Nagasaki Peace Declaration
As part of the WFTGA Conference 2026 in Japan, our post-conference tour brought us to Nagasaki — a place where memory and hope meet. During the conference days, participants from around the world folded 1,000 paper cranes — a powerful Japanese symbol of peace, remembrance and hope for the future. Each crane carried a silent […]
Tutorial for Zoom
How it works Online meetings It works very well and is very easy to use. This tutorial shows you how to join a meeting. Prerequisites It works on any computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. On desktop computers, you may need an external webcam and speakers. Laptops, tablets, and smartphones already have these built in. 1 […]
Photo Competition
From this year forward, WFTGA will run an annual Photo Competition to improve how professional tourist guiding is portrayed worldwide. Too often, stock libraries and tourism campaigns show landmarks or museum docents rather than qualified tourist guides. We want to change that. Goal: curate excellent, authentic images of tourist guides in action for WFTGA channels […]
Art of Guiding E-Book
Mission and Vission
Vision: To be the global voice of excellence in professional tourist guiding, inspiring cultural exchange, safeguarding heritage, and connecting communities through the power of guided experiences. Mission: The mission of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is to advance the guiding profession globally through structured support for both individual tourist guides and tourist […]
History of WFTGA
ince 1985 the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) has brought together professional tourist guides from every region of the world to advance recognition of our profession, set and share standards, and foster excellence in training. The Federation emerged from the first International Convention of Tourist Guides in February 1985 and was subsequently registered […]
Definition: Tourist Guide vs Tour Guide
In accordance with internationally recognised standards, including ISO 18513:2003, EN 13809:2003, and EN 15565:2008, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) adopts the following definitions and distinctions to ensure clarity and promote professional excellence within the tourism industry. Tourist Guide A Tourist Guide is a person who guides visitors in the language of their […]
Bidding Form
This streamlined application form reflects WFTGA’s new partnership model where we handle complex international logistics while you focus on creating extraordinary local experiences. Please complete all sections honestly and thoroughly. Important Deadlines: Complete Application: 15th Dccember 2025, 12:00 CET Submission: Completed form with supporting documents via upload. If you have any questions and problems please […]
Withdrawal
Right of Withdrawal World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA) Registered Office: Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1 #254, 1020 Vienna, Austria Last updated: 06.09.2025 1. Your Right of Withdrawal 1.1 General Right As a consumer in the European Union, you have the right to withdraw from certain contracts with WFTGA within 14 days without giving […]
Bidding for Conventions
After 40 years of WFTGA Conventions for Tourist Guides, we are fundamentally transforming our approach.Local hosts can now focus entirely on what they do best – creating innovative, state-of-the-art guided tourism experiences that don’t yet exist – whilst WFTGA handles all administration, financial responsibility, and brings world-class lecturers and workshop facilitators to advance the profession […]
WFTGA Statements
We are pleased to share with you a current WFTGA Statement addressing a key issue in the political and/or tourism landscape. This document has been prepared to offer guidance, perspective, and practical recommendations for tourist guides – and we encourage you to make use of it in a way that best supports your work on […]
Cultour Card Order
The WFTGA cultour card is available as a free personalised digital version for Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. You may also order a personalised plastic card, valid until 31 January 2028, for a fixed fee of €15. This card is exclusively available to tourist guides who are members of a WFTGA member association or registered […]
Tourist Guides as Champions of Sustainable Development Goals
Tourist Guides as Champions of Sustainable Development Goals: Share Your Success Stories! Introduction In the global push toward a more sustainable future, tourist guides stand at the forefront of implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in one of the world’s largest industries: tourism. While discussions about sustainable tourism often focus on policy-making, infrastructure […]
Code of Guiding Practice
Draft Version to discuss during WFTGA Convention 2026 in Fukuoka introduction Text tet tet N.N. … Download as PDF Text how to use as guide or association. download link for pdf or docx English PREAMBLE The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is committed to the […]
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Professional tourist guides never stop learning. With this in mind, WFTGA is proud to offer Continuous Professional Development (CPD) online sessions — created by guides, for guides.
