Officials are to embark on a major training programme to develop the potential of tourism industry’s workers especially in foreign language exposure.They are to engage in training in multiple languages as part of Barbados’ tourism expansion drive to bring visitors from diverse areas to the island.Permanent Secretary Francine Blackman told the Parliament of Barbados on Wednesday that the National Training Initiative (NTI) is embarking on training of 200 workers on its online platform and an additional number is expected to participate in in-person training with the Jean and Norma Holder Institute arm of the Barbados Community College, starting in July.“We are not only addressing the language and I know the concerns where we want to make sure Barbadians are multi-lingual and not only capable of speaking the English language, but to be able to converse in other languages as we seek to broaden the scope for visitors here in Barbados,” she said.The training thrust appeared to have the full backing of Prime Minister Mia Mottley who urged the tourism officials to train local workers “to be the best that they can be”.
