World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations
| Abbreviation | WFTGA |
|---|---|
| Formation | February 21, 1985 |
| Founded at | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Type | Professional association |
| Purpose | Professional standards in tourist guiding |
| Headquarters | Vienna, Austria |
Membership | 87 member associations, 200,000+ tourist guides |
Official language | English |
President | Sebastian Frankenberger |
| Website | wftga |
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is an international professional association representing tourist guide organizations worldwide. Founded in 1985, the organization includes 87 member associations from over 100 countries, representing approximately 200,000 individual tourist guides.[1] The organization holds consultative status with UNESCO and affiliate membership with UN Tourism.[2] WFTGA participates in the development of international standards for tourism services and operates training programs for tourist guides through International Training Centres in Cyprus, Armenia, and Malaysia.[1]
History
WFTGA was established following proposals at the first International Convention of Tourist Guides held in February 1985 in Tel Aviv, Israel.[1] The organization was formally registered as a non-profit organization under Austrian law following a second convention in Vienna in 1987.[3] The organization has grown from its initial membership to include associations from over 100 countries. In 2003, at the 10th International Convention in Dunblane, Scotland, WFTGA adopted international standards definitions for tourist guides based on EN 13809:2003 and ISO 18513:2003.[1]
International Tourist Guide Day
WFTGA established International Tourist Guide Day in 1989, designating February 21 as an annual observance. The date corresponds to the organization's founding month. The observance began in 1990 with 15 participating countries and has expanded to over 70 countries.[4] Activities associated with the day typically include free guided tours, professional development workshops, and cultural programs. In 2015, Iran organized a significant celebration in Mashhad, bringing together approximately 600 Iranian tour guides with WFTGA Vice President Ruby Roy as an honored guest.[5] Each year features a specific theme related to tourism and cultural heritage.
Conventions
WFTGA holds biennial international conventions that serve as forums for professional development and organizational governance. These conventions typically attract several hundred participants from member countries and are described as "the largest gatherings of professional tour guides worldwide".[6] Notable conventions include:
1985: First International Convention, Tel Aviv, Israel (founding) 1987: Second Convention, Vienna, Austria (formal registration) 2003: Tenth Convention, Dunblane, Scotland (adoption of international standards)[1] 2017: Seventeenth Convention, Tehran, Iran 2019: Eighteenth Convention, Tbilisi, Georgia 2024: Twentieth Convention, Syracuse, Italy 2026: Twenty-first Convention, Fukuoka, Japan (planned)[7]
2017 Tehran Convention
The 2017 Tehran Convention was particularly significant, attracting 320 tour guides from 45 countries.[8] The selection process for Iran was competitive, with the country winning against Denmark, Singapore, and Malaysia.[6] Iran's successful bid involved extensive preparation, with over 60 Iranian tour guides working in committees on areas including design, marketing, translation, and social media.[9] The convention was opened by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and included pre-convention tours to various Iranian provinces to showcase the country's cultural heritage.[8] Following extensive preparation, Iranian officials expressed hopes that hosting the convention would help dispel prejudices and demonstrate Iran's safety and hospitality to an international audience.[8]
2019 Tbilisi Convention
The 2019 convention in Tbilisi, Georgia, attracted approximately 300 tour guides from up to 60 countries over five days.[10] According to the president of the Georgian guides association, Kety Meladze, the participating delegates were expected to serve as ambassadors for Georgia, promoting the country's culture internationally.[10]
Standards and training
Professional standards
WFTGA adopted the EN 13809:2003 and ISO 18513:2003 standards, which define a tourist guide as "a person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area, which person normally possesses an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognised by the appropriate authority."[1] The organization supports EN 15565:2008, which establishes requirements for professional tourist guide training and qualification programmes.[11]
Training programs
WFTGA operates training programs through three International Training Centres:
Cyprus International Training Centre (established 2006): Partnership with University of Cyprus[12] Armenia International Training Centre: Collaboration with educational institutions in Yerevan[13] Malaysia International Training Centre (opened 2014): Located at Universiti Malaysia Sabah[14]
Training programs include Hands-On Tourist Guide Training (HOT), Train the Trainer (TtT), and International Train the Trainer (ITtT) courses. The centers have trained participants from over 40 countries in accordance with international standards.[1]
COVID-19 response
During the COVID-19 pandemic, WFTGA adapted its role to address new challenges in the tourism industry. According to travel industry publication Skift, WFTGA President Alushca Ritchie reported that the organization established a working group to develop hygiene and safety protocols for tour guides worldwide, positioning guides as key enforcers of safety measures in post-pandemic travel.[15]
Organization
Leadership
Sebastian Frankenberger of Germany serves as president for the 2024-2026 term. The organization is governed by an Executive Board elected at biennial conventions. WFTGA has also established ambassador positions to enhance regional representation, including the appointment of Walid El Batouty as the first Egyptian ambassador for WFTGA.[16]
Membership
WFTGA offers three membership categories:
Full Membership for tourist guide associations Individual Membership for professional guides Affiliate Membership for tourism-related organizations
The organization operates through 16 Area Representatives covering different geographic regions.
