Maricar and the WFTGA President discussed issues related to a downloadable resource and the need for training guides in Guinea Bisell. Cristina shared her experiences with tourism in Austria and the impact of Instagram tourism. The group also deliberated on the content of a forthcoming presentation, with Davoud suggesting a focus on training in general and the WFTGA President proposing a focus on adapting training for Africa. Maricar agreed with this approach.

Cristina, the WFTGA President, and Davoud deliberated on the potential revelation of the training program's cost, deciding to include it but move quickly to avoid alarming guides. Maricar proposed renaming attendees with their countries for better identification, and there was uncertainty about the attendance of Tunisia's president. The group also discussed the attendance of an individual named Endy, who was advised to re-register due to potential registration issues. Lastly, the idea of a 'backstage' or 'green room' for a breakout session was considered.

Davoud, the WFTGA Area Representative for Central and Southern Africa, led a meeting focused on empowering African tourist guides. The meeting included an introduction to the WFTGA President, Sebastian Frankenberger, who shared the association's aim to support tourist guides worldwide, with a specific focus on the African region. The attendees were then asked to complete a poll to provide feedback and share their backgrounds and experiences as tourist guides. The results of the poll indicated that 10% of respondents were from Africa north, while 40% were from west, east, or central and southern Africa.

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) held a meeting with attendees from around the world, including 50% tourist guides and 40% full-time workers. Cuthbert, the Chairman of African Tourism Board, emphasized the positive impact of tourism on Africa. Marikar Donato, the global brand ambassador and area representative liaison for WFTGA, introduced her team of 16 guides from five continents and outlined the mission of the area representatives. Wagih Gamal and Endy, the WFTGA area representatives for African North and East and West Africa respectively, shared their experiences and the growth of their respective associations. Davoud, the WFTGA Area Representative for Central and Southern Africa, expressed his enthusiasm for collaboration within the WFTGA.

Davoud and the WFTGA President led a discussion where they presented a series of poll questions to the members for their feedback. The poll aimed to understand the members' involvement in local associations, their expectations from such associations, and their views on the role of an international organization. The results indicated that most members (80%) belong to a local association, and these associations should focus on organizing training for guides, networking, and advertising services. The international organization, such as Wfdg, should prioritize networking events like conventions and meetings. The attendees were divided into breakout rooms for a discussion on specific questions, with participants from various African countries, including Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria.

The WFTGA GBA and Vice led a discussion about identifying participants' countries of origin, moving them to appropriate breakout rooms accordingly. Technical issues were faced in getting some participants unmuted and moved. Avril emphasized not discussing matters that could arise between events. There were also requests for participants to turn on their video for a screenshot and for someone to take the group to the main room.

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) organized a webinar to connect with tourism guides from various regions. Attendees from countries such as Pakistan, Brussels, India, Egypt, Argentina, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Rwanda shared their experiences and offered their expertise to the organization. The WFTGA expressed interest in inviting Argentina to become a member and planned to host a similar webinar for Central and South America in the near future. The group also discussed the need for training and equipment for tourist guides.

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) held a series of breakout sessions to discuss various issues and initiatives. The sessions were led by representatives from different regions, who shared their experiences and concerns. The main issues discussed included the need for standardized training and pricing for tour guides, challenges with licensing and government support in some countries, and the need for government subsidies to make training more accessible. The representatives also highlighted the importance of establishing associations in new areas to promote best practices and support for tour guides.

Cristina, the WFTGA executive member and Vice President, discussed the membership process and benefits of the federation. She explained that there are different types of members: full members, which are associations; individual members; and affiliate members. The Vice President also outlined the tiered system of fees based on a country's income level. The goal is to encourage more African associations to join the federation to better represent the continent. Davoud, another representative, expressed hope for more African countries to become members of the WFTGA.

Hossein Dharkan, the WFTGA Area Rep for Africa and Asia West, presents information on the training courses offered by the WFTGA Training Committee. These include the Hands-On Tourist Guide Training (HOT), a 7-day intensive course, and the Train the Trainer (TT) course to become a national trainer. There is also an International Trainer Training held yearly in Cyprus to become an international trainer. Viola Lewis heads the Training Division, and interested parties can contact [email protected] for more information. Sebastian, the WFTGA President, thanks everyone for participating and emphasizes the importance of tourism in promoting peace and understanding between cultures. He invites feedback on members' needs to better serve the WFTGA community.