A professional Tourist Guide is a trained and qualified cultural mediator who interprets the natural and cultural heritage of a place for visitors. Around the world, the requirements to work as a Tourist Guide differ greatly: in some countries the profession is fully regulated by law, in others only partially regulated, and in many places it remains entirely unregulated.
The WFTGA advocates for clear minimum standards in training and qualification so that visitors, communities and guides themselves can rely on quality, safety and ethical practice. Where regulation exists, we encourage Tourist Guides to meet the official national requirements. Where there is no regulation, we work with associations, institutions and authorities to develop professional structures, training and recognition.
WFTGA Executive Board — Head of Training
Tourist Guide vs Tour Guide — know the difference
WFTGA represents and protects the qualified profession. This distinction matters.
✓ Tourist Guide
- Holds site- or area-specific local knowledge
- Trained and, where regulated, officially licensed
- Follows a professional Code of Guiding Practice
- Accountable to a local or national association
Tour Guide / Tour Manager
- Typically escorts a group across a wider itinerary
- Not required to hold local site-specific knowledge or licence
- Role differs by market and is not interchangeable with a Tourist Guide
Important: WFTGA does not currently offer a course to qualify as a Tourist Guide
Becoming a licensed Tourist Guide always runs through your national or regional member association — they provide the local site knowledge, legal licensing route and official qualification required in your country.
WFTGA's own flagship course, Hands On Training (HOT), teaches professional guiding skills — communication, group management, storytelling and presentation technique. It is a skills course, not a qualification route, and is designed to sit alongside — not replace — training with your local guide association. Our Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses may also be relevant, as some associations recognise CPD activity towards local licensing requirements.
Your Path to Becoming a Tourist Guide
A general overview of how most Tourist Guides build their career — the exact route always depends on the regulation in your country.
Local Knowledge Training
Train with your national or regional Tourist Guide Association, or the local tourism board, to learn site-specific history, culture and context.
Take the HOT Course with WFTGA
Join our Hands On Training (HOT) course to build professional guiding skills — communication, group management and presentation technique.
Practical Training On-Site
Put your skills into practice with supervised on-site training arranged through your local association.
Business Skills Training
Many local associations offer training in self-employment, marketing and running a guiding business.
Local Licensing Exam
Sit the official qualification exam required in your country or region, where applicable.
Join a Local Guide Association
Become a member of your national or regional Tourist Guide Association.
Become a WFTGA Member
Join WFTGA as an individual member to connect with the global community of 200,000 Tourist Guides.
Keep Learning with CPD
Keep growing with our Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses — some associations recognise this towards local licence renewal.
Come to a Convention
Join us at a WFTGA Convention to meet Tourist Guides from 50+ countries and grow your professional network.
Every Tourist Guide should…
- Receive structured training before guiding
- Be assessed and recognised through a transparent process
- Follow a clear Code of Practice and Conduct
- Have access to continuous professional development
- Work within a framework that respects heritage and sustainability
Universal, wherever you guide
- Solid knowledge of history, culture, environment and contemporary life
- Strong guiding techniques and communication skills
- Understanding of group management, safety and risk
- Professional ethics: respect, inclusivity, integrity
WFTGA promotes these minimum standards through the European Standard EN 15565, adapted to local realities.
EN 15565:2008 is a European standard for professional Tourist Guide training and qualification. Though created for Europe, it’s become a global benchmark — and WFTGA has adopted it as our minimum standard for accrediting training programmes worldwide.
What We Look For When We Accredit a Course
- Clearly defined learning outcomes
- Balanced theory and practical training
- Transparent written, oral and practical exams
- Sufficient training hours and field practice
- Competent, experienced Tourist Guide trainers
- Quality assurance and continuous development
EN 15565 underpins our flagship Hands On Training (HOT) course — not one global system, but a shared quality framework adapted to local law and context.
Since 1996, WFTGA has delivered courses for Tourist Guides and trainers worldwide, with associations, ministries, UN Tourism and UNESCO.
Our Main Training Offers
Hands On Training (HOT)
Practical skills course based on EN 15565: a Communication Seminar plus fieldwork and assessment on coach, on foot and on site.
Train the Trainer
Prepares experienced guides to plan, deliver and assess training in line with WFTGA and EN 15565 standards.
Short Courses & Seminars
Guiding skills, heritage interpretation, communication, safety, digital tools and customer care.
Continuous Professional Development
Further education for practising guides — some associations recognise it towards local licence renewal. Explore CPD courses
All WFTGA trainers are qualified, practising Tourist Guides. For local knowledge and a legal licence, always train with your national or regional association first.
Accreditation & Support for Associations
- Advise on curriculum design aligned with EN 15565
- Assist with programme accreditation
- Provide external examiners and quality review
- Support CPD/CMD scheme development
For enquiries, associations are invited to contact the WFTGA Secretariat.
Based on WFTGA research, the profession worldwide falls into three broad categories.
Fully Regulated
A protected profession: specific qualifications and a licence required by law, official registration, ministry supervision. e.g. Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Austria, Iceland.
Partially Regulated
Guides may be licensed but formal state training is often missing. A degree or exam sometimes replaces dedicated guide training.
Unregulated
Anyone can guide — no legal requirement for training, exams or licences. Voluntary certification sometimes fills the gap.
Our Role, Across All Three
- Promote regulation and recognition where none exists
- Raise standards where systems are partial or outdated
- Support training and accreditation for guides and trainers
- Advocate for policies that protect heritage, visitors and the profession