Commemorating the End of World War II โ The Responsibility of Tourist Guides in Addressing Historical and Political Themes
Vienna, 8 May 2025 โ On this significant day, marking the end of World War II, we not only remember the historical event but also acknowledge the profound responsibility it carries. Tourist Guides around the world play a crucial role in conveying history and its consequences. It is time to overcome the longstanding taboo that […]
Trainer Representative 2025 to 2027
WFTGA’s Training Committee proudly oversees the day-to-day training-related activities of our global network for professional tourist guides. The committee’s members hold distinct positions and perform specific, crucial tasks. A key role within the committee is the liaison between the entire WFTGA Trainer Team, composed of over 100 trainers, and the committee. This essential connection is […]
Continuous Profession Development 20th May
Dimitria Papadopoulou (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) This workshop is part of our 2025 series of Continuous Professional Development ‘Stay Ahead, Stay Informed, Stay Inspired’ and will introduce tourist guides to the basic principles for successful communication when they are guiding groups. The participants will learn not only how to structure their message but mainly how […]
WFTGA Convention 2026 Japan | NEWSLETTER 4
Hello everyone, this is Sam Takashima, Chairman of the Host Committee for the WFTGA 2026 Convention. As we prepare for the Fukuoka Convention scheduled for February 2026, the host organisation, K-iTG, has been holding intensive internal meetings and online discussions with WFTGA over the past months. We have been making every effort to open the […]
Newly qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guides for Scotland
News from the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) by Vice-Chair Fergus Halliday It was an absolute joy and pleasure to be at the Cowane’s Trust Hospital to welcome our latest batch of qualified guides in Scotland. The Scottish Tourist Guides Association Blue Badge, is a globally accredited, 20 month-long qualification that proves both the knowledge […]
Farewell to Pope Francis โ A Role Model for Us All
Today, we bid farewell to Pope Francis โ a man whose life and work deeply touched the world. He stood as a symbol of kindness, humility, and profound humanity. His unwavering commitment to the poor, the marginalised, and the vulnerable will remain in our hearts and calls us all to reflect on our own responsibilities. […]
Save the Date & Book Now for the FEG AGM 2025 in Sweden! โจ๏ธ
Weโre thrilled to invite all FEG members to the 24th European Tourist Guide Meeting & Delegates Annual General Meeting, taking place in Sweden from 24 to 30 November 2025 and hosted by our member SveGuide Theme: Magic Sweden โ From Royal Streets to Rustic Retreats Discover the elegant royal atmosphere of #Stockholm, followed by the […]
WFTGA at Interpret Europe 2025 Conference โ Sharing Expertise, Embracing New Perspectives
Fromย 11โ14 April 2025, Viola Lewis, Susanne Kirchberger and Mateusz Tomaszczyk – three WFTGA trainers proudly represented our global guiding community at the Interpret Europe Conferenceย in Sulejรณwek, Poland. Set in the inspiring surroundings of the Muzeum Jรณzefa Piลsudskiego, the conference welcomed over 100 delegates from 25 countries to explore this yearโs compelling theme: โHeroes, anti-heroes, and […]
WFTGA Engages at ICCA Association Readiness Lab in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. | April 9, 2025 โ The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) proudly participated in the ICCA Association Readiness Lab: Navigating Disruption in Unpredictable Times, a dynamic and interactive workshop focused on preparing associations for current and future challenges in an evolving global landscape. Representing WFTGA at the event was Maricar Donato, […]
NEW: Global Networking Forum for Tourist Guides
Launching this April and running through November 2025, we are proud to introduce the Global Networking Forum for Tourist Guides. Hosted by the WFTGA Area Representatives, this new series will offer a dynamic space for continued dialogue, shared learning, and professional growth. Each month, guides from around the world will come together to: Identify emerging […]
Airbnb calls for Experience submissions from WFTGA
Weโre excited to share that Airbnb is calling for submissionsโwith powerful features designed to help top-tier operators, hosts, and guides grow their businesses more easily than ever. We think youโll be a great fit and would love for you to submit your experiences to the platform.ย Hereโs what you need to know: Easier Listing Creation: […]
Celebrating Ruby Roy: A Lifetime of Dedication and Recognition
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is proud to celebrate Ruby Roy, who served as our President from 2003 to 2007. To this day, Ruby remains a valued member of our community, always offering her guidance, support, and expertise to WFTGA whenever needed. We are especially delighted to share the wonderful news that […]
Join the Global Movement: Become a WFTGA Area Representative!
