Name of course: The Viking Challenge Scandinavian self-study programme.
Offered by: the Danish Tourist Board, Finnish Tourist Board, Icelandair, Norwegian Tourist Board and the Swedish Travel and Tourism Council.
Established: 1997.
Number of agents presently taking course: 363 are actively taking part in the course. In total 3,000 agents have a copy of the Viking Challenge Programme.
Number of graduates: 49 have completed the Viking Challenge programme and are now preferred agents.
Experience agents need to participate: none.
What the course involves: the Viking Challenge is an interactive distance-learning product training programme, but it can also be used as an agents’ reference manual. The programme starts with a fun quiz which enables the agents to find out how much they know about Scandinavia. Throughout the programme, quizzes and puzzles are used to test the agent’s progress. The programme does not have any deadlines and agents can therefore complete the programme in their own time.
Cost: free of charge.
Benefits of taking the course: holidaymakers interested in visiting any of the five Scandinavian counties receive a list of preferred agents. Agents also get the chance to go on educationals to Scandinavia with any of the 20 UK operators/carrier partners supporting the programme.
Comment by Janet Hull, sales consultant at Bath Travel, Dorchester, near Bournemouth: “It is a well planned, comprehensive, organised course and well worth doing. I knew Scandinavia had much to offer, but didn’t realise the extent. Had I not done the course I would not have visited Denmark for a cycling holiday. It was fantastic. ”
Contact for details: Anne Madsen, Danish Tourist Board: 020 7259 5958.