News
Here we regularly publish public news about our association. In the members' area you will find the newsletters for our members' associations, tourist guides and trainers.
International Tourist Guide Day 2025: Tourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors
Every year on 21st February, tourist guides around the world come together to celebrate International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD), honouring their profession and its vital role in society. The 2025 theme, “Tourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors,” highlights the unique contribution
Training Without Borders: Tourist Guides as a Bridge Between Cultures
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – In a time when borders are being reinforced and differences are often used to divide, Tourist Guides play a crucial role in fostering connections, explaining cultures, and promoting mutual understanding. However, this responsibility requires much more
WFTGA Convention 2026 Japan | NEWSLETTER 3
My name is Sam and I am the Chairman of the Fukuoka Host Committee for 21st WFTGA Convention in 2026. We recently hosted President Sebastian and Head of Training Viola from WFTGA for the site inspection visit. We visited many tourist
The Future of Guiding: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Profession
On 31 January, 2025, Sebastian Frankenberger, president of the WFTGA delivered a talk on Artificial Intelligence for Tourist Guides to members of the NFTGA. He showed how recent developments in A.I. can now enable guides to automate and simplify many
2025 WFTGA Sabah Trainer Convention – Workshop Announcement 6
Have you ever wondered if you are fully up-to-date with your training methods or if there are ways to work smarter? Learn from Maricar Donato, the master of embracing trends and innovations and be inspired by her energy and passion
2025 WFTGA Sabah Trainer Convention – Workshop Announcement 5
Working as a tourist guide and especially trainer of tourist guides can bring stress and intensity. We all want to give our best, always. However, we can’t look after others, if we don’t look after ourselves and find ways to
2025 WFTGA Sabah Trainer Convention – Workshop Announcement 3 and 4
The Art of Storytelling in Training Wildlife/Nature Guiding Facilitator: Grace Leong (WFTGA National Trainer) With her extensive 35 years guiding experience and continuing training assignments with Government and Colleges, as well as WFTGA, Grace will be leading 2 workshops
International Tourist Guide Day 2025
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.
2025 WFTGA Sabah Trainer Convention – Workshop Announcement 2
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) give us an overarching and wide-reaching framework for ambition and action. Discover how you already embrace the SDG and how to further integrate them into your training activities. Topic: Training Tourist Guides as
2025 WFTGA Sabah Trainer Convention – Workshop Announcement 1
What exactly is the role of WFTGA trainers and how can they become truly sustainable, with leaving a legacy across cultures? Topic: Facilitation in the work of the trainer (ITtT debrief) Facilitator: Mateusz Tomaszczyk (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) Description: The
Sebastian Frankenberger Highlights Ethical Responsibility of Tour Guides in an Era of Misinformation and Populism
Yesterday, Sebastian Frankenberger, president of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, addressed a group of DC tour guides at the George Washington School of Business on the Ethical Responsibility of Tourist Guides in the Age of Alternative Truths and
Tourist Guiding During Turbulent Times – Maria Rastvorova (WFTGA National Trainer)
I am feeling very proud and professionally happy about the start of the New 2025 year with the online session l initiated, moderated and co-organised as Mariia Rastvorova_(WFTGA National Tourist Guide Trainer for Ukraine) with a great support of Mateusz
2025 Sabah Trainer Convention – Keynote Speakers announced
Only three weeks to go to our inaugural WFTGA Trainer Convention in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The convention theme is Sustainable Training without Borders. We are delighted to announce three prestigious keynote speakers who will address this theme during the
SNATTI – Guias de Portugal Certification & Quality Tests for National and Regional Tourist Guides
SNATTI – Guias de Portugal is pleased to announce that, from January 13 to February 5, the Certification and Quality Tests for National and Regional Tourist Guides will take place. These tests represent a crucial milestone in promoting professionalism and excellence
WFTGA Cyprus International Training Centre hosts 2 successful courses
(Report by Demetra Argyrou Viguier, WFTGA Lead International Trainer) The WFTGA “Train the Trainer” and “International Train the Trainer” Courses, held in Cyprus in November 2024, have successfully concluded, marking an important milestone in the professional development of tourist guides
WFTGA Convention 2026 Japan | NEWSLETTER 2
My name is Miz and I am the President of Team Japan K-iTG. Thank you to the many people who submitted their Intention Surveys. We have received many comments from many people across the globe that they would like to
Happy Holidays!
