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very kindly puts together an OTGA newsletter twice a year with interesting contributions from members. The committee arranges many CPD events and a sociable AGM, plus sometimes Christmas lunch or dinner. And just last year - 2019 - we welcomed a number of guides from Shetland on a happy exchange visit.’
Tina Smith, who qualified in 2013, was Chairman of OTGA from 2016 to 2019 and contributes the following update:
‘Like many voluntary organizations, OTGA experienced a “fallow period” but a new and proactive committee was formed in 2016. Apart from dealing with everyday matters to support association members, this committee created an Action Plan to address a number of priorities.
‘For example, the committee put in place a calendar of quality CPD events so that members could keep their guiding skills relevant and up to date.
It also evidenced these hours, as recommended and acknowledged by STGA.
‘With membership approval, the committee also reviewed and refreshed both the Constitution and OTGA website. Importantly, OTGA wanted to raise its profile in the local community and with partner agencies, but also to link more closely with the national body, STGA. There was a desire to forge stronger connections with STGA in order to address a number of issues where it was felt island members were not well represented. An opportunity to showcase Orkney’s role in cruise tourism was afforded when OTGA was invited to give a presentation at STGA’s 60th anniversary in March 2019. Following this well-received event, much improved communication has been formed with STGA and representatives have visited and met OTGA members here in the county. Progress has been made in re-assessing the local Green Badge training programme and further developments are planned to ensure solid links are on-going in the future.’
Loraine Littlejohn is presently, in 2020, secretary of the OTGA committee. She says: ‘My first season as a guide was in 2013 when 70 cruise ships visited. In 2019 we had around 170 ship visits and of those 31 ships carried a majority of German-speaking visitors. We are lucky to have a number of language guides in OTGA and their skills are certainly put to good use. We are very happy to report that Orkney is known as Britain’s Cruise Ship Capital!
‘But Cruise is only one kind of tourism in Orkney. There is so much more and OTGA rises to the demand. Our guides offer tours to suit all tastes - town walks, Viking experiences, wartime Orkney, archaeology, ornithology - the list is very long!
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