| Quick recap |
| The meeting focused on updates and discussions regarding WFTGA membership, training matters, and the upcoming conference. New area representatives were introduced, and the importance of global networking forums and improved communication methods was emphasized. Financial challenges and potential solutions, including a proposed fee structure and additional income sources, were also discussed. |
| Next steps |
| • Maria to connect with Sonya regarding North Macedonia's full membership application. |
| • Sergio to work with Patricia and Emma on getting Colombia to become a full member of WFTGA. |
| • Hussein to update the description of the Asia WhatsApp group to clarify its purpose. |
| • Sergio/Patricia to create a WhatsApp group for the Americas networking forum. |
| • Sebastian to work on providing business cards for area representatives. |
| • Saber to send a screenshot to Maricar regarding profile update issues on the dashboard. |
| • All area reps to submit quarterly reports by the end of June. |
| • All area reps to informally ask their associations about fair membership fee structures and report back to Sebastian. |
| • Khalid to follow up on Saudi Arabia's membership payment in the coming weeks. |
| • Khalid to coordinate with Hussein for Arabic support in the Asia networking forum breakout rooms. |
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| Summary |
| North Macedonia Membership Updates Discussed |
| The meeting begins with attendees joining and some technical difficulties. Maricar, the host, ensures everyone has the agenda and necessary materials. Sonia attends on behalf of Christina, who is absent. Maricar introduces new representatives Maria from North Macedonia and Sergio from Colombia. The group prepares to discuss membership updates, particularly regarding North Macedonia, as the second meeting out of five for 2025 commences. |
| WFTGA Membership Updates and Inquiries |
| The summary discusses membership updates and inquiries for the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA). Sonya reports that non-paying members have been removed from the website, and new membership applications have been slow. There are discussions about potential membership applications from North Macedonia and Colombia, with area representatives working to facilitate these. The importance of keeping area representatives updated on membership status is emphasized, with suggestions for improved communication methods. The meeting also addresses questions about specific country memberships and the process for renewing lapsed memberships. |
| WFTGA Training Updates and Challenges |
| Hussein provides updates on training matters and introduces new area representatives Mario and Sergio. He announces upcoming meetings with non-trainer area reps to discuss WFTGA training offerings and standards. Hussein mentions that Dimitria from Greece has been elected as the new trainer representative and encourages everyone to join the free CPD sessions, with dates provided through November. He also informs that training courses in Cyprus will open soon, and interested parties should contact training@wftga.org. Sarah raises a concern about scheduling conflicts between the Cyprus training and the FECT meeting, to which Sebastian responds, explaining the challenges in coordination and mentioning the need to rethink the structure of training centers and courses to reduce costs and reach new target groups. |
| ChatGPT Workshop and Conference Updates |
| Maricar announces she will conduct a 2-hour workshop on using ChatGPT on August 21st, and a 1-hour online session on July 11th for those who missed the previous one in Malaysia. Hussein mentions that Maricar is delivering two CPD sessions and invites everyone to the October session on gourmet tours. Sebastian provides an update on the conference, stating that registration is expected to open in May, and a webinar will be held to explain details and answer questions. Sebastian also discusses changes to the bidding process for future conventions, including simplification, more WFTGA involvement in logistics, and a new continental rotation system for hosting. |
| Future Convention Locations and Digital Culture Card |
| The meeting discusses potential locations for future conventions, including South America and Colombia for 2028. Saber suggests Egypt as a possible host, but Maricar emphasizes the need to give opportunities to countries that have never hosted before. The group also discusses membership fees and the challenges faced by the Egyptian tourist guide syndicate. Sebastian provides an update on the development of a digital culture card and guide portal, mentioning ongoing work and potential features. He also mentions the involvement of student assistants, pending contract finalization. The meeting concludes with Maricar explaining the selection process for new area representatives. |
| Introducing New Area Representatives |
| Maricar introduces four new area representatives for WFTGA: Maria from North Macedonia, Sergio from Colombia, Luis from Portugal, and Eva from Switzerland. Maria and Sergio, who are present, share their goals and aspirations for their roles, including increasing membership, fostering collaboration among guides, and improving relationships with cultural institutions. The representatives were selected based on their association memberships and individual qualifications. Maricar encourages other members to mentor and assist the new representatives in their roles. |
| Global Networking Forum: Challenges & Solutions |
| The global networking forum, initiated with the Africa team on April 25, is divided into 12 meetings across four continents from April to November. The forum follows an incubator-style approach with three tracks: discussing challenges, finding solutions, and taking action through webinars. Davud reports that the first Africa meeting went well, with a WhatsApp group created to maintain connections. Hussein has prepared a similar group for Asia, while the Americas and Europe are set to follow suit in the coming months. Sebastian suggests centralizing the WhatsApp groups under the WFTGA community and adding invitation links to the website for easy access. |
| WFTGA's Role in Supporting Guides |
| Sebastian discusses the importance of offering better services to individual tourist guides through the Global Networking Forum, while maintaining WFTGA's role as a federation of associations. He emphasizes the need to connect guides directly, especially in countries with weaker associations, while being cautious not to become a marketplace for tourists. Sebastian also mentions that the board will restart monthly chats in July, focusing on supporting association leadership roles. Maricar provides updates on the area representative manual and inquires about business cards, to which Sebastian responds that corporate design templates are being developed, including digital options. The dashboard's features and functionality for area representatives are explained, including access to communication details, file storage, and the ability to submit news and events. |
| WFTGA Financial Update and Membership Fees |
| Sebastian provides an update on WFTGA's financial situation, revealing that the organization is currently operating at a loss of about €6,000 per year. He explains that the membership fees have not been increased since 2007/2008, while expenses have grown due to digitalization and administrative costs. Sebastian proposes doubling the income from membership fees and suggests implementing a new fee structure by November. He asks area representatives to informally gather feedback from associations about what they could afford to pay. The group discusses potential additional income sources, including offering standardized training courses and certifications, though Sebastian cautions about the complexities involved in international guide certification. |
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