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WFTGA International Trainer Jassim Zaiton and Cruise cooperation partner Grant Holmes contributed to the launch of โ€œTour Guides Open Dayโ€ in Bahrain, October 18, 2015

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism the โ€œTour Guides Open Dayโ€ is launched Sunday morning at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. In his speech, the minister referred to the Ministryโ€™s recent focus to implement plans and programs aimed at enhancing tourism sector in […]

British Embassy Re-opens in Tehran

The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom (Philip Hammond) has travelled to ย Iran to reopen the embassy. He will be Britainโ€™s first top diplomat to visit the Iranian capital in nearly 14 years. And the Iranian embassy in London will be opened likewise. It is expected that Tehran-London relations will be normalized, including in consular […]

Visa On Arrival: Iran

Iran Extends Upon arrival Visa Validity to 30 Days for 58 Countries and soon, will rise to 190 countries Iran has extended airport visa validity from 15 to 30 days and tourists will be able to ask airport visa for 30 days in all border airports. Iranian government’s recent decision to increase the validity length […]

The Tourist Guide Profession Loses Two Champions

It is with great sadness that we announce the untimely death of two dear friends and colleagues Annie Passot Tomianka (France): ย Founder of the Fรฉdรฉration Nationale des Guides Interprรฉtes et Confรฉrenciers (FNGIC 1981) and 30 years on the Executive Board of Fรฉdรฉration Europรฉene de Guides (FEG), also two years its President. She has been a […]

WFTGA celebrates 30th Anniversary in Prague

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations was founded in 1985. ย Founder members Johann Szegรถ, Rune Lemon, Bertha Maria Major and Felicitas Wressnig (current President) were joined by Past Presidents Titina Loizides, Deborah Androus, Ruby Roy and Rosalind Newlands at the 16th WFTGA International Convention in Prague, Czech Repbuplic to celebrate 30 years with more […]

WFTGA Sponsor Mrs Edmee Pistis Leventis awarded the OBE

Cypriot national Edmee Pistis Leventis has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours list for services to Arts Philanthropy. Mrs Leventis, born in Paphos in 1945, is a full time voluntary worker, in addition to being the former Chairwoman – and present member – of […]

WFTGA International Convention 2017: Bidders Announced

WFTGA International Convention 2017 Bids Denmark Iran Singapore The Association of Authorized Guides. Iran Federation of Tourist ย Guide Association   Society of Tourist Guides Singapore Copenhagen Teheran Singapore Cool Copenhagen Iran: A World With No Borders   Tourist Guides โ€“ The Human Interface Monday 23rd โ€“ Friday 27thย  January Saturday 28th January- Wednesday 1st February […]

First NATGA Guides Conference: Tirana, Albania

First Conference of Tourist Guides of Albania. So far there is no law for Tourist Guides in Albania, but tourism has grown by outstanding 28% last year! The National Association of Tourist Guides in Albaniaโ€“ NATGA ( member of WFTGA ), ย is aiming to start professional trainings as soon as a new law on qualification […]

World Committee on Tourism Ethics Praises Initiatives on Accessible Tourism

The fourteenth meeting of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics meeting in Rome, Italy (17-18 November 2014) commended the efforts of UNWTO and its partners to advance Accessible Tourism for All. The Committee firmly supported the โ€œMontreal Declaration โ€“ A World for Allโ€, the outcome document of the recent World Summit on Destinations for All, […]

First WFTGA Training Courses in Singapore

WFTGA Train the Trainer Courses have been delivered in Singapore with Lead International Trainers Viola Lewis and Ivana Curuvija and International Trainer Jean Wang

Nadia Battani and Terry Quitevis: Sad News

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of two of our colleagues. ย Nadia was a former Vice President of APTG Montreal and her untimely death has shocked her colleagues around the worldย  Terry was the long term president of MULTAGAP our new members in the Philippines . we express our condolences to […]

Prague Convention Early Registration Extended to 20 September

The WFTGA Executive Board and the 2015 Prague organising committee have come upon unexpected and exceptional opportunities for the 2015 convention and they need a little extra time to develop and incorporate these recently presented ideas.ย  This is good news for all, since many members could also use a little extra time to complete their […]

Today we are all Malaysians: Statement by Chairman of ICTP

“The World travel and tourism industry must come together and take leadership after the Malaysia Airlines (MH17) incident.” This is the opinion voiced by Juergen Thomas Steinmetz, Chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP). He said today: “On behalf of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), our prayers are with the families […]

Call For Improved Tourist Guide Training As New WFTGA International Training Centre Opens in Sabah

WFTGA President Felicitas Wressnig opened the WFTGA International Training Centre at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. ย In her opening speech Ms Wressnig called for better tourist guide training in the region. http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/04/09/call-for-better-guide-training-to-promote-sabah/ The first Hands On Tourist Guide and Train the Trainer Courses were attended by participants from Hong Kong, India, Poland, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.ย 

