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The Global Voice of Professional Tourist Guides

Welcome to the WFTGA press centre. Here you will find press releases, background material, images and direct contacts for journalists covering tourism, cultural heritage and the guiding profession. We respond quickly, speak plainly, and are happy to provide expert voices from every region of the world.
Emma Guest-Consales
Emma Guest-Consales
Vice President · Public Relations Portfolio
ITGD Bulgaria WEB 138

WFTGA at a glance

Founded 1985

Registered as an NGO in Vienna, Austria, under the Austrian Associations Act.

90 member associations

National tourist guide associations in more than 50 countries worldwide.

200,000+ tourist guides

The largest global community of qualified, locally licensed tourist guides.

Recognised worldwide

Affiliate Member of UN Tourism and partner of UNESCO initiatives.

Training & standards

Internationally recognised training programmes and the Code of Guiding Practice.

Advocacy & peace

From the Nagasaki Peace Declaration to defending licensing standards worldwide.

A note for editors: a tourist guide is a qualified, locally licensed professional who interprets the cultural and natural heritage of a specific area — not to be confused with a tour guide, tour leader or tour manager. Read the full definition.

Press contacts

Working on a story about tourist guides, cultural heritage or global tourism? We are happy to help with interviews, statements, background information and images.

Sebastian Frankenberger

President
Interviews, statements and policy positions
Languages: English, German
president@wftga.org · +49 170 9323103

Emma Guest-Consales

Vice President · Public Relations Portfolio
Press enquiries, materials and image requests
Languages: English
vicepresident@wftga.org
General press enquiries: info@wftga.org. We aim to respond within 24 hours. Interviews are available in person (Vienna), by video call or by phone. Time zone: CET/CEST.
Contact the press team

Press materials

Boilerplate — About WFTGA

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) is the global voice of professional tourist guides. Founded in 1985 and registered as an NGO in Vienna, Austria, WFTGA represents around 90 national associations with more than 200,000 tourist guides in over 50 countries. The Federation promotes high standards of training, ethics, sustainability and professional recognition, and advocates for qualified, locally licensed tourist guides worldwide. WFTGA is an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism and a partner of UNESCO initiatives. www.wftga.org · info@wftga.org

This text may be reproduced verbatim in any editorial coverage of WFTGA.

Images for editorial use

The following images are free for editorial use in connection with coverage of WFTGA. Please credit as indicated. High-resolution versions and additional images are available on request via info@wftga.org.
Portrait Sebastian Frankenberger
Sebastian Frankenberger, WFTGA President. Photo: © WFTGA
Logo WFTGA round
WFTGA logo — free for editorial use
ITGD2025
International Tourist Guide Day 2025, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo: © WFTGA
WFTGA Trainer Convention group Mt Kinabalu
1st WFTGA Trainer Convention 2025, Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo: © WFTGA

Latest press releases

All press releases may be republished free of charge with attribution to WFTGA. For official positions on regulation, licensing and ethics, see also our WFTGA Statements.
Happy International Tourist Guide Day 2026

International Tourist Guide Day 2026

Tourist Guides Worldwide Celebrate Their Role as Bridge-Builders for Peace and Understanding On 21 February, tourist guides around the globe

20th Feb 2026
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