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June 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Colleagues of WFTGA,   Finally I have news to publish – and it is good news too! It cannot be any secret that the signing of the Vienna Treaty with Iran in January released once more critics of WFTGA General Assembly decision for our 2017 convention; the almost immediate renewal of more sanctions swept […]

“Tourist guide training in Iran in February. Report by Steve McAuley

In February this year, I was lucky enough to visit Iran to take part in a tourist guide training program. This was arranged by the Iranian Federation of Tourist Guide Associations in conjunction with WFTGA (World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations) to prepare guides for the next WFTGA meeting which takes place in Tehran next year. Thirty-six guides, […]

WFTGA Train the Trainer Course in Scotland

The WFTGA Train the Trainer Course, organised by the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) was delivered by WFTGA  Lead International Trainer, Rosalind Newlands and WFTGA National Trainer Patricia Blain.  It was attended by 8 STGA members: Linda Arthur, Robert Bowles, Margaret Hubbard, Ian Linn, Margaret McLeod, Alison Reid, Anne Robertson and Stewart Wood.  The Scottish […]

Cyprus Train the Trainer Course in November 2015 finalised

Cyprus Train the Trainer Course in November 2015 was just finalised with new National Trainers from Albania, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Nepal, Slovenia. WFTGA congratulates all, including the facilitators, sponsors and helping hands!   Maria Aristidou Vice-President and Training Committee Chair CTGA (Cyprus Tourist Guides Association) Course Coordinator & Representative Cyprus International Training Centre – WFTGA

International Tourist Guide Day 2016: Newletter

International Tourist Guide Day February 21st is fast approaching and we would like to inform members and colleagues around the world to celebrate somehow locally. Using your smart phones post your message to the WFTGA facebook page and twitter accounts Remember to use the WFTGA logo for International Tourist Guide Day and be visible. Send any […]

IRAN WFTGA 2017 Convention: Achievements of 4-month Teamwork

The year of 2015 and the 16th Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA) in the capital of Czech Republic, Prague, was a memorable event for Iranian tourist guides society as they have acquired the host of the largest and the most important international gathering of tourist guides thanks to the hard work […]

WTM 2015: China, Mexico and Iran tipped as emerging destinations

China, Mexico and Iran (pictured) have been tipped as the top emerging destinations by British holidaymakers and senior executives polled at World Travel Market (WTM). In the WTM annual industry report, brought together through a poll of 2,050 stakeholders (buyers and exhibitors at the show) and 1,038 British holidaymakers, the three destinations were said to […]

Tour guides ‘future builders’ of Iran’s tourism industry: WFTGA

TEHRAN – Tour guides have a major role to play in building the future of Iran’s tourism industry and should be the core of it, the Vice President of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) Ruby Roy said.  She described Iran as a country with “incredible historical and cultural treasures which were unforgettable”.  […]

WFTGA International Trainer Jassim Zaiton and Cruise cooperation partner Grant Holmes contributed to the launch of “Tour Guides Open Day” in Bahrain, October 18, 2015

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism the “Tour Guides Open Day” is launched Sunday morning at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. In his speech, the minister referred to the Ministry’s recent focus to implement plans and programs aimed at enhancing tourism sector in […]

British Embassy Re-opens in Tehran

The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom (Philip Hammond) has travelled to  Iran to reopen the embassy. He will be Britain’s first top diplomat to visit the Iranian capital in nearly 14 years. And the Iranian embassy in London will be opened likewise. It is expected that Tehran-London relations will be normalized, including in consular […]

Visa On Arrival: Iran

Iran Extends Upon arrival Visa Validity to 30 Days for 58 Countries and soon, will rise to 190 countries Iran has extended airport visa validity from 15 to 30 days and tourists will be able to ask airport visa for 30 days in all border airports. Iranian government’s recent decision to increase the validity length […]

The Tourist Guide Profession Loses Two Champions

It is with great sadness that we announce the untimely death of two dear friends and colleagues Annie Passot Tomianka (France):  Founder of the Fédération Nationale des Guides Interprétes et Conférenciers (FNGIC 1981) and 30 years on the Executive Board of Fédération Européene de Guides (FEG), also two years its President. She has been a […]

