NORTH-EAST cruise tourism needs more fluent German language speakers to help support the growing cruise sector.

Experience North DMC, working with Port of Tyne, is looking for people who are fluent in German, including German nationals living in the North East, to take a series of free workshops so they can help guide cruise passengers on day trips around the region.

A free one-day-a-week course will take place over six weekends during April and May to prepare new guides for the forthcoming period in the cruise calendar. Once trained, these new guides will then work accompanying German speaking cruise passengers on days out across the region.

More than 51 cruises from 12 cruise lines expected into the Port of Tyne in 2018, and 90,000 cruise ship passengers.

Alex Jacobs, director of Experience North DMC, which is directly involved as a ground handling partner, said: “North East England has so much culture and heritage to offer visitors, but currently we just don’t have enough German speaking guides to meet the demand. An English-speaking guide with a translator is an alternative, but we hope through specialist training we can increase the number of German speaking guides and further support cruise operators.

“We are really looking to employ outgoing people, who like walking and talking with people, who are willing to learn and share their passion for this region with visitors. It is also a great opportunity for someone looking to get started in the guiding and tourism industry.”

Andy Foster, commercial manager, Port Services, Port of Tyne, said: “2017 marked a year of record growth for the Port’s passenger operations and this initiative will further support cruise operators and continue to develop cruise tourism in the North East which adds around £51m each year to the local economy.”

The free training course will run for six weeks and covers best practice and what to expect while guiding a group of approximately 40 people, how to deal with the pitfalls that can happen and testing out some of the most popular day trips themselves.

After completion attendees can anticipate about 10 days of work with Experience North DMC this year.