Tour Guide Skill Development in Aileu and Maubisse - The Asia Foundation

 

Terms of Reference

 

Tour guide skill development in Aileu and Maubisse

 

July 30, 2021

Background on Asia Foundation Program

 

For nearly 30 years The Asia Foundation (the Foundation) has worked in Timor-Leste - alongside government, civil society, and community partners. The Foundation is currently focused on strengthening governance and policy, ending violence against women, developing sustainable tourism, and promoting peace and justice. 

 

Developing Timor-Leste’s tourism sector is a key focus for diversifying the nation’s oil-dependent economy. While Timor-Leste has much to offer visitors, building a tourism sector in Asia’s newest nation is not without its challenges, with barriers being overcome through concerted action and partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders. 

 

Since launching the country’s first survey of visitors to Timor-Leste in 2014, the Foundation’s office in Timor-Leste (TAF-TL) has supported informed tourism development in Timor-Leste through its Tourism Development Project, with support from the New Zealand Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The project builds on extensive research, strategies, policies, structures, and relationships developed with the Government of Timor-Leste, donors, and the private sector in previous years. Its purpose is to improve the economic well-being of Timorese by increasing equitable livelihood opportunities through job creation and increased income, particularly at the community level, through engagement in the growing tourism sector.

This will be done by focusing program activities on:

1. Developing the Maubisse-Aileu Region of Timor-Leste into a dynamic regional hub and destination tourism that increases economic benefits for communities;
2. Improving the quality and promotion of food and coffee tourism products and experiences in Timor-Leste, particularly in Maubisse and Aileu;
3. Strengthening tourism industry bodies; and
4. Working collaboratively with MTCI and the government of Timor-Leste more broadly to prioritize and promote tourism development in Timor-Leste.

Statement of Work

The following consultancy seeks to inform:

Medium-Term Outcome 1 – Maubisse and Aileu have seasonal quality tourism offerings that attract early adopters, involve local participation, and benefit communities

Short-Term Outcome 1.2 – Increased understanding of tourism supply (assets and providers) informs activities to develop quality tourism offerings in Maubisse-Aileu

Output 1.2.1: Socialize asset and mapping with stakeholders in Maubisse and Aileu

The consultant will work primarily on tour guide skill training to restaurants and guesthouses in Maubisse and Aileu on leading a tour by using existing Aileu and Maubisse mapping created by The Asia Foundation.

This will be done through the development and delivery of training materials on the following thematic areas:  

1. Introduction to tourism or understanding tourism and the guide competencies
2. Tour guiding process and skills (gather and prepare information for guiding and present tour commentaries)
3. Leading a Tour (Debriefing: on-site practice the history tour and cultural attractions).
4. Safety and security

Deliverables;

The Asia Foundation requires the successful applicant to: 

• Develop a timeline and syllabus detailing planned activities;
• Produce replicable visual information aids/handouts that can be used to teach selected employees at guesthouses and restaurants regarding the tour guide
• Conduct training to selected staff on the tour guide skill
• Assist the participants to practice their tour guide skills on a selected tour
• Assess participants towards evaluating uptake, and prepare a short report that evaluates performance of trainees. Report should include recommendations where necessary.

Duration and Level of Effort:  All deliverables should be completed by 23 August 2021.

 

Required qualifications: 

• Experience in tour guide training; and
• Knowledge and experience in the area of tourism development

Travel: Domestic travel to the field is required, and in-line with The Asia Foundation’s travel policy consultants should be fully vaccinated prior to engaging in domestic travel.  

 

Applications: Applications inclusive of CV, budget and proposal (no more than 3 pages) addressing the objectives and deliverables of the consultancy should be sent to The Asia Foundation’s office in Timor-Leste at agueda.miranda@asiafoundation.org no later than 5:00pm on Friday 06 August 2021. The consultancy is open to applicants residing in Timor-Leste only.

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