Are you passionate about guiding and eager to make a lasting impact on the global tourism community? The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is calling on dedicated professionals like YOU to step forward as anย Area Representativeย and help shape the future of our industry! Why Volunteer? As an Area Representative, you become a vital […]
Korฤula Tourist Guide Association Hosts Croatian Tourist Guide Associationโs General Assembly
The Korฤula Tourist Guides Association, a proud member of the Croatian Tourist Guide Association (CTGA), recently welcomed fellow guides to Korฤula Town for the CTGA General Assembly, held on 8โ9 March 2025. The event showcased Korฤulaโs rich history, cultural heritage, and unique traditions, including the famous Moreลกka and Kumpanija/Moลกtra sword dances. Delegates explored the islandโs […]
Empowering Guides in a Changing World: The Latest Innovations from Vox Group
The world of guiding is evolving, and so are the expectations of todayโs tech-savvy travellers. As visitor needs shift towards seamless, multilingual, and interactive experiences, guides remain at the heart of this transformation. At Vox Group, we are committed to ensuring that technology supports, rather than replaces, the guideโs roleโenhancing communication, improving group management, and […]
A Meaningful Encounter in Singapore: Learning from May Hui
Whenever I travel, I make it a point to meet with fellow tourist guides over a coffee to exchange insights about our profession as well as about training. In Singapore, I had the privilege of joining WFTGA trainer May Hui on one of her ยซย trainingย ยป ย walking tours for Tourist Guides โan experience that left a […]
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, โTourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors,โ highlights the unique contribution of guides in fostering understanding, inclusion, and harmony among cultures. โAs tourist guides, we donโt […]
Training Without Borders: Tourist Guides as a Bridge Between Cultures
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia โ 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 than just local knowledgeโit demands excellent guiding skills, intercultural competence, conflict management abilities, and the […]
Online links
Dear online participant of the WFTGA Trainer Convention, We are delighted you will join us online for the hybrid events of our WFTGA Trainer Convention in Sabah, Malaysia. Please refer to the programme WFTGA Trainer Convention 2025 for the details of the hybrid sessions. In addition to the earlier advertised sessions, we have added […]
WFTGA Convention 2026 Japan | NEWSLETTER 3
My name is Sam and I am the Chairman of the Fukuoka Host Committee for 21st WFTGAย Convention in 2026.ย We recently hosted President Sebastian and Head of Trainingย Viola from WFTGA for the site inspection visit.ย We visited many tourist places in Fukuoka and we are satisfied with the progression of the convention planning.ย ย
3rd up-date for in-person participants
Dear in-person participants of the WFTGA Trainer Convention in Sabah, Here comes the third up-date on our up-coming Trainer Convention. For those of you, who have just registered, please scroll down to see the earlier e-mails. Thank you for sending your arrival times / flight itineraries to the organisers. If you havenโt done so, please […]
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.ย He showed how recent developments in A.I. can now enable guides to automate and simplify many time-consuming tasks such as replying to emails, creating and updating schedules, preparing summary documents of […]
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 for training.ย Topic: Smart, Sustainable and Savvy – Modernise your Training Methods Facilitator: Maricar Donato […]
2nd up-date for participants
Dear WFTGA Trainers, WFTGA Members and aspiring trainers, Dear Participants of the WFTGA Trainer Convention in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, I have now arrived in Kota Kinabalu and look forward to seeing you โ either in-person or online โ in just under 2 weeksโ time. Our hosts, the Sabah Tourist Guides Association, are pulling out all […]
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 canโt look after others, if we donโt look after ourselves and find ways to relax. Topic: Health & Wellness in Training – The Use of Essential Oil by Mdm […]
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 with special emphasis on sustainable training and guiding practices. Join us for the Inaugural WFTGA […]
International Tourist Guide Day 2025
Tourist Guides as Peace Ambassadors โ 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 […]
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.ย Topic: Training Tourist Guides as facilitators of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Facilitators: Viola Lewis (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) and […]
