EN 13809 OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDISATION (CEN)
The final meeting of WG5 the European committee working to create the above standard took place in Athens on 26th & 27th April 2007. Tourist Guide experts for the various countries attending included Rosalind Newlands (WFTGA President) and Tom Hooper (FEG Chairman) UK; Efi Kalamboukidou Greece; Glorianne Mizzi Malta, Stanislav Voleman Czech Republic; Marian Bilacic Slovak Republic, Guido Lion Italy, Titina Loizidou Cyprus; Ute Jager & Gisela Bianco Germany; Carlos Ortego Spain. The draft standard now goes for voting and if accepted will become an CEN (European) Standard sometime next year.
Definitions
EN 13809 OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDISATION (CEN)
Adopted by WFTGA the 10th Convention, Dunblane, Scotland 2003
Tourist Guide:
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.
This is distinct from a tour manager defined by CEN as follows:
Tour Manager/Tour Director or Escort:
Person who manages an itinerary on behalf of the tour operator ensuring the programme is carried out as described in the tour operator’s literature and sold to the traveller/consumer and who gives local practical information. Tour managers may or may not be tourist guides as well. They are not trained or licensed to work in specific areas unless they have the proper requirements or legal right, depending on the region.
