Celebrating Kosovo's first generation of Trainers for Tourist Guides

In the context where tourism is not a high national priority, but the demand for guided tours is increasing daily, Kosovo’s tourism landscape is experiencing a transformation, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its professional tourist guides.

In the spring of this year, six of Kosovo's most passionate and knowledgeable tourist guides from GUIDEKS (Kosovo Tourist Guide Association) completed two rigorous training programs provided by the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG). The two training programmes: "Sharing Best Practice" and "Trainer Training" have equipped them with advanced skills to enhance their guiding capabilities and train future guides.

For the first time, Kosovo's tourist guides have been trained to meet European standards. This ensures that the quality of guiding in Kosovo is on par with other popular tourist destinations in Europe, making Kosovo a more competitive and attractive destination. Before this training, Kosovo lacked a formal programme for the qualification of tourist guides. The FEG training has filled this gap, creating a pool of local experts who can provide authentic and informed tours of Kosovo's attractions. Through this training, tourist guides are also trained to promote sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that the development of tourism in Kosovo is environmentally and culturally sustainable.

Muhamer Hasani, Executive Director of GUIDEKS, stated: "The FEG training courses, apart from being important to build our capacities as guides and familiarise us with European standards, have inspired us as an association to prepare our training programme for tourist guides which will be offered soon. The tourism market of Kosovo needs a larger number of qualified, competent guides who offer professional services."

The first training course, "Sharing Best Practice", organized in March 2024, led by the esteemed and FEG accredited trainer Viola Lewis, focused on refining the core skills essential for every tourist guide. Viola’s extensive experience and engaging teaching methods provided an enriching environment for learning.

Following the first training course, in April 2024, participants attended the "Trainer Training" program, conducted by the renowned FEG-accredited trainer Radosław Szafranowicz-Maloziec. This course is aimed at developing the skills necessary to train future tourist guides, ensuring a high standard of guiding in Kosovo for years to come.

According to all participants, their journey reflects also their commitment to excellence and a passion for sharing Kosovo’s rich and diverse heritage with the world. The newly certified tourist guides and trainers (Enes Toska, Fitim Bunjaku, Muhamer Hasani, Merita Augustini, Rudina Lila, and Taulant Hoxha) are now equipped to deliver exceptional experiences to visitors and to nurture the next generation of guides.

This achievement is just the beginning. With ongoing support and investment in training and development, Kosovo is well on its way to becoming a must-visit destination in Southeast Europe. The impact of this training will be felt for years to come, as the first generation of qualified tourist guides sets the standard for excellence and inspires future guides to follow in their footsteps.

The GUIDEKS training was funded by the Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE). PPSE is the project of the Swiss Development Agency, the Embassy of Switzerland in Kosovo, and is implemented by Swisscontact in Kosovo and the Riinvest Institute.

In conclusion, Kosovo's journey in tourism is a testament to the power of education and the importance of investing in local talent. Here's to the continued growth and success of Kosovo's tourism sector, guided by the capable hands of its newly qualified tourist guides!