UPSKILL — the first program of its kind in the Tunisian tourism sector — brought together 27 professionals from 8 Tunis-based federations, and associations for a three-day certification workshop designed to strengthen their programming and project implementation capacities and accelerate the competitiveness of Tunisian sustainable tourism. The UPSKILL program was held from November 16 to 18, 2022 in Tunis and will be extended to federations and associations in other regions starting from January 2023. Tozeur and Tabarka are next.

Unleashing Tunisian federations and associations' potential

Federations and associations play a significant role in strengthening the tourism sector in Tunisia and improving its products and services. Their collaboration is key to influencing and leading positive change. The Tourism Industry Federation and Association Strengthening Program (UPSKILL) built a bridge between these federations & associations and provided them with the opportunity to explore and tap into their unleashed potential.

Almost thirty participants from eight different federations and associations actively participated in a three-day strengthening workshop focusing on targeted modules: creating and nurturing an organization, governance and financial planning, business planning, visibility and communication, resource mobilization, fundraising and grants, data management, and professional development. At the end of this training, everyone has been certified and is now ready to take their federation or association to the next level.

To build their capacity, the UPSKILL workshop addressed the most faced challenges by federations and associations, and provided knowledge and tools to meet their needs for:

Voices from the sector: Meet Imed Lagha, President, Interprofessional Federation of Tunisian Tourism (Fi2T)

1. Tell us about the Fi2T — What is your organization's mission?
The Interprofessional Federation of Tunisian Tourism is among the main operators in sustainable tourism in Tunisia. It is a young federation created in 2016 and composed mainly of travel agents carrying a different vision of traditional Tunisian tourism. Our federation is cosmopolitan, and its DNA is unique. Fi2T is made up of 12 groups ranging from alternative accommodation to health tourism, including travel agents, tourist guides, archeology, and events.

2. What is the biggest challenge you seek to overcome with our program’s support?
Tourism has evolved, and it is crucial that WE also evolve to fulfill our mission and meet new emerging needs and expectations. To achieve this, we need coaching and capacity building.

3. What will our training help you achieve
Upskill is a well-tailored strengthening program for federations. It will allow us to move upmarket, diversify our products and conduct an audit to better position the federation on the Tunisian chessboard. We hope to be able to determine and establish the best development strategy for the federation, implement our ideas, and determine the appropriate means to be successful throughout Tunisia — for example, by creating new offices, developing our network of partners, and supporting all our group members.

Voices from the sector: Meet Moncef Riabi, President, Association of Cruise Tour Guides (AGTC)

1. Tell us about the AGTC — What is your organization's mission?
The Association of Cruise Tourism Guides was created in 2014. It is a young association, and yet very dynamic thanks to its members. The AGTC works hard towards promoting the role of guides as well as this profession in tourism development and improving the visitor experience in collaboration with authorities and stakeholders in the sector.

2. What is the biggest challenge you seek to overcome with our program’s support?
The UPSKILL training is high-quality, and I am very happy to participate. We thought we knew how to do things, but we quickly realized that there are opportunities for improvement on several levels.

3. What will our training help you achieve?
Our goal is to improve, find and get funds, in order to move forward. While financial support is very much needed, we do not - and will not - sit with crossed arms. We will continue to work towards improving the Tunisian tourism service, and the cultural side of the guide profession. The training will help us, even more, to explore new horizons.

Voices from the sector: Omar Riahi, Executive Director, Tunisian Federation of Tourism and Travel Agencies (FTAV)

1. Tell us about the FTAV — What is your organization's mission?
The Tunisian Federation of Tourism and Travel Agencies was created in 1964 and counts 780 travel agents as members. We are a strategic partner in the UPSKILL program which is part of the Tunisian tourism development strategy.

2. What is the biggest challenge you seek to overcome with our program’s support?
What will our training help you achieve? Thanks to these three days of training, we intend to build our capacity by improving our skills in communication, fundraising, financial management, and good governance.

Voices from the sector: Mehdi Hachani, President, Tunisian Federation of Certified Guides (FTGAT)

1. Tell us about the FTGAT — What is your organization's mission?
The Tunisian Federation of Certified Guides was created in 1975. We are present across Tunisia in almost all touristic regions: Tunis Center, Nabel, Hammamet, Sousse, Djerba, Gabes and Tozeur.

2. What is the biggest challenge you seek to overcome with our program’s support?
Our federation is mainly composed of volunteers, who are leading the communication, marketing, and financial resources. With this workshop, we wanted to provide them with the appropriate tools and knowledge to engage with donors, and stakeholders and take part in key programs because this will reflect positively on our members.

3. What will our training help you achieve?
We aim at strengthening the federation’s capacity with a focus on communication and financial management. This three-day workshop was a great opportunity for all of us [Tunisian federations and associations working in the tourism sector] to meet and exchange about our visions within a common program. We are a young yet hard-working federation, motivated to implement more sustainable activities in the long run.

NEW CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

Get certified in Tozeur or Tabarka in January 2023!
The UPSKILL program is on its way to Tozeur and Tabarka regions. Tourism associations with cultural, touristic, societal, and environmental vocations, working in the tourism industry are invited to participate in our strengthening program in January 2023 in Tabarka or Tozeur regions.
Tozeur: from January 13-14, 2023 — for associations based in Tozeur, Kebili, Douz and Gabes.
Tabarka: January 24-25, 2023 — for associations based in Tabarka, Ain Draham and Kairouan.

Apply before December 9!