Healing Happens in the Encounter — Why Tourist Guides Are Europe’s Untapped Health Resource
A New Voice in the Health Tourism Conversation The Overlooked Health Partners Whilst Europe debates the future of health tourism — from spa towns and salt caves to forest bathing, alpine recovery and resort-based wellness — one professional group works quietly at the very point where a destination becomes a healing experience: professional tourist guides. […]
Women Guiding the World – Recognise, Respect and Support Female Tourist Guides
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) recognises and celebrates the vital contribution of women in tourist guiding worldwide. Tourist guiding is a profession shaped and strengthened by women. Globally, an estimated 80% of tourist guides are female. For many, guiding offers an important pathway to professional […]
International Tourist Guide Day 2026
Tourist Guides Worldwide Celebrate Their Role as Bridge-Builders for Peace and Understanding On 21 February, tourist guides around the globe celebrate International Tourist Guide Day, honouring a profession that plays a vital role in fostering cultural understanding, dialogue, and responsible travel. This year’s message comes from Japan, where the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations […]
WFTGA Peace Ceremony in Nagasaki Highlights Ethical Responsibility of Tourist Guides Worldwide
1,000 Paper Cranes and Joint Peace Declaration Frame a Powerful Call for Truth, Context and Professional Integrity Nagasaki, Japan – 2026 During the WFTGA Conference 2026 in Japan, tourist guides from across the globe gathered in Nagasaki for a Peace Ceremony that became one of the most meaningful moments of the entire conference. Throughout […]
New Executive Board of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) Elected in Japan – President Sebastian Frankenberger Confirmed in Office
Japan, 23 February 2026 – During the official meeting of delegates held in Japan on 23 February, the new Executive Board (ExBo) of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) was elected for the forthcoming two-year term. Sebastian Frankenberger (Austria) was confirmed in office as President and re-elected for a further two years. The […]
600 Professional Tourist Guides from 50 Nations Gather in Fukuoka for Groundbreaking Sustainability Summit
World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations Convention 2026 Addresses Professional Sustainability and Global Tourism Standards Fukuoka, Japan – 9 February 2026 – The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) opened its 2026 Convention today in Fukuoka, bringing together 600 professional tourist guides from over 50 countries alongside representatives from UN Tourism and UNESCO for […]
Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Our Responsibility as Tourist Guides
Today, on the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the world observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This year’s theme, “Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights,” reminds us that remembrance is not merely about the past – it is a commitment to the present and future. As professional tourist guides, we stand at the […]
Guiding at the Highest Level in Nicosia: Professional Standards and Dialogue in Practice
During an official visit to Nicosia, WFTGA President Emeritus Titina guided Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, together with Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, along the ceasefire line. Cyprus is not a post-conflict destination. The division of the island remains a lived reality. Guiding in such a place requires […]
Statement on Iran: Solidarity with Tourist Guides and Our Ethical Responsibility
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is following the current situation in Iran with deep concern. Our thoughts are with our Iranian colleagues, with whom we share long-standing professional relationships, personal friendships and a common commitment to the guiding profession. In 2017, the WFTGA held its international convention in Iran. Participants experienced extraordinary […]
WFTGA Year-End Update: From Survival to Momentum
Dear Members, dear colleagues, The end of the year is always a good moment to pause and reflect on where we stand. This message was originally intended to reach you before New Year, but as it will now go out in the coming days, it also serves as a bridge into 2026. With our term […]
Merry Christmas 2025 – Light in the Darkness. A Story We Carry Forward
Dear Tourist Guides, Dear Trainers, Dear Colleagues, Dear Partners, Dear Friends, Once upon a time – this is how many of the stories we cherish begin. And it is no coincidence that the Christmas story is among the most powerful narratives in human culture. Beyond any religious interpretation, it is a masterpiece of storytelling: simple, […]
Guiding Peace: Building Bridges Through Tourism – On the Occasion of the 80th United Nations General Assembly
Vienna – On this significant day, as the United Nations convenes its 80th General Assembly under the banners of peace, cooperation and sustainable development, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) stands in alignment with these global aspirations. As a non-governmental affiliate of the United Nations, the WFTGA believes that Tourist Guides are uniquely […]
