Quick recap

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) led discussions on the upcoming year's initiatives, focusing on training and development programs for tourist guides worldwide. The team also addressed funding challenges, with proposals to secure funding from the European Commission and to create virtual presentations to showcase their readiness for large conventions. Lastly, the team introduced new members, discussed the role of area representatives, and agreed to continue the conversation for future improvements.

Next steps

•  Training Committee to explore options for creating short online "teaser" videos showcasing training content and techniques.
• Hussein to develop his role as liaison between Training Committee and Area Representatives.
• Area Representatives to contact and engage with trainers in their regions.
• Training Committee to consider including a hybrid session for Area Representatives at the 2025 Trainer Convention in Saba.
• Viola to add Virtual Information Sessions report to the Area Representatives' internal website.
• Training Committee to explore possibilities for more open courses in regions like Africa, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean.
• Area Representatives to help promote and explain the value of WFTGA training to their regions.
• Training Committee to look into options for more affordable online training, especially for priority areas.
• Khalid to discuss Qatar trainers' applications for international training with Sebastian.
• James to explore fundraising opportunities, including potential EU funding through partnerships.

Summary

Mountainous Region Meeting With WFTGA
Mateusz joined the meeting from a mountainous region with unstable internet connection due to heavy rain and low temperatures. WFTGA suggested recording the meeting in case of any connection issues. Despite the harsh weather, the group enjoyed a warm kitchen area, hoping for better conditions later to enjoy a fireplace. The session was led by WFTGA with colleagues Mateusz, Hussein, and Maricar, who joined from various locations. Maricar offered Endy as a co-host due to his stable internet connection. Mateusz shared that he was working from a tent due to hot weather in Iran.

Upcoming Initiatives and New Members Discussed
The Training Committee and Area Representatives teams, led by Maricar, discussed the upcoming year's initiatives and programs. New members were introduced, including Andy Asseffa from Kenya, Emma Guest Gonzalez from the United States, and Ioannis from Athens, Greece. The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) also held a meeting with the aim of empowering the tourist guide profession worldwide, led by WFTGA President Sebastian. The committee's role was to provide guidance and support for the organization's projects, with a focus on maximizing resources. A video message from Demetra, a trainer representative from Cyprus, was also included.

New WFTGA Training Committee Members Introduced
Demetra from the WFTGA Training Division introduced her role in supporting trainers and encouraged area representatives to promote contact with her. Mateusz, a new member of the Training Committee, outlined his role in developing guiding and training skills. James, another new committee member, brought a different perspective to the team, overseeing social media and job allocation. Hussein, a newly elected member with international training qualifications, was also introduced. WFTGA, the head of the training division, emphasized her commitment to empowering the team and urged them to see themselves as torchbearers for the organization's values.

WFTGA Training Programs and Standards
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) discussed their training offerings, which are designed in collaboration with local associations and their partners. The training programs are adaptable and include both online and in-person courses, with a focus on training trainers to improve the quality of tourist guides worldwide. The WFTGA also announced its intention to move away from having international training centers and instead hold more open courses in locations where they are needed. The ultimate goal is to ensure tourist guides worldwide meet WFTGA standards, which are based on the European standard. The WFTGA also highlighted the role of local trainers in providing continuous professional development and smaller offerings.

WFTGA Communication and Training Strategies
The World Federation of Teachers of Gita (WFTGA) stressed the importance of understanding the organization's broader perspective and encouraged members to stay informed through the website. The proposal of appointing Hussein as a liaison person between the area representative and international trainer committees was made to enhance communication. Maricar and Helga discussed the idea of conducting free online training sessions every two months to attract new members. Helga also highlighted the challenges of addressing international questions due to cultural differences and potential profiling, suggesting that training provided by national trainers could mitigate these issues and promote the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (Wfj).

Creating Free Training Teasers for Online Initiatives
Helga and Maricar proposed creating free training teasers to promote their online initiatives, bundling questions about online programs and green initiatives. The team discussed logistics like funding through membership fees and organization by trainers' colleagues. They considered making short videos showcasing trainers in action, highlighting teaching methods and the association's vision for sustainable tourism. WFTGA mentioned Helga's success in changing the training culture in France and tracking programs via a manual learning management system shared with the executive board.

WFTGA Trainer Convention and Membership Updates
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) discussed the upcoming Trainer Convention 2025, which will focus on continuous professional development for trainers and assist local and regional guides. The convention will be held in Malaysia and will feature a hybrid session for area representatives to observe the trainers in action. The WFTGA also highlighted the need for stronger links with area representatives in regions with no Tourist Guide Association and expressed interest in integrating the Tourist Guide Association of Mongolia into WFTGA. The organization also addressed individual membership applications, acknowledged a backlog, and promised to respond as quickly as possible. Lastly, they discussed the potential for online courses and the need for more affiliate members.

Overcoming Funding Challenges and Readiness
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) and Helga discussed strategies to overcome funding challenges and deliver a project locally. Helga proposed creating a teaser for a virtual or hybrid presentation to showcase their readiness for a large convention. Saber suggested contacting the European Commission for funding, as many training programs in Europe are financed by the EU. The WFTGA also discussed the challenges of securing funding for their global organization, particularly in Europe, and the benefits of their training programs. They are exploring new projects and partnerships to address these challenges, especially in the African context.

Improving ARs Group Functioning and Training
The team discussed the need to review a chart and respond to it via email for their next meeting. Maricar appreciated the team's professionalism and expertise. It was agreed that meeting recordings would be uploaded to the internal website for area reps, and WFTGA would add the report of the Vrs in the online sessions to the website. Khalid offered to conduct training anywhere, asking only for expenses to be covered. Hussein expressed his gratitude towards WFTGA for her smooth presentation and shared his plans to write an email to the training committee and develop sustainable steps to improve the functioning of the Area Representatives (ARs) group. WFTGA confirmed that more than half of the ARs are trainers and praised Hussein's initiative to leverage their potential. Both parties agreed to continue the conversation for future improvements.

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