A proposal by Member Association Delegates to the 15th WFTGA International Tourist Guide Conference in Macau resulted in the creation of a document to circulate amongst tourist guides, tourism authorities, and those who hire tourist guides.
A Committee of Delegates to the General Assembly drafted the Macau Declaration, which was then agreed by a unanimous vote. A Macau Declaration Certificate was prepared by WFTGA's former Secretary, Patricia Blain, and the Certificate was placed on the WFTGA Facebook page.
WFTGA thanks Macau Declaration Committee members Daniel Doughty of Malaysia, Moataz El Sayed of Egypt, Nadia Sabina Mele of Argentina, Sangay Phurba of Bhutan, Houri Nazaretian of Armenia and Govind Agrawal from India for providing this declaration just in time for International Tourist Guides Day!
The Executive Council of UNWTO agreed at its 90th session in Mombassa, Kenya on 19-21st June 2011 to admit the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations to Affiliate Membership. " It is with great satisfaction that we welcome the World Federation of
Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) and all of its employees to the World Tourism Organization. I am pleased to confirm that your entity's application for affiliation to UNWTO has recently been approved by the Executive Council at its 90th session held in Mombasa, Kenya on 19-21 June 2011. For us it is a real honor to count on your entity, its knowledge and potential for collaboration for creating a tourism sector that is more ethical, responsible and able to generate wealth around the world."
Javier Blanco, Director, UNWTO Affiliate Members
TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE: WFTGA International Training Centre: Cyprus
The latest WFTGA Train the Trainer Course in Cyprus took place from May 20th 2012 - June 2nd 2012.
Participants came from Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,Thailand , United Arab Emirates and Ukraine. Thanks are also due for the generous sponsorship offered by Cyprus Tourism Organisation, AG Levenitis Foundations, Ioannou and Paraskevaides, Cyprus Antiquities Department, Nicosia Municipality. Other sponsors: CTGA, University of Cyprus, Debenhams. The course was also sponsored by WFTGA.
Rosalind Newlands (WFTGA President) visited tourist guides in Central America during a cruise on Cunard ship Queen Victoria. She had a meeting with members of the Costa Rica Tourist Guides Association in Puntarenas and then joined a tour with local guide Davide. Puntarenas (Sandy Point) is a centre for Ecotourism which is very advanced - with 12% of the land of the country part of National Parks. There are 260 species of birds including the rare Scarlet Macau - which Davide managed to point out to us on our Skywalk tour
International Tourist Guide Day is being celebrated all over the world. The day is an opportunity for tourist guides to show their local communities what they do. For more information contact info@wftga.org
WFTGA Trainers ran courses in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Georgia, Greece, Serbia and Tanzania during 2011 and 2012. Train the Trainer Courses were also held at the WFTGA International Training Centre in Cyprus.
WFTGA President Rosalind Newlands was an official speaker at the 4th UNAOC Forum in Doha Qatar on Sunday 11th December 2011. Rosalind was part of the official UNWTO Delegation which led a workshop entitled Tourism & Travel: Celbrating Diversiy, Linking Cultures and Promoting Dialogue Between Civilizations.
Rosalind emphasised the importance of Tourist Guides as a bridge between the host country culture and the visitors. The meeting was opened by the UN Secretary General and attended by Heads of States from several countries including Germany, Portugal and Brazil.
The Executive Council of UNWTO agreed at its 90th session in Mombassa, Kenya on 19-21st June 2011 to admit the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations to Affiliate Membership. " It is with great satisfaction that we welcome the World Federation of
