchi DMO has been operating a guide training program since 2022, and we have been able to train nearly 100 guides in the Setouchi area. Each year the participating guides would learn about the area as well as the basics of guiding, then join on-site training sessions where they actually visit sightseeing spots to learn and experience what their guests would. We also create an opportunity to meet travel agents online, so the guides can learn about the industry and how to become a better guide, as well as connect with travel agents to earn job opportunities in the future.
Program details for 2024: in depth on-site training
For this year’s on-site training, we welcomed foreigners living in Japan to join as tour guests. The guides were assigned one guest per day (a total of three guests duirng the two night three day session), where they supported the guests as they would during a real tour. The guides were also given free time at designated sightseeing spots where they would plan their stay on their own, which helped cultivate their guiding skills as well as their knowledge.
Routes for the on-site sessions:
1. North Route: Hiroshima (Onomichi, Setoda, Hiroshima City) ⇒ Yamaguchi (Iwakuni, Yuda Onsen, Akiyoshidai)
2. South Route: Hyogo (Awaji) ⇒ Tokushima (Tokushima, Aizumi, Mima) ⇒ Kagawa (Takamatsu, Naoshima)
3. East Route: Hyogo (Kobe, Nada) ⇒ Tokushima (Naruto) ⇒ Kagawa (Takamatsu) ⇒ Okayama (Kurashiki, Imbe, Okayama City)
4. West Route: Ehime (Matsuyama, Imabari) ⇒ Hiroshima (Setoda, Onomichi, Hiroshima City, Miyajima) ⇒ Yamaguchi (Iwakuni)
<Feedback from participating guides>
“It was very stimulating as most of the training was conducted in English.”
“I was able to guide a different guest each day and learned a lot, including tips on how to speak well in English. Preparations were tough, but I learned a lot over the three days and had a lot of fun!”
“I learned a lot from the other participants, and I was able to see what my weak points and areas are for improvement. Everyone was cooperative and helped each other, and we were able to make good connections.”
<Photos>
A system to certify guides of the region
This project not only provided training opportunities for guides, but also had a system to certify those who met a certain evaluation criteria as “Setouchi Certified Guides”. The certified guides are introduced on Setouchi DMO’s travel guide website “SETOUCHI REFLECTION TRIP” (English), which are used by travel agencies who are looking for guides in the Setouchi area. We also welcomed staff from several travel agencies and DMCs from all over Japan to the on-site and online training sessions, and we believe that we were able to contribute to building relationships between the participating guides and those who are looking for connections with the guides who handle their guests.
<Feedback from travel agencies>
“Most of the guides had very good English, and they were very friendly and had confidence.”
“The levels of the guides were very high; I hope to invite some of them to our own guide trainings.”
As the number of foreign visitors to Japan is reaching record highs almost every month, there is a nationwide shortage of local guides. I believe that many guide training programs have been implemented to cultivate knowledge, but I feel that training programs like this one that has more practical opportunities will become more important in the future. We at WaWo will continue to work on training guides that guests would want to see again.