Thirty-four tour leaders from 14 Beijing travel agencies are now certified Swiss Tour Experts, after successfully completing the relevant training and exams.

Switzerland's Tourism Office introduced the Swiss Tour Expert online training program on March 16th to help Chinese tour guides better understand their tourism resources. The course also provides training on how to access relevant information over the Internet.

One hundred and five students from travel agents in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong graduated from the first course on July 20th.

Switzerland's Tourism Office says the second course is now underway. It is open to tour leaders in all of China's major cities.

Industry insiders say the course provides Beijing's tour leaders with a great opportunity to improve the quality of their services before the 2008 Olympic Games.

(CRIENGLISH.com September 4, 2006)