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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The profession of tourist guiding has ancient origins, with historical records indicating that guides accompanied travellers in classical antiquity. In 18th-century Japan, a traveler could pay for a tourist guide or consult <a href="/facts/Guide_book/4XI2n98H">guide books</a> such as <a href="/facts/Kaibara_Ekken/28cj8dbE">Kaibara Ekken</a>'s <i>Keijō Shōran</i> (The Excellent Views of Kyoto).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> The modern profession emerged during the 19th century alongside the development of organised tourism. The establishment of <a href="/facts/Thomas_Cook/KoK5JlvR">Thomas Cook</a>'s travel company in 1841 marked the beginning of professionalised tourist services, including organised guiding. Professional standards for tourist guides began developing in the 20th century as tourism became a significant economic sector. The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) was founded in 1985 to represent the profession globally and establish unified standards. The organisation has since grown to represent over 200,000 tourist guides through 87 member associations in more than 100 countries.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="professional-definitions-and-roles">Professional definitions and roles</h2> <p>In accordance with internationally recognised standards, including ISO 18513:2003, EN 13809:2003, and EN 15565:2008, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) adopts the following definitions and distinctions to ensure clarity and promote professional excellence within the tourism industry. </p> <h3>Tourist Guide</h3> <p>A Tourist Guide is a person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area. Tourist Guides normally possess an area-specific qualification, usually issued and/or recognised by the appropriate authority. This definition reflects the standard set out in ISO 18513:2003 and EN 13809:2003, and serves as the core professional identity supported by the WFTGA. Tourist Guides are trained professionals who: </p><p>Operate on location, providing interpretative services at sites of cultural, historical, environmental, or regional significance Are often licensed or certified in their country or region Play a key role in preserving heritage, supporting sustainable tourism, and facilitating cultural understanding </p> <h3>Tour Manager / Tour Director / Tour Escort</h3> <p>A Tour Manager is a person who manages and supervises an itinerary on behalf of a tour operator. They ensure that the programme is carried out as sold, handle logistics, assist with group welfare, and provide practical information during travel. They do not provide in-depth guiding or interpretation of local sites unless also qualified as a Tourist Guide.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> Tour Managers are responsible for: </p><p>Coordinating transport, accommodation, and schedules Supporting travellers throughout the journey Managing emergencies and logistics, particularly across regions or countries </p> <h3>Tour Leader</h3> <p>A Tour Leader accompanies a group throughout a tour, focusing on overall group management and support. They may assist with logistics and general group needs but do not normally interpret heritage sites unless also acting as a Tourist Guide. </p> <h3>Driver-Guide</h3> <p>A Driver-Guide is a professional who provides both transportation and guiding services in a combined role, where legally permitted and appropriately certified. This role is especially common in regions where small groups or individualised services are offered. Driver-Guides must meet the same professional standards for guiding as Tourist Guides and comply with the traffic and insurance rules of the specific country or region they are operating in. </p> <h3>Local Guide</h3> <p>A Local Guide is a Tourist Guide who operates within a limited geographical area, often specialising in one city, region, or site. </p> <h3>Multiple Roles and Professional Boundaries</h3> <p>The WFTGA recognises that in some cases, individuals may carry out multiple roles simultaneously—particularly in small markets or remote areas. However, to maintain professional clarity and quality, the Federation emphasises the distinction between guiding and managing functions and promotes: </p><p>Clear role definitions Separate and appropriate training for each role Respectful cooperation among all professionals involved in tourism </p><p>All WFTGA members are expected to understand, uphold, and communicate these distinctions in their work and representation. </p> <h2 id="international-standards-and-professional-organisations">International standards and professional organisations</h2> <h3>World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA)</h3> <p>The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is the global representative body for the tourist guide profession. Founded in 1985, the organisation represents over 200,000 tourist guides through member associations worldwide. WFTGA has consultative status with <a href="/facts/UNESCO/QSbkRv3o">UNESCO</a> as a Non-Governmental Organisation and is an affiliate member of <a href="/facts/UN_Tourism/3JzMyUCM">UN Tourism</a> (formerly UNWTO).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> WFTGA's primary objectives include: </p><p>Promoting high professional standards in tourist guiding Facilitating international cooperation among tourist guide associations Supporting the development of training programmes based on international standards Advocating for the recognition of tourist guiding as a profession Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism practices </p> <h3>International Standards</h3> <p>Three key international standards govern the tourist guide profession: EN 13809:2003: This European standard defines tourist guiding services and establishes the fundamental distinction between tourist guides and other tourism professionals. The CEN (<a href="/facts/European_Committee_for_Standardization/BwwUrMgy">European Committee for Standardization</a>) definition for "tourist guide" is a "person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the <a href="/facts/Cultural_heritage/rGqpLGgk">cultural</a> and <a href="/facts/Natural_heritage/3uIHVvYL">natural heritage</a> of an area, which person normally possesses an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognized by the appropriate authority".