Tourism Skills Training (TST) Program

Domestic Tourism Certification for the Thompson Okanagan Region

Program Overview

The Tourism Skills Training (TST) Program will prepare participants to work in various tourism and hospitality positions in the Thompson Okanagan region with a focus on serving domestic markets in traditional employment and/or self-employment. In this fully funded, full-time online program, participants will receive instruction, mentorship, employment coaching, and job placement support delivered over 13 weeks.

Participants will come together in a virtual classroom on Mondays to Thursdays, facilitated by a diverse roster of experienced tourism instructors.

The blend of live online learning sessions and self-led online industry certificates will rapidly cover many topics of the changing landscape of the tourism industry, with guests speakers and virtual tours to connect participants directly to the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry.

The program will involve participant teamwork and culminate in demonstration of learning to a panel of tourism experts, as well as an online Job Fair.

This approach combines practical skills with specialized knowledge and connects students to industry employers in the Thompson Okanagan tourism region.

Program Delivery

The Tourism Skills Training (TST) Certification for Domestic Tourism is a certification program delivered by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) in cooperation with the University of Victoria-Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and supported by the Province of British Columbia.

For more information, contact:
Training@TOTABC.com | (778) 752-5877

Program Topics

Developed in response to the decline of international tourism and the increase in domestic tourism in 2021, this free full-time online program will support people whose jobs have been impacted by COVID-19, as well as help Thompson Okanagan businesses capitalize on domestic tourism through skills development for the region's tourism labour force.

This unique and intensive domestic tourism skills training certification will prepare (and certify) participants for work in the domestic tourism industry immediately, focusing on Tourism & Hospitality Industry Trends, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Region, Tourism Career & Professional Development, and other required skills to provide exceptional tourism experiences in the Thompson Okanagan region.

Participants will complete the following certificates:

• LGBT+ Market-Ready Diversity Training | Tourism HR Canada

• SuperHost Foundations of Service Quality | go2HR

• SuperHost Service for All (Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism) | go2HR

• WHMIS Certification | Velocity Training

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Living in Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia (including Shuswap, Boundary Country, Similkameen, and Gold Country/Nicola Valley)

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons legally able to work in Canada. Temporary foreign workers and international students are not eligible

• Currently unemployed or precariously employed (casual, seasonal, or part-time)

• Over 15 years of age

Priority participants will be Indigenous peoples, immigrants, and persons with disabilities. Workers 55+ are encouraged to apply.

Permanent full-time employed participants are NOT eligible.