Best guide of Vologda region works at our museum!

Winners of the regional stage of the All-Russian Professional Skill Competition in the Sphere of Tourism “Best in the Occupation in the Travel Industry” were named in Vologda the other day. Olga Gennadyevna Kuzmichyova, employee of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve, was recognized as the best guide of our region in the estimation of the contest commission presided by Dmitry Shevtsov, deputy head of the Department of Culture and Tourism in the Vologda Region!

She took the first place not by chance. She was in the lead during two contest stages. First the resident of Kirillov gave correct answers to 20 questions of the test about the Federal Law on Tourist Activities and the basics of excursion activities and then was successfully interviewed by the commission. It consisted of some representatives of the Department of Culture and Tourism in the Vologda Region; Denis Dolzhenko, chairman of the Permanent Committee on Economic Policy and Property in the Vologda Region Legislative Assembly; Natalya Kirshina, head of the Museum of Architecture and Ethnography in the village of Semenkovo; Marina Barsukova, chief consultant of the Cluster Development Centre in the Regional Centre of Entrepreneurship Support; Ilya Mikheev, head of the Tourist Information Centre of the Vologda Region.

Along with professional questions about the principles of tour guidance, the members of the commission asked the contestants about behaviour pattern in force majeure situations. “As our museum is open all the year round, it doesn’t take into account natural factors. Force majeure for us is a tardy arrival of a group that can be several hours late sometimes. A guide has to wait for the whole working day sometimes. As a result, we have to cancel other planned tours and to contact all other services so that the monument could be open after working hours”, explained Olga Kuzmichyova.

The members of the commission were also interested why Olga Kuzmichyova had chosen this very profession. “The monastery and the museum in the life of Kirillov are the key object. Somebody says that all roads lead to Rome. The residents of Kirillov are sure that they lead to the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve! I first came here in 1985 when Nadezhda Ivanovna Terentyeva headed the museum. Then I went to study in Vologda and returned to the museum only in 2002. I can say that a lot has changed since that time, including methods of working. For instance, we didn’t receive foreigners till the 1980s at all. Now they are in the majority. We learnt foreign languages and started to conduct tours for people from different countries. We use various approaches in our work and remember that the most important thing is not only to know the sights and some interesting information, but to come in contact with a group”, answered the best guide of the Vologda region.

A clear definition of the term “guide” can be found in the Federal Law on Tourist Activities. In the opinion of Olga Kuzmichyova, a guide is “an expert in his or her own specific field, and if we speak about the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve - in the sphere of culture and art, culture and history. A guide must have specialized knowledge in these subjects and try to know more and more, must like the topic of his or her study and can send a message getting visitors interested”.

The Vologda region will be first represented at the federal stage of the competition “Best in the Occupation in the Travel Industry”. It is pleasant to understand that it has become possible thanks to the Kirillo-Belozersky Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve where real professionals work.

“If we speak about our guides, all of them are the best, all are number one. Everyone is original in his or her own way. The team of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve consists of real professionals. I would like to thank museum director Mikhail Sharomazov and Tatiana Panina, head of the Department of Visitor Relations, who have given credence to me and have authorized me to participate in the All-Russian Competition”, noted Olga Kuzmichyova.

An award ceremony was held according to the contest results. Representatives of the Department of Culture and Tourism in the Vologda Region gave diplomas and valuable prizes to the winner. Soon Olga Kuzmichyova will take part in the federal round of the contest.

Olga Kuzmichyova, employee of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve, became winner of the regional stage of the All-Russian Professional Skill Competition in the Sphere of Tourism “Best in the Occupation in the Travel Industry”.