Local tour company Secret Paradise has always had local people and communities at the heart of its business and this week announced the launch of a Work Experience Program for Maldives Students.

The two week programme takes place from the Secret Paradise office in Hulhumale and is designed for students between Year 10 and Year 13 (aged 14 to 18). The program comprises a variety of activities which cover an introduction to Secret Paradise and local tourism, Health and Safety, Risk Management, Guiding Skills, Delivering Memorable Experiences and Airport Handling.

Students interested in joining a work experience program with Secret Paradise are initially asked to send in their CV. Following this,the student may be asked to attend a short interview. If the interview is successful then the student will be invited to join the work experience program. The interview experience alone is valuable and can help students hone their interviewing technique, even if they are not then offered a work experience placement.

Secret Paradise Co-Founder, Ruth Franklin states ' People have always been at the core of our business and we felt opportunities for students to get involved and understand local tourism was not readily available. Tourism in general has seen an increase in demand for experiential travel opportunities. Meeting and travelling with local people and discovering countries through their eyes, allows guests to connect with any destination in a unique way. We believe that no one should know the Maldives better than a Maldivian and hence why with the exception of myself, the Secret Paradise Tours team is 100% local, something I am very proud of. As a growing business the program also provides an excellent opportunity for us to identify potential talent and future guides.

Yunus Ziyad, a participant of the 2019 pilot program states 'I am proud to have been part of the Secret Paradise team during my work experience. They not only taught me the essentials to be a responsible guide but to also enjoy the work that I do and to satisfy the guests' needs no matter how hard the request".

Secret Paradise provides ongoing training and development for their guiding team, this includes EFR and Life Saving Skills Certification as well as tour guiding certification. Guides also have the opportunity to participate in tour leader development programs available from Secret Paradise's international travel partners and in destination training delivered in conjunction with Shorthouse Hospitality.