More than 200 tourism providers are participating in a new accreditation programme, designed to set the standard for service offered to cruise ship passengers in Dunedin.
To date, 130 people have trained under the new programme and a further 100 are booked to do so.
Additional spaces are available for the last free hour-long session next Wednesday, which can be booked through the Dunedin City Council.
A cruise season briefing is also scheduled for September 26, comprising information from Tourism Dunedin chief executive Hamish Saxton as well as representatives of Port Otago, the New Zealand Transport Agency, University of Otago, Dunedin Host and the city council.
A total of 230,000 cruise passengers and crew are expected to visit Dunedin on 26 ships, during 89 visits between October and April.
About 80% of passengers are expected to disembark in Dunedin. About 30% of them are expected to participate in ship-organised tours and about 40% to explore the city. A few are expected to take private tours and others to remain around Port Chalmers.
The tourism operator accreditation programme has been launched to give basic training to providers about how to maintain professional standards in dealing with cruise visitors, offering services and supplying information.
Transport providers, including taxi drivers, are included in the scheme, which restricts port access to those who have completed training.