These interactive webinars, training sessions, and discussions last around one hour and are designed to provide valuable insights, practical knowledge, and inspiring ideas for your guiding work.
Global Networking Forum
Connect with fellow guides and industry professionals. Exchange best practices, ideas, and insights. Participate in critical and engaging discussions.
Press
Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA) Registered Office: Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1 #254, 1020 Vienna, Austria Last updated: 06.09.2025 1. General Information and Scope 1.1 About WFTGA The World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) registered in Vienna, Austria. We operate an online shop, educational […]
Academy
Courses, Conventions & Webinars WFTGA Academy Text will come from Viola 🙂 17/02/2025 hybrid Join Us for the 1st WFTGA Trainer Convention: “Sustainable Training Without Borders” 17–21 February 2025 | Sabah, Malaysia We are thrilled to invite you to the inaugural WFTGA Trainer Convention, a global gathering dedicated to advancing excellence in tourist guide training […]
Events
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Working Groups
Engage with us Join Our Working Groups and Shape the Future of Our Global Association At the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), we believe in collaborative leadership. Each member of our Executive Board (ExBo) has a specific area of responsibility. These areas serve as working groups where members can actively participate, discuss tasks, […]
Payment
your payment member + trainer fees & other payments With this payment option, you can submit your fees upon request. Please ensure that you include a payment reference or reason to help us allocate your payment accurately. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at payment@wftga.org. Bank Transfer Credit Card / […]
Convention
1985 – 2022 Past Conventions 2026 Fukuoka, Japan more 2026 2024 Siracusa, Italy more 2024 2022 Madrid, Spain more 2022 2019 Tbilisi, Georgia more 2019 2017 Tehran, Iran more 2017 2015 Prague, Czech Republic more 2015 2013 Macau, SAR China more 2013 2011 Tallinn, Estonia more 2011 2009 Bali, Indonesia more 2009 2007 Cairo, Egypt […]
Donate / Sponsor
At WFTGA, we believe guiding is more than a profession – it is a bridge between cultures, a guardian of heritage, and a pathway to sustainable tourism. But not every guide has the same access to training, networks, and professional development. That is why the Jane Orde Scholarship was founded: 🎓 Access to professional training […]
Volunteer
Opportunities
Services
Need Help? Our Services for Tourist Guides and Associations We are currently in the process of revising this page and publishing all our services here.If you haven’t found what you need, please contact us at info@wftga.org. Contact Page Overview of the direct email address of the various departments. How to become a tourist guide? Duis […]
Social Media Wall
Social Media Wall #wftga WFTGA Social Media Wall
2024 – Siracusa, Italy
timeline WFTGA Convention 2024 A virtual glimpse February 2022 Early bird registrations closes Juni 30st 2023 Registration closes Winter 2023 Convention 18-29 January 2024 Play Video Italy – Siracusa 18 – 29 January 2024 The family meeting of tourist guides with around 450 participants from over 60 countries. Save the dates Pre Tour 18-21 January […]
2022- Madrid, Spain
Newsletter
you have mail Subscribe to our newsletter This is the public newsletter for everyone. We have a newsletter for our member associations called “Guidelines Internation@l” and a dedicated newsletter specifically for WFTGA Trainers called “Training Matters”.
