Middle East Computer Service (Mecos), Galileo operator in Bahrain has signed a MoU with the Bahrain Training Institute (BTI) to jointly provide travel technology training to young Bahraini nationals.

Under the agreement, Mecos will provide BTI with the Galileo GDS (Global Distribution System) platform as part of the institute’s Travel Academy programme, which equips trainees with valuable travel trade skills.

Galileo will be the first GDS to be taught as part of the academy’s curriculum, said a senior official.

The academy will follow course material designed by Galileo and students will be taught by instructors who have been trained by Galileo’s expert trainers in the UK. At the end of the programme, trainees will receive a certificate from Galileo for successfully completing the course.

'The mission of The Travel Academy of BTI is to groom a set of Bahraini Nationals to fill the gap in the industry. Promoting travel and tourism studies has thus become a main item of BTI's agenda, realising the need of trained local manpower in the country,' said Hameed Saleh Abdullah, director of the Bahrain Training Institute.

'Offering the Galileo system in our class rooms enriches our diploma course curriculum, which observes international quality standards,' he noted.

Recognizing the importance of technology within Bahrain’s travel industry, Mecos is working with the institute to equip the next generation of Bahraini travel professionals with essential Galileo GDS skills.

“We are proud to support BTI in developing skills and employment among Bahraini nationals by providing the tools and training for them to succeed,” said Adel Al Safar, chairman of Galileo distributor Mecos.

“The Galileo booking platform is widely-used by the travel trade and therefore crucial for the Academy’s students to learn.”

Established by the Ministry of Labour in 1992, the Bahrain Training Institute (BTI) provides training to Bahraini Nationals in various industries, including manufacturing, construction and travel. Its specialised Travel Academy was opened last year, with the first round of trainees having begun their courses in September last year.-TradeArabia News Service