Empowering Nauru’s Youth through Free Tour Guide Training

As part of its commitment to sustainable tourism and community development, the Nauru Tourism Office has launched a free Tour Guide Training program for locals, held three times a year. This initiative addresses the need for more trained tour operators on the island while creating economic opportunities for Nauru’s youth.

Recognising the high percentage of youth unemployment and the growing demand for professional tour guides, the Nauru Tourism Office has partnered with local Youth NGOs, including the Nauru National Youth Council and Youth Ammo Organisation.

The goal is to provide young people with an understanding of their history and culture and the skills to start and run their own tour guide businesses. This program aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by fostering entrepreneurship and employment in the tourism sector.  It also aligns well with the aspirations of Goal 2 of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework.

Training is delivered by local historians who are dedicated to preserving Nauru’s cultural and historical knowledge. Additionally, the program includes basic first aid training, conducted in collaboration with the National Emergency Service Department (NES), to ensure that trainees are well-prepared to handle emergencies during tours.

The Nauru Tourism Office has created a pool of trained tour guides, filling a critical gap as the office could not manage all tours. For the participants, it has opened up new job opportunities, helping to reduce youth unemployment and promote private sector growth. By training local youth to become tour guides, the program plays a crucial role in keeping the stories of Nauru’s culture and history alive.

Since its inception, the Tour Guide Training program has seen growing interest. The first training session attracted seven youths and three adults, while the second session saw an increase to 13 youths and two adults. This rising participation highlights the program’s success and the increasing enthusiasm among locals to participate in Nauru’s tourism industry.

The Nauru Tourism Office is not only enhancing the island’s tourism services but also ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared with the community by investing in the education and empowerment of its youth. This initiative demonstrates how tourism can drive positive change, creating a brighter future for Nauru’s next generation.

Photo Credit: Nauru Tourism Office

Photo Caption: Young participants during the tour guide training as they learned about the origin stories of two of the five original tribes of Nauru.