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 workshop is intended to point out the differences in the facilitator’s approach in the context […]
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 Populism. He explained that tourist guides today, in addition to conveying historical and architectural information, […]
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 Tomaszczyk (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) and Viola Lewis (Head of WFTGA Training) Geopolitical turbulence has […]
up-date for participants
Dear Colleagues, Dear WFTGA Trainers, WFTGA Members and aspiring trainers, Dear Participants of the WFTGA Trainer Convention in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Just over 3 weeks to go until we meet for our first ever Trainer Convention. Thank you for registering and lending your support โ either in-person or online. You can look forward to an […]
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.ย We are delighted to announce three prestigious keynote speakers who will address this theme during the opening plenary on Thursday 20 Feb 2025: Dr. Maklarin Bin Lakim (Director of Sabah Parks) […]
SNATTI โ Guias de Portugal Certification & Quality Tests for National and Regional Tourist Guides
SNATTI โ Guias de Portugalย 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.ย These tests represent a crucial milestone in promoting professionalism and excellence in the sector, paving the way for obtaining the prestigiousย Official Tourist GuideBadge, an exclusive designation […]
WFTGA Cyprus International Training Centre hosts 2 successful courses
(Report by Demetra Argyrou Viguier, WFTGA Lead International Trainer) The WFTGA “Train the Trainer” and โInternational Train the Trainerโ Courses, held in Cyprus in November 2024, have successfully concluded, marking an important milestone in the professional development of tourist guides from across the globe. This intensive two-week training brought together participants from 11 countries, creating […]
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 visit Japan. At the WFTGA 2026 Bid held in Sicily, Italy, Japan was selected as […]
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 we plan to bring to fruition in the coming year. I invite you to explore […]
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. We look forward to serving you again when we reopen on 07 January 2025. We […]
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.ย Let’s get together for a global gathering dedicated to advancing excellence in tourist guide training while embracing sustainability and innovation. Register here: WFTGA TRAINER CONVENTION 2025 REGISTRATION FORM Download the Trainer Convention Brochure here […]
Strengthening Global Ties: Maricar Donatoโs 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 marked a significant moment of cultural exchange and professional collaboration. Donato was welcomed with a […]
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 collaborative atmosphere at the offices of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, also included representatives from […]
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 professional tourist guides from across Europe to discuss key issues facing the profession. In his […]
WFTGA ExBo member meet with colleagues from the Sabah Tourist Guide Association
During her family vacation in Sabahย Malaysia, WFTGA ExBo member and appointedย secretary Ivana ฤuruvija, 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 Rajah, the president of STGA, and WFTGA National Trainer, the Viceย president of STGA, Grace Leong […]
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 establishment of the center. However, our first acquaintance with the WFTGA had taken place even […]
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 โFukuoka ambassadorsโ while we showcase our local members the โglobal standardโ of guiding. We want to help our members learn about international […]
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.ย convention.wftga.org ย Save the date:ย Main Convention: 9th to 13th February 2026 Pre Programme: 5th to 8th February 2026 Post Programme: 13th to 17th February 2026 Convention 2026 intention survey to attend:ย […]
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 ฤuruvija, was working with the support of WFTGA National Trainers Zhanar Gabit to organise and deliver a […]
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 yourself in action as tourist guide or trainer Answer 4 simple questions: Where do you […]
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 aims to address the growing interest in food and beverage as primary attractions for travelers […]
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 the first Trainer Conference. This event will be held from 18th to 21st February 2025 […]