Member associations
WFTGA includes member associations from various countries, including:
GANYC (Guides Association of New York City), United States Institute of Tourist Guiding (Blue Badge guides), United Kingdom Malaysian Tourist Guides Council, Malaysia European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG)[17] Federation of African Tourist Guide Associations (FATGA)[18] National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations-USA (NFTGA-USA)[19]
Industry partnerships
WFTGA has developed partnerships with media organizations to promote its members and the tour guiding profession. In 2019, the organization partnered with A+E Networks' History Channel to create content highlighting tour guides as cultural ambassadors.[20] The partnership aimed to develop programming that showcases historical destinations through the expertise of qualified local guides from WFTGA and its European counterpart FEG.[20]
International recognition
WFTGA holds consultative status with UNESCO as a Non-Governmental Organisation and maintains affiliate membership with UN Tourism. The Union of International Associations includes WFTGA in its Yearbook of International Organizations.[21] The organization participates in tourism industry partnerships and has been referenced in academic research on tourism and guide training.[22]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Weiler, Betty; Black, Rosemary (2014). "Appendix: Highlights from a Selection of Tour Guide Associations". Tour Guiding Research: Insights, Issues and Implications. Bristol: Channel View Publications. pp. 179–184. doi:10.21832/9781845414696-011. ISBN 978-1-84541-469-6. Search this book on
- ↑ "World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations". Union of International Associations. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA)". International Coalition of Tourism Partners. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "International Tourist Guide Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Significance". TheQuint. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "A Rendezvous of Tour Guides". Financial Tribune. 24 February 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Iran Among 4 Nominees for WFTGA Convention". Financial Tribune. 19 December 2014.
- ↑ "Tour guiding industry to converge in Japan in 2026". TTG MICE. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Iran Hosts 320 Tour Guides in Annual WFTGA Convention". Iran Front Page. 2 February 2017.
- ↑ "Iran to Host 2017 WFTGA Convention". Financial Tribune. 14 August 2015.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Tbilisi Hosts the 2019 World Federation of Tourist Guides Association Convention". Property Georgia. 29 January 2019.
- ↑ "EN 15565:2008 Tourism Services". Document Center. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Tour guides perform key role, says tourism ministry". Cyprus Consulate Cambodia. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "International guide training center to open in Yerevan". ARKA News Agency. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Sabah looks into forming dedicated nature guide training hub". The Star. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ Spinks, Rosie (5 June 2020). "Tourist Guides Will Be the Earliest Enforcers of Safety Measures in Travel". Skift.
- ↑ "Walid El Batouty is First Egyptian Ambassador for WFTGA". CairoScene. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "About the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations". FEG. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Federation of African Tourist Guide Associations". FATGA. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations-USA". NFTGA-USA. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ 20.0 20.1 "History partners with tour guide associations to promote members". Breaking Travel News. 8 November 2019.
- ↑ "World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations". Union of International Associations. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Tour guiding research: Insights, implications and directions for the future". ScienceDirect. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2016.09.005. Retrieved 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help)
External links
Official website International Coalition of Tourism Partners Profile Union of International Associations Profile
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