In Memory of Giovanna Maria Giammarino — A Call to Action for the Guiding Profession
It is with profound sorrow that the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) learns of the tragic passing of Giovanna Maria Giammarino, a 56-year-old Italian tourist guide who collapsed and died while leading a tour at the Colosseum amid sweltering heat on August 20, 2025. Despite efforts to save her life, she passed away […]
WFTGA Statement on Heat Warnings: Professional Responsibility Begins with Self-Care
As heatwaves across Europe intensify, our responsibility as tourist guides grows – not just toward our guests, but also toward ourselves. Extreme heat is no longer an exception; it is a new reality that demands attention, adaptation, and solidarity within our profession. In these challenging conditions, the role of licensed and well-trained guides, especially those […]
“Free Tours” in Focus: A Fair Dialogue on Quality, Professionalism and Sustainable Practices
In recent years, Free Tours have become a familiar feature in urban tourism landscapes worldwide. What began as an innovative, customer-oriented model—offering “pay-what-you-like” walking tours—has grown into a global phenomenon. These tours, often promoted via digital platforms with impressive marketing strategies and social media reach, have succeeded in capturing a significant market share. At the […]
Tourist Guides as Catalysts for the Sustainable Development Goals
An Essential Partner for Sustainable Development The Overlooked Agents of Sustainability Whilst the world grapples with the triple challenges of climate change, global inequality, and cultural polarisation, there exists a professional group working daily at the frontlines of human connection and sustainable change: Tourist Guides. They are the invisible architects of cultural exchange and the […]
WFTGA Statement on the Eurovision Song Contest, Political Neutrality, and the Responsibility for Shared Values
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) has always been a vibrant celebration of music and cultures, bringing together millions of people—regardless of origin, language, or beliefs. Officially, the ESC is considered an apolitical event, prohibiting political gestures and instrumentalisation. However, time and again, it becomes evident that where cultural diversity is celebrated, values like freedom, tolerance, […]
Commemorating the End of World War II – The Responsibility of Tourist Guides in Addressing Historical and Political Themes
Vienna, 8 May 2025 – On this significant day, marking the end of World War II, we not only remember the historical event but also acknowledge the profound responsibility it carries. Tourist Guides around the world play a crucial role in conveying history and its consequences. It is time to overcome the longstanding taboo that […]
Farewell to Pope Francis – A Role Model for Us All
Today, we bid farewell to Pope Francis – a man whose life and work deeply touched the world. He stood as a symbol of kindness, humility, and profound humanity. His unwavering commitment to the poor, the marginalised, and the vulnerable will remain in our hearts and calls us all to reflect on our own responsibilities. […]
International Tourist Guide Day 2025: Tourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors
Every year on 21st February, tourist guides around the world come together to celebrate International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD), honouring their profession and its vital role in society. The 2025 theme, “Tourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors,” highlights the unique contribution of guides in fostering understanding, inclusion, and harmony among cultures. “As tourist guides, we don’t […]
Training Without Borders: Tourist Guides as a Bridge Between Cultures
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – In a time when borders are being reinforced and differences are often used to divide, Tourist Guides play a crucial role in fostering connections, explaining cultures, and promoting mutual understanding. However, this responsibility requires much more than just local knowledge—it demands excellent guiding skills, intercultural competence, conflict management abilities, and the […]
The Future of Guiding: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Profession
On 31 January, 2025, Sebastian Frankenberger, president of the WFTGA delivered a talk on Artificial Intelligence for Tourist Guides to members of the NFTGA. He showed how recent developments in A.I. can now enable guides to automate and simplify many time-consuming tasks such as replying to emails, creating and updating schedules, preparing summary documents of […]
Sebastian Frankenberger Highlights Ethical Responsibility of Tour Guides in an Era of Misinformation and Populism
Yesterday, Sebastian Frankenberger, president of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, addressed a group of DC tour guides at the George Washington School of Business on the Ethical Responsibility of Tourist Guides in the Age of Alternative Truths and Populism. He explained that tourist guides today, in addition to conveying historical and architectural information, […]