Tour Operator Workshop

What is the difference between a Tourist Guide and a Tour Operator? A Tour Operator is a person / company that make all the arrangements regarding transport, accommodation, tour packages, etc. Basically the Tour Operator is the person that sits in the office and makes all the preparations. A Tourist Guide is the person that guides visitors, for a fee, interpreting cultural and natural heritage and is effectively in charge of the group for the duration of the tour. The Tourist Guide has no part in the organising component of the tour.

Drum Beat’s Tour Operator Workshop has been designed for Tour Guides, Entrepreneurs and Existing Tour Operators to gain knowledge and information on the industry. During this five day course the following will be covered:

* Legal Implications (driver’s license, P.D.P, R.T.P, C.O.F, pax liability)
* Marketing in the Tourism Industry
* Technical Management (services, tyres, fuel, oil)
* Itinerary (Designing a Guided Experience)
* Infrastructure (office, staff)
* Product Knowledge (accommodation, STO & Rack rates, single supplement)
* Administration (reservations, confirmations, vouchers, payments, cancellations, filing)
* Guides (qualifications, personality & appearance, tour preparations file, payment, loyalty, registration)

This workshop will help you make the best of your business, helping you grow through marketing, building a great reputation through well thought out and executed tours, using only the best guides to fit your company image and making sure that you comply with all the legal implications.

For more information on this workshop visit Drum Beat Academy’s Tourist Guide and Event Support website.

Registering as a Tourist Guide

Once you have completed your Accredited Tourist Guide training course, you are required to register with your local Tourism Authority. They will require the following:

1. Complete the Application Form
2. Sign the Code of Conduct & Ethics
3. Submit a copy of your Qualification Certificate (Theta / Training Provider)
4. Submit a valid First Aid Level 1 Certificate
5. Certified copy of your ID
6. 4 recent colour ID photos (head & shoulders)
7. Pay registration fee of R240 VAT incl.
8. If you are Non South African also submit a copy of a Valid Work Permit

Contact details for Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA)

No.1 Central Place, Corner of Henry Nxumalo and Jeppe Streets
Newtown
Johannesburg

Tel: + 27 11 639-1600
Fax: + 27 11 639-1700
Registration Fax: + 27 11 832-2628

All Tourist Guides are legally required to register with DEAT.

Visit our website for more information on our Tourist Guide, Hospitality and Event Support Qualifications.

Proud to Present

Drum Beat is always proud of each and every learner that passes through our doors, even if we have to temporarily make their doors ours. Now with any further ado we are proud to present...

Gerald Bakamela who is nearing the end of the Professional Cookery Learnership at Africa Sky Hotel. Good luck with the last few remaining weeks!

Gerald takes his job very seriously

Nauticus Place is a charming Restaurant and Cafe in Brenton-on-Sea, host to a Professional Cookery and Food & Beverage Learnership. Below are the participating learners striking a dashing pose.

Fun in the sun

FNB Middelburg and surrounding region recently sent some of their staff on a training course and it would seem that they breed them happy in Mpumalanga. These first aiders will save your life with a smile!

Service with a smile

From the Ground Up

For the past year AgriSkills has been running a project at Phake Thabeng where we are training the local people to produce vegetables organically. The project is funded by Missio-Austria with funds from the Austrian Development Authority. We got off to a good start with the infrastructure and put up the fence, drilled the borehole, built the reservoir for the water and set up the pump. However when it came to Eskom laying on the power we had to 'wait', so there was a significant delay in getting the vegetables planted. We purchased a generator for the interim but because of the heavy rains in the region we could not get into the project as the soil is very good quality black turf. We are proud to say that after so many delays the project is growing to new heights. Winnie, our associate, is running the project, while Greg, the facilitator, does the training and assists with the infrastructure.

AgriSkills falls under the Drum Beat Group umbrella.

Please visit our website for more information on Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training courses.

Do you comply with OHS?

According to the Amended Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 & 181 of 1993 all companies with 5 or more employees must abide by these regulations.

To know if you comply, ask yourself the following questions:*

1. Does your company have written documentation explaining the evacuation as well as emergency procedures?
2. Does your company have adequate fire equipment?
3. Is the necessary signage indication fire and evacuation routes in place?
4. Are there adequate trained First Aiders (Level 1,2 & 3)?
5. Are there adequate Fire Marshalls responsible for the evacuation of the building?
6. Are there schematic designs mounted to the walls (emergency exits, fire equipment, hoses, smoke detectors, sprinklers, first aid boxes and assembly points)?
7. Are there adequate Regulation First Aid Kits?
8. Is there an alarm system in place to alarm employees in case of an emergency?
9. Have you done evacuation drills with scenarios and written up reports?

If you answered NO to any of these questions, your company is liable and these aspects need to be addressed URGENTLY.

The following need to be in place:*

• An emergency and evacuation plan
• Adequate fire extinguishers and fire hoses
• Necessary signage
• Trained first aiders
• Trained fire marshalls
• Schematic designs on walls
• First aid kits
• Alarm system
• Evacuation drill with scenario training

(*Uni-Excellens)

Go to Drum Beat Academy's Tour Guide and Event Support Training website for more information on our First Aid Training (Level 1, 2 & 3) and Basic Fire Awareness Training courses.

The Brag File

There is nothing better in business than having a satisfied customer. Be it one that has just completed their training or those still a little wet behind the ears that are equipping themselves for their future career path.

Most often people say that bragging is only for the selfish but in business if you don't do it yourself, who will?

Celesté Belelie and Ronell Burger are two star learners from the Professional Cookery Learnership currently running in Oudtshoorn. This photo was taken in the restaurant at African Sky Hotel while they served breakfast.


The next two learners are both from KwaZulu-Natal and did their training through one of Drum Beat's associates, Chris Lake.

On the left is Martinus Nel, showing off his Drum Beat Certificate, who to date is Chris Lake's most senior (oldest) tour guide candidate. Martinus, 73, is a very keen and enthusiastic guide and a mine of information about the Weenen District.

On the right is Allison Lettinga a go ahead farmer's wife from the district of Ixopo. She has worked out a unique tour programme of the Southern Drakensberg including some interesting birding and San/Bushmen Rock Art sites.

This group from Potgietersrus recently passed their First Aid Level 1 training course with flying colours! Their inquisitive minds were keen to learn and helped them apply their theoretical knowledge and practical exercise exactly where it counted during the assessments.

Congratulations and good luck!

For more information on Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training and other courses please visit our website.

Conference and Workshop Venue Hire

Our facilities are available for hire to individuals, organisations and groups for conferences, workshops, meetings, lectures and training.

We have two superb spacious and functional conference rooms available that can easily handle up to 15 people.

The following options are available:

Option A (R160.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Rusks
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits
Lunch: Light Lunch
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

Option B (R190.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Muffins/Scones
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Snacks (Sandwiches)
Lunch: One Meat, Starch, One Vegetable and Salad
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

Option C (R220.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Muffins/Scones
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Snacks (Sandwiches)
Lunch: Two Meat, Starch, Two Vegetables, Salad and Dessert
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

All options include: Water, sweets and cordial on tables, pen and writing pad, safe and secure parking.

Please go to our website for information on Tourist Guide and Event Support Training and our Venue Hire.