New bespoke travel service, Take Me To Wales, is celebrating after two of its directors were awarded the prestigious Wales Blue Badge tour guide qualification.
Gaina Morgan and Fiona Peel have successfully completed the first Welsh Government backed three-year specialist Foundation Degree (FdA) in Professional Tourist Guiding.
They were presented with their Wales Blue Badges at an award ceremony at Gregynog Hall near Newtown in Mid Wales attended by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates.
The historic Gregynog Hall was the perfect backdrop to the ceremony, which saw more than 20 tour guides attain Wales Blue Badge status – the ultimate symbol of tour guiding excellence.
Gaina and Fiona will be putting their new qualifications into action straight away as part of their Take Me To Wales activities.
Said former BBC journalist Gaina, “I have been telling stories all my professional life and I see tour guiding as another way of telling the story of Wales to a wider audience. We have a beautiful, diverse and thrilling country and I am eager to help visitors get the best possible experience of Wales.”
To qualify for a Wales Blue Badge the guides must demonstrate not just their knowledge of Wales but that they are proficient in planning and executing tours and adhere to the strict codes of conduct as members of the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association (WOTGA).
Said Fiona, “I am delighted to have achieved Wales Blue Badge guide status, and as someone long interested in social history, it has been a sheer delight to study different parts of Wales for their history, geography, socio/political and artistic contributions to our great Nation.
“The knowledge and experience we have gained in our studies will be pivotal in our work at Take Me To Wales while the Blue Badge is a reassuring mark of excellence for visitors looking to spend time in Wales.”
Course Director, Nia Rhys Jones, said she was delighted and proud of the success of the groundbreaking project. A partnership between Cardiff Metropolitan University and Coleg Llandrillo, the project was accredited by WOTGA and Visit Wales and funded through the Wales European Funding Office.
She added, “As freelance tour guides, Gaina and Fiona will be offering unique itineraries and tours to enhance the visitor experience. They will be lending that all-important first person interpretation to enrich the visit.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Photo Caption: Guiding Hands: Fiona Peel (seated) and Gaina Morgan of Take Me To Wales are among the first to qualify as Wales Blue Badge Guides.
For more information please contact:
Gaina Morgan
gaina@gainamorganmedia.co.uk
07872 823366
Fiona Peel
Fiona@takemetowales.uk
07850 429213
About Take Me To Wales
Launched in 2015 Take Me To Wales is a Welsh tour company offering ‘Bespoke Breaks for the Discerning Traveller’.
The Neath based company offers a wide range of specially tailored luxury tours for UK and overseas visitors, primarily catering for couples and small groups.
For more information please go to: www.takemetowales.uk