ChatGPT for Tourist Guides
In a world where digital tools are becoming travel companions, tourist guides must evolve. This dynamic workshop introduces ChatGPT not just as a technology, but as a new language — a language of creativity, adaptability, and smart storytelling. This hands-on session explores how AI can amplify your voice, elevate storytelling, and streamline your professional workflow. […]
The Evolution of Japan’s Inbound Guiding and Its Sustainable Future
I will speak about Japan’s guide qualification system, the current state of the inbound tourism industry—which is said to have revived after the pandemic—its various challenges, and the essential mindset that guides should convey in their guiding.
Sustainability of Kyushu Island: Move Japan Forward from Kyushu
During his tenure as Chairman of the Kyushu Economic Federation, Mr. Aso prioritised tourism and agriculture, recognising them as Kyushu’s key strengths. In his keynote speech, he will discuss some of the initiatives he implemented in these two areas. In terms of tourism, the idea behind the “Tour de Kyushu” was that holding cycling races in […]
WFTGA 2026 Convention Programme Finalised – Live Walkthrough & Sign-Up Guide
Dear friends! ❤️ Thank you to everyone who registered for the WFTGA 2026 Convention! We are excited to announce that the Main Convention Programme is now finalized. There are a variety of options of workshops, study tours, and city tours to choose from. To help you navigate your choices, we will hold a detailed walkthrough […]
Global Networking Forum 2026- Hosted By WFTGA Team Europe
WFTGA Global Networking Forum 2026 – Team Europe WFTGA is back with the Global Networking Forum 2026, starting with Team Europe. This inclusive online forum brings together professional guides and visitor-facing tourism professionals from around the world for deeper discussions, practical guidance, and meaningful connections. Open to all guiding and interpretation professionals, the forum offers […]
Opening Ceremony
Fukuoka’s Eastern Seashore
Meeting Point and time depend on your group which you will be informed about shortly. Fukuoka City’s eastern seashore is rooted in a rich blend of ancient Shinto tradition, historical significance, and sprawling nature along its sand bridge and adjacent islands. Surrounded by the ocean, this tour visits two sites that exemplify how this proximity […]
Roundtables
During the WFTGA International Convention in Japan, all participants are invited to take part in a series of moderated Global Round Tables, which will be held both on-site and online to ensure inclusive participation from our worldwide guiding community. Ten key themes—identified throughout the past year during the Global Networking Forums—will form the basis of […]
Area-Reps Meeting 4 | November 2025
Virtual General Assembly – October 2025
Dear Members, Trainers and Colleagues, On behalf of the Executive Board (ExBo) of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), I invite you to join our Extraordinary Virtual General Assembly, to be held online as an essential step towards ensuring the continued functionality and stability of our Federation. Over the past year, the ExBo […]
ExBo Meeting October 2025
ExBo Meeting September 2025
ExBo Meeting August 2025
ExBo Meeting July 2025
ExBo Meeting June 2025
ExBo Meeting May 2025
ExBo Meeting March 2025
ExBo Meeting February 2025
POSTPONED … TD Tutorial – trainer website profile
This event has been POSTPONED and will take place at a later date. Your Trainer Representative invites you to a tutorial … Dimitria will take you through the process of gaining access to the internal part of the website where you can up-date your trainer profile listing on the website. Being an active part of the […]
WFTGA Area Representative Meeting 4
WFTGA Area Representative Meeting 3
Agenda of the meeting
General Assembly 2026 – Day 2
coming soon
General Assembly 2026 – Day 1
AreaRep Guidelines and Task Manual 2025 Study Session 2
Join our Learning Team led by Eva Helfenstein on Tuesday 8July at 6:00pmCET as we complete our study of Part2 of the AreaRep Guidelines and Task Manual 2025. Let us learn from one another about our WFTGA guidelines and tasks .
CANCELLED – CPD: Heritage Interpretation – Kraków, Poland
This event was cancelled due to lack of registrations. However, we are exploring barriers to attendance and will certainly continue to bring these CPD events to you. Keep watching our website. WFTGA is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training, certified by Interpret Europe. The course is […]
CPD: Practical Tips for Effective Communication in Tourist Guiding
Dimitria Papadopoulou (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) This workshop is part of our 2025 series of Continuous Professional Development ‘Stay Ahead, Stay Informed, Stay Inspired’ and will introduce tourist guides to the basic principles for successful communication when they are guiding groups. The participants will learn not only how to structure their message but mainly […]
CPD: Cultural Awareness when Training
This workshop is part of our 2025 series of Continuous Professional Development ‘Stay Ahead, Stay Informed, Stay Inspired’ and will look at cultural awarenss when training tourist guides.