Associations Journeys
Country Reports WFTGA Association Members Our annual Association Journeys are once again approaching – a cherished WFTGA tradition that brings our global family of Tourist Guide Associations together to learn from one another and to grow collectively. These sessions offer a unique space for associations to exchange their challenges, successes, innovations and visions for the future. […]
Activities
Int. Tourist Guide Day Every year 21st February WFTGA Convention Every second year Associations Journeys Every autumn online Calendar Activites of WFTGA, our Members and Partners Do you have any and relevant dates for tourist guides you want to publish here? Send us an email to news@wftga.org. 15/02/2026 hybrid Just a save the date. More […]
2019 – Tbilisi, Georgia
Convention Newsletter PDF: Newsletter #1 – January 25, 2018 Newsletter #2 – May 25, 2018 Newsletter #3 – Juni 20, 2018 Newsletter #4 – September 22, 2018 Newsletter #5 – November 5, 2018
National Trainers
WFTGA has a large number of National Trainers around the world who have successfully completed the WFTGA Train the Trainer Course and are qualified to train Tourist Guides in their own countries. Loading…
International Trainers
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Lead International Trainers
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Affiliate Partners
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) has fully renewed and strengthened its Affiliate Partnership Programme. This revision reflects our commitment to building meaningful, long-term collaborations with organisations that support the global guiding profession. With clearer benefits, regular exchange opportunities, and closer involvement with the WFTGA Executive Board, our updated structure offers partners a […]
Individual Tourist Guides
Individual Membership is designed for professional Tourist Guides in countries where no Tourist Guide Association exists or where the existing association is not a member of the WFTGA. Under the current Constitution, this category is therefore intended as a temporary membership, offering individual guides access to the global WFTGA network until a local association is […]
Tourist Guide Associations
Full Membership is the foundation upon which the WFTGA is built. Our Full Members – the national and regional Associations of Tourist Guides – form the backbone of our Federation and represent our most important partners in strengthening the guiding profession worldwide. At the WFTGA, we strongly believe in the sustainable development of the guiding […]
Specialist Guiding Courses
compiled and developed on request Examples Cruise Guiding Endorsement Course for qualified tourist guides, who aim to up-date and enhance their skills of guiding cruise guests in their local area of guiding qualification. Live interactive online sessions: During the global pandemic the WFTGA Training Division piloted delivering training through live, interactive online sessions. We concluded […]
Site Guide Training (SGT)
delivered in co-operation with a specific site and usually requested by or on behalf of a specific site Target Group This course is intended for existing site guides or other interested guides who already possess detailed knowledge of a visitor attraction. The WFTGA Site Guide Training Course concentrates on practical guiding skills and does not […]
International Train the Trainer (ITtT)
Duration 7 days Target Group This course is open to WFTGA National Trainers (or those who have passed an equivalent programme approved by WFTGA), who are current members of WFTGA and have at least 100 hours of tourist guide training experience. In order to be eligible for the International Train the Trainer Course, participants: must […]
Train the Trainer Course (TtT)
The Train the Trainer Course starts with the Hand on Tourist Guiding (HOT) This allows future trainers to: analyse the required guiding skills, break down complex skill sets in order to train and assess them and learn by observing their trainers during the HOT Course. Target Group: The course is designed for active Tourist […]
Hands On Tourist Guide Training (HOT)
Duration 7 days Target Group The Hands on Tourist Guide Training (HOT) Course is designed as an introductory course in practical guiding skills and is equally suitable for guides who are already competent in local knowledge but wish to improve their practical guiding skills. The course is well suited to be integrated into existing tourist […]
Training Courses
Courses In-house, in our training centres or online in-house Hands On Tourist Guide Training (HOT) Skills training as introduction for new tourist guides and as a refresher for experienced guides, also suited to be integrated into existing tourist guide training programmes. more details in-house or training centres Train the Trainer (TtT) For active tourist guides […]
Silk Road
About Us UNWTO Silk Road Project Encouraged by renewed interest in the Silk Road – for cultural exchange, trade and tourism – the United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) decided to revive the ancient routes as a tourism concept, uniting three continents once more in a project encompassing over 12.000 km. WFTGA as an affiliate […]
Train the Trainer (TtT) Course
Duration 14 days Target Group The course is designed for active tourist guides, who want to become trainers and train tourist guides in their own geographic area of tourist guide qualification. It is also relevant for existing trainers who would like to improve their training skills and gain a WFTGA qualification to train tourist guides […]
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy 1. An overview of data protection General information The following information will provide you with an easy to navigate overview of what will happen with your personal data when you visit this website. The term “personal data” comprises all data that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information about the […]
Members
How to join Who Can Become a WFTGA Member? The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) has fully renewed and strengthened its Affiliate Partnership Programme. This revision reflects our commitment to building meaningful, long-term collaborations with organisations that support the global guiding profession. With clearer benefits, regular exchange opportunities, and closer involvement with the […]