Drivers of local taxis are to give visitors a warmer welcome

The course in Portsmouth, Hampshire, has been so successful that 10 drivers from Malta have been sent to the UK to shadow those trained on it.

Local drivers are now asking for an advanced course that will help them learn a foreign language.

Bus drivers on tourist routes are also to be offered their own course.

'Enormous benefit'

The three-day course for taxi-drivers gives them tips on improving their local knowledge, customer service and communication skills, and how to help those with special needs.

It was launched after a recent survey showed the city had scored lower than average for providing a "feeling of welcome".

The schemes are the brainchild of Tourism South East and Portsmouth City Council, which have been nominated for a National Training Award.

Sue Gill, Tourism South East's head of skills and training, said: "We are confident that in future visitor surveys the city's feeling of welcome will be rated much higher than in the past."

Celia Denton, chair of Portsmouth's Taxi Driver Federation, said: "The training programme has been of enormous benefit to city taxi drivers participating in the programme.