Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire and the President of the Saint Lucia Craft and Dry Goods Vendors Association, Peter ‘Ras Ipa’ Isaac, have praised a customer training initiative for vendors, asserting that it would enhance the tourism industry.
“This programme not only enhances our tourism industry but also improves our local human capital,” Hilaire wrote on Facebook.
The Minister said the vendors involved in the training would be able to pass on what they learn to others.
Hilaire said he looked forward to the benefits.
The Vendors Association President described the training as ‘phenomenal’.
“The training has been really helpful. It has been something that we have always been clamouring for that at the end of the tourist season we should have,” Isaac stated.
“Even something as simple as addressing customers as ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’ when they come to the booth or stall, all that we need to revise,” he told St. Lucia Times.
Isaac said visitors may feel offended by such terms because they come from different cultural backgrounds.
He said the Ministry of Tourism and the Vendors Association have collaborated in the training.
Isaac said the training started with twenty-five vendors per two-day training session.
And he disclosed that there had been three sessions so far for Castries vendors.
Wow, Wow!!! Ras Ipa how much did it cost to buy you….You called News Spin and the Moomoo tablets took effect when Tim asked you a question in relation to GPH….Res Ipa the ultimate OPPORTUNIST.
Don’t mean to be negative however let’s just wait and see if the resources which was put in this training will be fruitful…
How about EVERY so called “Public Servant” gets trained in Customer SERVICE too. Worst in the world!
Sweetheart? Darling? Offensive? Really? If so they are just thin-skinned tourists not worth worrying about. Those are terms of endearment & should be viewed as such not as sleazy comments. Pathetic!