The Montserrat Tourism Authority (MTA) has successfully concluded its 2026 Tour Guide and Taxi Operator Certification Training, with 45 newly certified tour guides and taxi operators now equipped with the skills, knowledge and the confidence needed to deliver safe, engaging and memorable experiences to visitors.
Held from Monday, September 7 to Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the DMCA Conference Room and the Brades Arts and Education Centre, the intensive programme brought together participants from diverse backgrounds who share an interest in tourism and a commitment to improving Montserrat’s visitor experience.
The training covered a broad range of topics essential to professional tourism delivery, including:
- Effective tour-guiding techniques and visitor engagement
- Montserrat’s history, culture and heritage
- Storytelling and interpretation
- Customer service and professional communication
- Basic First Aid
- VHF radio operation and communication protocols
- Operational and safety protocols for tours in Plymouth and St. George’s Hill
The programme moved beyond the classroom with a practical simulation exercise that took participants from Marine Village in Little Bay to St. George’s Hill and Plymouth, Montserrat’s famous “Buried City.”
The exercise afforded participants the chance to practice their newly acquired skills as they navigated the actual tour route, interpreted Montserrat’s volcanic landscape and history, and engaged with each other as they would with actual visitors. For many participants, the exercise provided an opportunity to see the island through the eyes of a visitor and to appreciate the responsibility that comes with telling Montserrat’s story.
Speaking about the importance of the programme, Mrs. Nicole Fagan, Product Development Officer at the Montserrat Tourism Authority, said: “Our tour guides and taxi operators are much more than the people who take visitors from one place to another. They are the voice, the storytellers and, in many cases, the first personal connection visitors have with Montserrat. A certified guide has the responsibility of telling our stories accurately, sharing our culture with pride, keeping visitors safe, and helping them to understand what makes Montserrat truly special.”
“When a visitor leaves Montserrat remembering the warmth of our people, the exciting stories they heard, the places they discovered, and the experiences they had, our guides would have played an important part in creating that memory. Certification is therefore not simply about receiving a certificate; it is about professionalism, responsibility, continuous learning, and representing Montserrat to the highest standard,” she added.
The certification programme forms part of the Montserrat Tourism Authority’s continued commitment to raising service standards, strengthening professionalism anddeveloping a high-quality visitor experience across the island’s tourism sector. With the 2026 cruise season scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 11th, the newly certified professionals will play an important role in welcoming cruise passengers and other visitors and ensuring that their time on Montserrat is safe, informative, and memorable. The Montserrat Tourism Authority proudly congratulates all 45 newly certified Tour Guides and Taxi Operators and welcomes them to an important community of tourism ambassadors.