Tourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors – this is a bold vision, but one deeply rooted in our history. Since our foundation, we have been promoting peace by telling the stories of the past and showing how peace has transformed communities. Who better to illustrate the impact of peace than tourist guides? We guide visitors through battlefields, castles, war cemeteries, and other sites of historical conflict, helping them understand not just the struggles of the past but the hope and reconciliation that followed.

A Forgotten Piece of WFTGA History

During the recent WFTGA Executive Board meeting in Cyprus, we had the privilege of exploring Nicosia, guided by President Emeritus Titina Loizides (1993–1999). She led us to a simple but powerful site – a mosaic with just one word: Peace.

To our surprise, we learned that this mosaic was created during the 2001 WFTGA Convention in Cyprus. Under the presidency of Deborah Androus, the convention was moved from Israel to Cyprus due to safety concerns. As part of the event, participants crafted this mosaic at the Cyprus Handicraft Centre, symbolising both peace and the centuries-old Cypriot tradition of mosaic art. The Mayor of Nicosia, Lellos Demetriades, granted permission for its placement in a significant location—a reference point between the free area of Nicosia and the Turkish-occupied part of the city.

The WFTGA created this lasting symbol of peace, yet over time, it was almost forgotten. Rediscovering it, especially as 2025’s International Tourist Guide Day focuses on peace, adds even greater meaning to our theme.

A Call to Action: Your Peace Initiatives for ITGD 2025

As you plan events for International Tourist Guide Day on 21 February 2025, remember that sometimes small and simple actions create the biggest impact.

We invite you to:

• Organise peace-themed guided tours in your cities.
• Find and highlight symbols of peace in your region.
• Share stories of reconciliation and transformation with your guests.
• Send us photos and videos of your ITGD events so we can showcase them on WFTGA social media and our website.

This year’s theme is more than a celebration—it is a commitment to our role as peace ambassadors. Thank you to our Presidents Emeritus Deborah Androus, Ruby Roy, Ros Newlands, Felicitas Wressnig, and Titina Loizides for sharing the history of the WFTGA Peace Mosaic.

Let us work together to make International Tourist Guide Day 2025 a powerful statement for peace!