Commonwealth Games Glasgow 14 Tours

Scottish Tourist Guides have developed new tours for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgowย  http://www.scotsman.com/news/glasgow-2014-is-much-more-than-two-weeks-of-sport-1-3348557

International Tourist Guide Day 2014

DEAR MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS of WFTGA: It is the 25th year we celebrate International Tourist Guide Day around the world and many volunteer for a major celebration in order to promote the profession of the โ€œArea Specific Interpreterโ€. Many organize guided tours for free: more than 40 cities in Germanyย  offer special treats (link: http://www.germany.travel/en/news/news_detail-156929.htmlย ย ย ); […]

First WFTGA Training Course in Iran

WFTGA Lead International Trainer Ivana Curuvija and WFTGA International Trainer Houri Nazaretian ran a WFTGA Hands on Tourist Guide Training Course in Iran in December 2013.

WFTGA Convention 2015: Sponsorship Opportunities

The 16th WFTGA Convention will take place in Prague in January 2015. There are many opportunities for marketing and sponsorship during the Convention. Forย enquiries please contact Stanislav Voleman, the Convention Coordinator and Host. Click Here Forย Details of how you can become involved

Area Representatives Appointed for 2013-2015

All the 2013-2015 Area Representative appointments have been completed.ย  Most of our Area Representatives have resumed their duties and are already active in promoting the WFTGA aims and goals. Their contribution and volunteer work is much appreciated by the ExBo and all WFTGA Members.ย ย ย ย    Take a moment to wholeheartly thank them all and wish […]

Cyprus Training Courses 2013:Last Chance to Book

The 2013 WFTGA Train the Trainer (TtT) and the International Train the Trainer (ITtT) courses are scheduled to be held at the WFTGA Cyprus International Training Center, in cooperation with the University of Cyprus.ย  Training Courses will be held between 9-23 November, 2013.ย  More ย information: Course Promotion Cyprus 2013

2013 Conference Delegates create Macau Declaration

A proposal by Member Association Delegates to the 15th WFTGA International Tourist Guide Conference in Macau resulted in the creation of a document to circulate amongst tourist guides, tourism authorities, and those who hire tourist guides. A Committee of Delegates to the General Assembly drafted the Macau Declaration, which was then agreed by a unanimous […]

WFTGA: Member of UNWTO

The Executive Council of UNWTO agreed at its 90th session in Mombassa, Kenya on 19-21st June 2011 ย to admit the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations to Affiliate Membership. ”ย It is with great satisfaction that we welcome the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) and all of its employees to the World Tourism Organization. […]

Train the Trainer Course 2012: WFTGA International Training Centre Cyprus

TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE: WFTGA International Training Centre: Cyprus The latest WFTGA Train the Trainer Course in Cyprus took place from May 20th 2012 – June 2nd 2012.ย  Participants came from Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,Thailand , United Arab Emirates and Ukraine. ย Thanks are also due for the generous sponsorship offered by […]

WFTGA President in Central America

Rosalind Newlands (WFTGA President) visited tourist guides in Central America during a cruise on Cunard ship Queen Victoria. She had a meeting with members of the Costa Rica Tourist Guides Association in Puntarenas and then joined a tour with local guide Davide. Puntarenas (Sandy Point)ย is a centre for Ecotourism which is very advanced – with […]

International Tourist Guide Day 2013

International Tourist Guide Day is being celebrated all over the world. The day is an opportunity for tourist guides to show their local communities what they do. For more information contact info@wftga.org

WFTGA Training 2013

CENTRE OF CONTINUING ASSESSMENT AND EDUCATION at UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS together with UNIVERSITY of CYPRUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH UNIT (ARU) and WFTGA announce TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE November 11th โ€“ 22nd, 2013 Nicosia, Cyprus ย  Perhaps You: Would like to work as a tourist guide trainer? Would like to improve the standards of tourist guiding in […]

4th UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum, Doha Qatar: WFTGA President Official Speaker

WFTGA President Rosalind Newlands was an official speaker at the 4th UNAOC Forum in Doha Qatar on Sunday 11th December 2011. Rosalind was part of the official UNWTO Delegation which led a workshop entitled Tourism & Travel: Celbrating Diversiy, Linking Cultures and Promoting Dialogue Between Civilizations. Rosalind emphasised the importance of Tourist Guides as a […]

WFTGA HOT Course in Serbia

WFTGA International Lead Trainer Mary Kemp Clarke and WFTGA International Trainer Ivana Curuvija are delivering the first WFTGA HOT Course in Novi Sad Serbia.

WFTGA Training 2011

WFTGA ย worked in partnership with UNWTO and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Managementย (An Organisation of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India)ย to deliver practical tourist guide training for new guides in Amristar Punjab India in May/June 2011 WFTGA Trainers also ran courses in Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Serbia and Tanzania during 2011.