16th March 2020 The Ministry of Tourism continues coordinating trainings on Restricted Skipper Master Class 6 and Whale Watching Guides in 2020. This will be the second consecutive year the Ministry has coordinated these trainings since 2019. The trainings were usually coordinated by the Tonga Business Enterprise Center (TBEC) in previous years.
The Ministry of Tourism’s purpose in conducting these trainings aimed at minimizing training fees so that locals can afford to participate in this industry, minimize income leakage of bringing employees from overseas, further minimize infringements of placing unqualified staff on board and lastly, provide varieties of trained staff for whale watching operators to utilize. This training
is fully funded by the Ministry of Tourism with in-kind sponsorship of trainers from MEIDECC and in-kind sponsorship of approved training materials for skipper courses from the Marine Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Trainings commence with Restricted Skipper Master Class 6 from 6th to 24 April which is a three weeks training whereby six major components will be covered on this course:
1) Nautical
2) Engineering
3) First Aid at Sea
4) Radio Telecommunication (VHF)
5) Marine Biology of whales
6) Whale Watching Regulation 2013
Whale Guide training will be hosted in Vava’u (25th May to 5th June), Ha‘apai and Tongatapu (8th
-19th June) with each session to be completed within two weeks. Five Major components will be
covered;
1) Whale Watching Regulation 2013
2) Marine Biology of whales
3) Tourism Management (Tour Guiding)
4) First Aid at Sea
5) Swimming Component
The Ministry is hoping for a more productive and quality training for the industry who will operate according to the rules and regulations and for the people of Tonga to fully benefit from the whale watching industry.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, Sione Finau Moala – Mafi, these trainings are necessary for the management, protection and conservation of the Whale Industry and the need to sustain the economic viability of the whale watching industry in the Kingdom.
END.
Issued by the Ministry of Tourism