As we approach the close of 2024 and look forward to an exciting 2025, I am filled with gratitude for the immense support we have received throughout this journey. Together, we have laid the groundwork for many of the ideas
WFTGA Office Closure
The WFTGA Volunteers will be taking a well deserved break for the festive season from 20 December 2024 to 06 January 2025. During this period, our office will be unavailable, and responses to emails and other communications may be delayed.
2025 WFTGA Trainer Convention – register now
We are thrilled to invite all WFTGA Trainers to join the first ever Trainer Convention, hosted by the Sabah Tourist Guide Association. Let’s get together for a global gathering dedicated to advancing excellence in tourist guide training while embracing sustainability and
Strengthening Global Ties: Maricar Donato’s Visit to SLINT GL in Sri Lanka
On December 3, 2024, WFTGA Global Brand Ambassador Maricar Donato had the privilege of visiting the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers (SLINT GL), a Full Member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA). The visit
WFTGA Executive Board Meets with Cyprus Deputy Minister of Tourism
The Executive Board (WxBo) of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) held a productive meeting with the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cyprus, Mr. Kostas Koumis, on Monday, November 25, 2024. The meeting, conducted in a constructive and
WFTGA President delivers Keynote at FEG Meeting
The President of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), Sebastian Frankenberger, had the honour of addressing the Federation of European Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) during their annual meeting on the historic island of Rhodes. The event brought together
WFTGA ExBo member meet with colleagues from the Sabah Tourist Guide Association
During her family vacation in Sabah Malaysia, WFTGA ExBo member and appointed secretary Ivana Ćuruvija, had a chance to meet with colleagues from the Sabah Tourist Guide Association. Ivana and her family were privileged to be guided by WFTGA International Trainer Roger
History of the Yerevan International Training Center
The history of the Yerevan International Training Center began in 2014 when at the Ministry of Economy of Armenia the WFTGA President Felicitas Wressnig and Lia Bakhshinyan, President of the Armenian Guides Guild (AGG), signed the document that stated the
WFTGA Convention 2026 Japan | NEWSLETTER 1
Join us for the first EVER international convention of tourist guides in Japan. We look forward to the opportunity to introduce Fukuoka to the international participants and tourist guides of the WFTGA. Become “Fukuoka ambassadors” while we showcase our local
The WFTGA 21st Tourist Guide Convention 2026 website is now live!
The WFTGA 21st Tourist Guide Convention 2026 website is now live! During the coming weeks and months we will be adding further information. convention.wftga.org Save the date: Main Convention: 9th to 13th February 2026 Pre Programme: 5th to 8th
Three HOT Courses in Almaty
With the sponsorship support of Almaty Tourism Department, WFTGA delivered 2 HOT (Hands on Tourist Guiding) courses in Almaty, with the 3rd one to follow. The team of Lead International Trainers, including Gennadiy Chudnovets, Jean Wang and Ivana Ćuruvija, was
Launch of Social Media Campaign – Training Thursday
We are live with Training Thursday – a snappy, eye-catching introduction to you, our WFTGA Trainers on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instragram. How can you feature: update your Trainer Profile on the website e-mail us a high resolution qualify photograph of
Strategic Partnership to Support Culinary Tourism Industry Growth
The World Food Travel Association (WFTA) and the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) are thrilled to announce the relaunch of their strategic partnership, focusing on the training and certification of culinary tourist guides and tour directors. This collaboration
Save the date: 1st WFTGA Trainer Convention
We are excited to announce the launch of a biennial interim conference that will take place between the WFTGA Conventions. We are pleased to share that the Tourist Guide Association of Malaysia, Sabah, has made a wonderful offer to host
