Tourist guide associations worldwide
Full Membership is the foundation on which WFTGA is built. National and regional associations of tourist guides form the backbone of our Federation and are our most important partners in strengthening the guiding profession worldwide.
Our Full Members
Search the directory or browse the map to find a professional tourist guide association near you.
Strong associations, a strong profession
We strongly believe in the sustainable development of the guiding profession through organised associations. By uniting and empowering associations globally, we help create stronger structures, clearer representation, higher standards and a more resilient tourism sector.
Don’t yet have a national tourist guide association in your country? See our guide on setting up an association.
Benefits of Full Membership
Your association joins a global peer network committed to excellence, sustainability and professional cooperation.
Global visibility and representation
- Listing on the WFTGA website, which attracts around 10,000 individual visitors per month
- Use of the WFTGA Full Member logo, a symbol of recognised professionalism
- Public support from WFTGA when challenges arise with authorities, legislation or stakeholders
- We publish your press releases, announcements, events and achievements on our website and social media
Participation and democracy
- Send one delegate to WFTGA General Assemblies, where decisions are discussed and voted on
- Constitutional reform towards one vote for each association
- Help shape sector standards such as the Code of Guiding Practice and the future Code of Conduct
Exchange and peer learning
- Exclusive access to the annual Association Journeys: present your work and get feedback from peers worldwide
- Upcoming exchange forums for Treasurers, Administrators and Presidents
- Present and collaborate at Conventions, training events and international meetings
Training support
- Support with the accreditation of training programmes and national or regional training standards
- WFTGA CMD (Continuous Member Development) sessions, free of charge for associations
- Planned expansion: advanced courses, Train-the-Trainer support and capacity building
Discounts and cultural benefits
- Access to the Cultour Card, with discounts and often free entry to museums and attractions
- Special rates for WFTGA trainings, Conventions and partner services
Communication and networking
- Monthly WFTGA newsletter with international updates and resources
- Social media features that spotlight your association
- Protected members’ area with documents, past newsletters, recordings, policies, statements and toolkits
Organisational growth
- Guidance on official letters, advocacy documents and communication with authorities
- Participation in the Guide Marketing Portal (planned rollout: autumn 2026)
- Future legal advisory support and software for association management: membership, accounting and administration
Membership fees
Since 1 January 2026 every association pays one single, consolidated annual fee, based on the WFTGA tier of its country.
Important principles
- No more “country fee” and “association fee”. Every association pays one single annual fee, based on the tier classification of its country.
- One fee per association. Fees are no longer divided among several associations in the same country.
- Transitional flexibility for 2026. Because of the short implementation period, the Executive Board may grant temporary exemptions for 2026 on request.
Annual adjustment
All membership fees are adjusted automatically each year in line with the global inflation rate published in the IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO).
- Adjustment = global inflation rate of the previous year
- Rounded up to the next 10 currency units
- Applied automatically on 1 August each year
- Relevant for the new fiscal year beginning 1 November
| Tier | GDP (PPP) per capita | Yearly fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | GDP (PPP) per capita above USD 60,000 | €700 |
| Tier 2 | USD 50,000 to 60,000 | €600 |
| Tier 3 | USD 30,000 to 50,000 | €500 |
| Tier 4 | USD 10,000 to 30,000 | €250 |
| Tier 5 | USD 10,000 or less | €100 |
Tiers are based on the latest IMF and OSCE GDP (PPP) figures of each country, as published in October 2025.
Tier 1: which countries?
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, UK, USA
Tier 2: which countries?
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Spain
Tier 3: which countries?
Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Belarus, Chile, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montenegro, Oman, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Trinidad & Tobago, Türkiye, Uruguay
Tier 4: which countries?
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Laos, Libya, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, North Macedonia, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Tier 5: which countries?
Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Frequently asked questions
Who can become a Full Member of WFTGA?
Any non-profit, independent association (or group of associations) of officially registered tourist guides from any country may apply for Full Membership.
What does "official tourist guide" mean?
Members of the applying association must be registered or licensed by the appropriate authority in their country, or by an equivalent recognised system.
How many votes does my association have?
Under the current Constitution, each country is represented by one voting delegate. As part of the ongoing constitutional reform, each association will receive one vote in the future.
What are the main benefits of Full Membership?
Global visibility, access to WFTGA resources and documents, participation in the Association Journeys, networking, support letters for local advocacy, social media features, eligibility for WFTGA programmes and much more.
How much is the membership fee?
From 1 January 2026, all associations pay a single, consolidated annual fee based on the WFTGA tier system. There is no longer a separate “country fee” and “association fee”. See Fees.
How are fees adjusted each year?
Fees are updated automatically using the global inflation rate published in the IMF World Economic Outlook and rounded up to the nearest 10 currency units.
Can several associations from the same country become Full Members?
Yes. Each association applies individually and pays its own fee.
How does the registration process work?
Associations submit the required documents; the Executive Board reviews the application and decides within one month.
What support does WFTGA offer?
Letters to authorities, professional statements, press amplification, training advice, course accreditation, development of a Code of Guiding Practice and Code of Conduct, plus upcoming resources in governance, legal advice, administration software and networking platforms.
Can our association take part in WFTGA Conventions?
Yes. Full Members may send a delegate to the General Assemblies held during Conventions and may also contribute presentations, workshops and reports.
Where can we find previous resources, recordings and documents?
All Full Members have access to the WFTGA members’ area with documents, past newsletters, recordings, policies and toolkits.
Apply for Full Membership
Full Membership is open to any non-profit, independent association or group of associations of tourist guides from any country whose members are recognised as official tourist guides by the appropriate licensing authority or an equivalent national system.
Registration documents, confirmation of official tourist guide status and general information about your organisation.
The Board checks eligibility according to the WFTGA Constitution and Membership Regulations.
Applications are approved or declined within 30 days of submission.
After approval and payment of the fee, your association gains full access to all services, visibility, support and voting rights.
Other ways to be part of WFTGA
Questions about Full Membership?
Our Secretary Marián Bilačič and the membership team are happy to help your association.