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> ISO 18513:2003: The International Organization for Standardization's tourism vocabulary standard includes definitions for tourist guiding services, providing global consistency in terminology. EN 15565:2008: This standard specifies requirements for professional tourist guide training and qualification programmes. It ensures that training programmes meet consistent quality standards and cover essential competencies required for professional practice.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="regional-implementation">Regional implementation</h2> <h3>Europe</h3> <p>In <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a>, tourist guides are represented by FEG, the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, which represents over 60,000 tourist guides.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> In Europe, the tourist guiding qualification is specific to each country; in some cases the qualification is national, in some cases it is broken up into regions. In all cases, it is embedded in the educational and training ethic of that country. EN15565 is a European Standard for the Training and Qualification of Tourist Guides. </p> <h3>Australia</h3> <p>In <a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq">Australia</a>, tourist guides may be qualified with a Certificate III Guiding although this is not compulsory.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> They may belong to organisations such as <i>Tour Guides Australia</i> [TGA] and the <i>Institute of Australian Tour Guides</i> [IATG]. According to the Tour Guides Australia Code of Conduct, guides must commit to providing professional service, objective interpretations, environmental education, promoting the country as a destination, ongoing professional development, maintaining first aid certification, and carrying appropriate insurance.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h3>Japan</h3> <p>In <a href="/facts/Japan/U5mz0SRT">Japan</a>, tourist guides are required to pass a certification exam by the Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency and register with the relevant prefectures. Non-licensed guides caught performing guide-interpreter activities can face a fine of up to 500,000 Yen.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p> <h3>India</h3> <p>In <a href="/facts/India/QW4TV4sy">India</a> it is mandatory to have a license approved by the <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Tourism_(India)/AlYVGo1p">Ministry of Tourism (India)</a> to work officially as a tourist guide. The government provides the license to regional-level tourist guides and also runs a Regional Level Guide Training Program (RLGTP). These programs and training sessions are conducted under the guidance of <a href="/facts/Indian_Institute_of_Tourism_and_Travel_Management/mdnEznDr">Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management</a> (IITTM) or other government-recognized institutes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h3>South Africa</h3> <p>In <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a> tourist guides are required to register in terms of the Tourism Act 3, 2014. Training must be done through a trainer accredited by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="training-and-qualifications">Training and qualifications</h2> <p>Professional tourist guides typically undergo comprehensive training programmes that cover: </p><p>Cultural and historical knowledge of their area of specialisation Communication and presentation skills Group management and safety procedures Multiple language proficiency First aid and emergency response <a href="/facts/Sustainable_tourism/ohqt8K5X">Sustainable tourism</a> principles and practices </p><p>Many countries require tourist guides to obtain official licensing or certification, typically involving completion of approved training programmes, passing examinations, and demonstrating area-specific knowledge and language competency. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Audio_tour/VxhTrWnf">Audio tour</a> <a href="/facts/Blue_Badge_tourist_guide/AtGfDn1s">Blue Badge tourist guide</a> <a href="/facts/Cell_phone_tour/VxhTrWnf">Cell phone tour</a> <a href="/facts/Cicerone/DnogETM1">Cicerone</a> <a href="/facts/Free_Walking_Tour/lSDTgJI4">Free Walking Tour</a> <a href="/facts/GPS_tour/VxhTrWnf">GPS tour</a> <a href="/facts/Institute_of_Tourist_Guiding/AtGfDn1s">Institute of Tourist Guiding</a> <a href="/facts/Museum_docent/1q7uXt8U">Museum docent</a> <a href="/facts/Museum_education/6EBQVAzF">Museum education</a> <a href="/facts/Seasonworker/x6EtIjKr">Seasonworker</a> <a href="/facts/Tourism/x47vNhHj">Tourism</a> <a href="/facts/Tour_operator/gy916RhE">Tour operator</a> <a href="/facts/Cultural_tourism/DE8SNCPy">Cultural tourism</a> <a href="/facts/Heritage_interpretation/5vJPHDkx">Heritage interpretation</a> <a href="/facts/Sustainable_tourism/ohqt8K5X">Sustainable tourism</a> </p> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <p>MacCannell, Dean. <i>The Ethics of Sightseeing</i>. University of California Press, 2011. Pond, Kathleen Lingle. <i>The Professional Guide: Dynamics of Tour Guiding</i>. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1993. Ruitenberg, Claudia W. "Learning by Walking: Non-Formal Education as Curatorial Practice and Intervention in Public Space." <i>International Journal of Lifelong Education</i> 31, no. 3 (2012): 261–275. Salazar, Noel B. (2005). <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.10.012">Tourism and glocalization: 'Local' tour guiding</a>. