“Taxi drivers should learn the basics of one or two other languages in order to be able to communicate with foreign tourists.”

Earlier this year, I had shared a link on Facebook to an article about a speech at a Taxi Association division meeting. It said further “Taxi drivers are among the frontliners in the tourism industry. You should equip yourselves with basic language skills so that you can at least greet tourists and ask where they want to go in their own language.”

I couldn’t forget this article and how right it was in its saying that basics of other languages would also improve quality of their service besides helping to boost the tourism industry. It was so obvious. And I started pondering which other professions are frontliners in the tourism industry. Here is what I came up with:

Hotel Receptionists

Restaurant Waiters/Waitresses

Taxi Drivers

Hotel Concierges

City Bus Drivers

Restaurant Hosts/Hostesses

Tour Guides

Tourism Information Center Staff

I am sure there are more…. Let us know!

Although Tourism is the fourth-largest industry in Washington, we became last year the only state in the US with no statewide tourism office and no money from the state to promote our state to travelers. The Washington Tourism Alliance was formed to coordinate state wide marketing and continue branding efforts and take over existing assets, such as Washington’s fabulous state website. We all have it now in our own hands!

Let’s all do something to help boost tourism!