Global Networking Forum – Americas / Caribbean / Oceania
Don’t Miss Our Next Global Networking Forum! We’re excited to welcome you, our valued members from around the world, to our upcoming online Global Networking Forum. This virtual gathering is a great opportunity to connect with fellow tourist guides, share insights, and explore key topics relevant to our profession. Date: 7 Oct 2025 Time: 01:00 […]
WFTGA Area Representative Meeting, 6 May 2025
Agenda of the meeting
ExBo Meeting April 2025
Area-Rep Meeting March 2025-2
Area-Rep Meeting March 2025-1
Tourist guides and online tour booking platforms
The next session in our 2025 CPD Series Stay Ahead, Stay Informed, Stay Inspired will facilitated by our National Trainer in Crete, Greece Eftihia Xiruhaki: Eftihia Xiruhaki (About) 1. Choosing the right platform 2. Finding optimum ways to add content (what to include and avoid) 3. Arguing copyright issues of contributed platform content 4. Deciding […]
Training Committee Reflection Meeting
Training Committee March 2025
Training Tourist Guides as facilitators of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Facilitators: Viola Lewis (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) and Helga Sturzenegger (WFTGA International Trainer)
Reach your full potential within the WFTGA Training Division – navigating the resource library
Tutorial by Sebastian Frankenberger (WFTGA President)
Virtual and Remote Training Excellence – making the most of the virtual learning environment
– by the WFTGA Training Committee
Trainer Convention 2025 – Plenary Session
08:30 Welcome in Sabah Style 08:40 Welcoming Remarks by Roger Rajah, President, Sabah Tourist Guides Association 08:50 Opening Remarks by Sebastian Frankenberger, WFTGA President 09:00 Officiating Address by Guest of Honour: Datuk Joniston Bangkuai Assistant Minister, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment 09:10 Keynote: Julinus Jeffery Jimit (CEO of Sabah Tourism Board) – Topic: Sustainable […]
Overview of WFTGA Training and the Vision for the Future
Overview of WFTGA Training and the Vision for the Future (Sustainable Training without Borders), led by WFTGA President Sebastian Frankenberger and WFTGA ExBo Member and Head of Training Viola Lewis – with an intervention on Cultural Dexterity by Hussein Dehghan (WFTGA Internationnal Trainer) – open to all convention participants – compulsory for returning WFTGA Trainers […]
Training Committee February 17th
Dear TC Colleagues, Please find attached the agenda for our upcoming in-person meeting. As usual this included the link to the papers in g-drive. Thanks, Mateusz, for your two papers. James, the meeting will be at 22:00 San Francisco time. Are you able to and would you like to join? Many best wishes Viola 00 […]
Training Division Meeting (hybrid) during Sabah Trainer Convention
Being a business meeting, the Training Division Meeting is free to attend for all fully-paid up members of the Training Division. The meeting will take place from 13:00 to 17:00 Sabah time at the Ming Garden Hotel, meeting room ‘Kota Kinabalu’ on floor 2. This time corresponds to early morning in Europe, where many of […]
ExBo Meeting
TC Tech Tutorial
Our homework for this meeting is: Familiarise ourselves with www.wftga.org plus the internal (intern) part Login – WFTGA (you can request a password from the system) Please also try to sign the Code of Conduct for WFTGA Trainers via your trainer profile. For this you need to log in with your own e-mail address NOT […]
President Emeritus Meeting
Delegates Forum
After a longer break, I am reaching out to update you on developments within the WFTGA. Over the summer, all members of the Executive Board were heavily engaged in our professional roles as Tourist Guides – a reality many of you can relate to during the peak guiding season. At the same time, the WFTGA […]
Training Committee Meeting: 12 December 2024
The WFTGA Training Committee will meet on Thursday 12 December 2024 for the final TC Meeting for 2024.
Trainer Festive Gathering – 12 December 2024
Join your Trainer Representative, Demetra, for a delightful session where you can share your cherished holiday traditions and customs for Christmas & New Years Eve with your fellow colleagues. Bring along your smile and a few favourite recipes to share! This is event is for Trainers and the link will be shared in the November […]
ExBo strategy meeting
Area Reps Empowering Feedback session
Warm greetings as you prepare for your in-person meetings in sunny Cyprus and begin your important strategic planning for 2025-2026. Attached is an executive summary I’ve prepared to encapsulate our Area Rep activities from March to November 2024. I would like to present this during tomorrow’s meeting, alongside the available Area Representatives who will share […]