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(3), 628–646. Salazar, Noel B. (2006). <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2006.03.017">Touristifying Tanzania: Local guides, global discourse</a>. Annals of Tourism Research, 33(3), 833–852. Salazar, Noel B. (2008). <a href="http://civilisations.revues.org/1387">"Enough stories!" Asian tourism redefining the roles of Asian tour guides</a>. Civilisations, 57(1/2), 207–222. Salazar, Noel B. (2010). <a href="http://www.berghahnbooks.com/title.php?rowtag=SalazarEnvisioning">Envisioning Eden: Mobilizing imaginaries in tourism and beyond</a>. Oxford: Berghahn. Wynn, Jonathan R. <i>The Tour Guide: Walking and Talking New York</i>. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2011. Wynn, Jonathan R. "City Tour Guides: Urban Alchemists at Work." <i>City & Community</i> 9, no. 2 (June 2010). </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tourist guides. <p><a href="http://wftga.org/">World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations</a> <a href="http://www.feg-touristguides.org/">European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations</a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Tourism services — Tourist guides — Requirements for the provision of tourist guiding services. European Committee for Standardization. 2003. EN 13809:2003. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Tourism services — Vocabulary. International Organization for Standardization. 2003. ISO 18513:2003. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"About WFTGA". World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. Retrieved 2025. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help) <a href="https://wftga.org/about/" target="_blank">https://wftga.org/about/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Tourism services — Requirements for the provision of professional tourist guide training and qualification programmes. European Committee for Standardization. 2008. EN 15565:2008. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>On the Job: A Seasoned Tour Guide Tells All, JobMonkey.com. <a href="https://www.jobmonkey.com/landtours/html/tour_guide_interview.html" target="_blank">https://www.jobmonkey.com/landtours/html/tour_guide_interview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"AMGA". Retrieved 2022-03-24. <a href="https://amga.com/" target="_blank">https://amga.com/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Berry, Mary Elizabeth (2006). Japan in Print Information and Nation in the Early Modern Period. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. pp. 185–190. ISBN 9780520254176. <a href="9780520254176" target="_blank">9780520254176</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"35th Birthday". World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. Retrieved 2025. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help) <a href="https://wftga.org/events/35th-birthday/" target="_blank">https://wftga.org/events/35th-birthday/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"EN 15565 2008 Standard for the Training and Qualification of Tourist Guides..." World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. Retrieved 15 May 2017. <a href="http://wftga.org/news/en-15565-2008-standard-training-and-qualification-tourist-guides" target="_blank">http://wftga.org/news/en-15565-2008-standard-training-and-qualification-tourist-guides</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"About WFTGA". World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. Retrieved 2025. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help) <a href="https://wftga.org/about/" target="_blank">https://wftga.org/about/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"EN 15565 2008 Standard for the Training and Qualification of Tourist Guides..." World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. Retrieved 15 May 2017. <a href="http://wftga.org/news/en-15565-2008-standard-training-and-qualification-tourist-guides" target="_blank">http://wftga.org/news/en-15565-2008-standard-training-and-qualification-tourist-guides</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"EN 15565 2008 Standard for the Training and Qualification of Tourist Guides". World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. Retrieved 2025. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help) <a href="https://wftga.org/home-publications-news-en-15565-2008-standard-for-the-training-and-qualification-of-tourist-guides/" target="_blank">https://wftga.org/home-publications-news-en-15565-2008-standard-for-the-training-and-qualification-of-tourist-guides/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"FEG - European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations". <a href="https://www.feg-touristguides.com/cen_definitions.php" target="_blank">https://www.feg-touristguides.com/cen_definitions.php</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Certificate III Guiding". Retrieved 1 October 2019. <a href="https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/SIT30513" target="_blank">https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/SIT30513</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"Tour Guides Australia Code of Conduct" (PDF). Tour Guides Australia. 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022. <a href="https://tga.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Tour-Guides-Australia-Code-of-Conduct.pdf" target="_blank">https://tga.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Tour-Guides-Australia-Code-of-Conduct.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"Tour Guides and Staff". Japan Deluxe Tours. Retrieved 22 May 2017. <a href="https://japandeluxetours.com/about/tour-guide-staff" target="_blank">https://japandeluxetours.com/about/tour-guide-staff</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"How to become tourist guide in India?". 2018-05-15. <a href="https://theghumakkads.in/how-to-become-tourist-guide-in-india/" target="_blank">https://theghumakkads.in/how-to-become-tourist-guide-in-india/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"Registration as a Tourist Guide". www.westerncape.gov.za. Western Cape Government. Retrieved 1 October 2019. <a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/registration-tourist-guide" target="_blank">https://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/registration-tourist-guide</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>