WFTGA celebrates 30th Anniversary in Prague

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations was founded in 1985.  Founder members Johann Szegö, Rune Lemon, Bertha Maria Major and Felicitas Wressnig (current President) were joined by Past Presidents Titina Loizides, Deborah Androus, Ruby Roy and Rosalind Newlands at the 16th WFTGA International Convention in Prague, Czech Repbuplic to celebrate 30 years with more […]

WFTGA Sponsor Mrs Edmee Pistis Leventis awarded the OBE

Cypriot national Edmee Pistis Leventis has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours list for services to Arts Philanthropy. Mrs Leventis, born in Paphos in 1945, is a full time voluntary worker, in addition to being the former Chairwoman – and present member – of […]

WFTGA International Convention 2017: Bidders Announced

WFTGA International Convention 2017 Bids Denmark Iran Singapore The Association of Authorized Guides. Iran Federation of Tourist  Guide Association   Society of Tourist Guides Singapore Copenhagen Teheran Singapore Cool Copenhagen Iran: A World With No Borders   Tourist Guides – The Human Interface Monday 23rd – Friday 27th  January Saturday 28th January- Wednesday 1st February […]

First NATGA Guides Conference: Tirana, Albania

First Conference of Tourist Guides of Albania. So far there is no law for Tourist Guides in Albania, but tourism has grown by outstanding 28% last year! The National Association of Tourist Guides in Albania– NATGA ( member of WFTGA ),  is aiming to start professional trainings as soon as a new law on qualification […]

World Committee on Tourism Ethics Praises Initiatives on Accessible Tourism

The fourteenth meeting of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics meeting in Rome, Italy (17-18 November 2014) commended the efforts of UNWTO and its partners to advance Accessible Tourism for All. The Committee firmly supported the “Montreal Declaration – A World for All”, the outcome document of the recent World Summit on Destinations for All, […]

First WFTGA Training Courses in Singapore

WFTGA Train the Trainer Courses have been delivered in Singapore with Lead International Trainers Viola Lewis and Ivana Curuvija and International Trainer Jean Wang

Nadia Battani and Terry Quitevis: Sad News

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of two of our colleagues.  Nadia was a former Vice President of APTG Montreal and her untimely death has shocked her colleagues around the world  Terry was the long term president of MULTAGAP our new members in the Philippines . we express our condolences to […]

Prague Convention Early Registration Extended to 20 September

The WFTGA Executive Board and the 2015 Prague organising committee have come upon unexpected and exceptional opportunities for the 2015 convention and they need a little extra time to develop and incorporate these recently presented ideas.  This is good news for all, since many members could also use a little extra time to complete their […]

Today we are all Malaysians: Statement by Chairman of ICTP

“The World travel and tourism industry must come together and take leadership after the Malaysia Airlines (MH17) incident.” This is the opinion voiced by Juergen Thomas Steinmetz, Chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP). He said today: “On behalf of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), our prayers are with the families […]

Call For Improved Tourist Guide Training As New WFTGA International Training Centre Opens in Sabah

WFTGA President Felicitas Wressnig opened the WFTGA International Training Centre at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.  In her opening speech Ms Wressnig called for better tourist guide training in the region. http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/04/09/call-for-better-guide-training-to-promote-sabah/ The first Hands On Tourist Guide and Train the Trainer Courses were attended by participants from Hong Kong, India, Poland, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. 

Commonwealth Games Glasgow 14 Tours

Scottish Tourist Guides have developed new tours for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow  http://www.scotsman.com/news/glasgow-2014-is-much-more-than-two-weeks-of-sport-1-3348557

International Tourist Guide Day 2014

DEAR MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS of WFTGA: It is the 25th year we celebrate International Tourist Guide Day around the world and many volunteer for a major celebration in order to promote the profession of the “Area Specific Interpreter”. Many organize guided tours for free: more than 40 cities in Germany  offer special treats (link: http://www.germany.travel/en/news/news_detail-156929.html   ); […]

First WFTGA Training Course in Iran

WFTGA Lead International Trainer Ivana Curuvija and WFTGA International Trainer Houri Nazaretian ran a WFTGA Hands on Tourist Guide Training Course in Iran in December 2013.