Day 1:

17th Feb 25

Unless stated otherwise, all times are Malyasia time. 

Refer to Conference Information for general details. 

11:00 to 16:00 Pre-registration for International Participants, Lobby Ming Garden Hotel

[in-person Training Committee Meeting]

Day 2:

18th Feb 25

7:00 to 17:00 – Free Convention Sustainable Study Tour: Kinabalu Park (included for all in-person convention participants)

Meet 06:50 Lobby Ming Garden Hotel             

Led by Roger Rajah, qualified / licenced Tourist Guide, President of the Sabah Tourist Guide Association and WFTGA International Trainer

This study tour is being complemented with a key note speech on day 4 of the convention. 

IMPORTANT: This tour will involve walking on uneven terrain and on steep stairs. Certain areas may not be accessible in adverse weather conditions. 

Attire: Quick dry wear / hat / hiking shoes / rain coat or poncho – Other item you might want to bring: Insect repellent
Reusable Drinking Water Bottle with water provided

Day 3:

19th Feb 25

WFTGA Plenary Session

09:30 Kinabalu Room 1: Overview of WFTGA Training and the Vision for the Future (Sustainable Training without Borders), led by WFTGA President Sebastian Frankenberger and WFTGA ExBo Member and Head of Training Viola Lewis – with an intervention on Cultural Dexterity by Hussein Dehghan (WFTGA Internationnal Trainer) – open to all convention participants – compulsory for returning WFTGA Trainers – This session will be recorded and made available to online participants.

12:00 lunch (for WFTGA Trainers only)

13:00 to 17:00 Kinabalu Room 1 (06:00 to 10:00 CET): – Training Division Meeting (hybrid) – open and free to all current members of the WFTGA Training Division – returning WFTGA Trainers may attend as observers, in-person only 

free afternoon for convention participants

18:30 Kinabalu Room 2 – Welcome Cocktail (for all convention participants)

Day 4:

20th Feb 25

08:00 Foyer Ming Grand Ballroom – Registration

Convention Plenary Session – Ming Grand Ballroom (HYBRID)    

08:30 Welcome in Sabah Style

08:40 Welcoming Remarks by Roger Rajah, President, Sabah Tourist Guides Association

08:50 Opening Remarks by Sebastian Frankenberger, WFTGA President

09:00 Officiating Address by Guest of Honour: Datuk Joniston Bangkuai
Assistant Minister, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment

09:10 Keynote: Julinus Jeffery Jimit (CEO of Sabah Tourism Board) – Topic: Sustainable Community Based Tourism

10.00 to 10.30 Break

10.30 Keynote: Dr. Maklarin Bin Lakim (Director of Sabah Parks)
Topic: Kinabalu Park – UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK: Sustainable and Responsible Tourism [2025/4846(E)/MOTAC SABAH]

11.30 Keynote: Associate Prof. Dr. Balvinder Kler (Director Borneo Tourism Research Centre at the University of Malaysia Sabah) – Topic: Sustainable Training Practices [2025/4847(E)/MOTAC SABAH]

12:30 to 13:30 Lunch

13.30 to 15.00 Breakout workshops  

• Workshop 1 (HYBRID) – Ming Grand Ballroom: Virtual and Remote Training Excellence – making the most of the virtual learning environment – by the WFTGA Training Committee
• Workshop 2 (in-person) – Kinabalu 1: The Art of Storytelling in Training – Facilitator: Grace Leong (WFTGA Natioinal Trainer, organising chairperson, Vice President of Sabah Tourist Guides Association)
• Workshop 3 (in-person) – Kinabalu 2: Health and Wellness in Training – the use of Essential Oils – by Lucy Leong, Teacher & Examiner for International Aromatherapy and Aromatic Medicine
  Association (IAAMA), Australia (in person only) [2025/4849(E)/MOTAC SABAH]

15.00 to 15.30 Break

15.30 – 16.30 Breakout workshops 

• Workshop 4 (HYBRID) – Ming Grand Ballroom: Reach your full potential within the WFTGA Training Division – navigating the resource library – tutorial by Sebastian Frankenberger (WFTGA President)
• Workshop 5 (in person) – Kinabalu 1: Wildlife / Nature Guiding – Facilitators: Grace Leong (WFTGA National Trainer) and Roger Rajah (WFTGA International Trainer)
• Workshop 6 (in person) – Kinabalu 2: Smart, Sustainable, Savvy – Modernise your Training Methods – Facilitator: Maricar Donato (WFTGA International Trainer)

Free evening

Day 5:

21st Feb 25

TODAY: International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD) 2025

We are celebrating by livestreaming today’s Panel Discussion and one afternoon learning tour. 

08:30 Workshop 7 (in person) – Kinabalu 1 and Foyer: Introduction to Eco Printing followed by hands on experience

09:00 to 12:00 sustainable Eco-Printing and Natural Dye – hands on, creative activity with the local community (in person only) [2025/4848(E)/MOTAC SABAH]

09:00 Panel Discussion (HYBRID) – Kinabalu 1: The Future of Training – Embracing AI and Technology – Case study: the WFTGA Hands On Tourist Guiding (HOT) Course – with Sebastian Frankenberger (WFTGA President) and WFTGA Trainers Maricar Donato, Helga Sturzenegger and Viola Lewis – moderated by Mateusz Tomaszczyk  WFTGA Lead International Trainer and Training Committee Member)

10:30 – 11.00 Break

11:00 to 12:30 Breakout Workshops 

• Workshop 8 (in person) – Kinabalu 2: Facilitation in the Work of a Trainer (ITtT debrief) – Facilitator: Mateusz Tomaszczyk (WFTGA Lead International Trainer)
• Workshop 9 (HYBRID) – Kinabalu 1: Training Tourist Guides as facilitators of the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Facilitators: Viola Lewis (WFTGA Lead International Trainer) and Helga Sturzenegger (WFTGA International Trainer)

12:30 Lunch

13:45 Meet in the Lobby of the Ming Garden Hotel

14:00 to 16:00 Learning Tours (one tour will be live streamed)

Attire: Light summer attire / hat / walking shoes or sandals
Other items you might want to bring: Insect repellent for KK Wetland / drinking water

• Learning Tour 1: Kota Kinabalu Wetland – explore the importance of Mangrove and Wetland biodiversity
• Learning Tour 2: Kota Kinabalu Heritage Walk – historical and cultural experience in the city centre
• Learning Tour 3: State Museum’s Heritage Village – immerse yourself in Sabah’s cultural and natural heritage

• Workshop – compulsory for returning trainers and recommended for active trainers – The rationale of WFTGA Training – a deeper look into the capacity building power of the Hands On Tourist Guiding (HOT) Course – led by the WFTGA Training Committee  – due to the participant profile of the convention this workshop will be offered at a later time outwith the convention

18:50 Arrival for 

19:00 Gala Dinner – Ming Grand Ballroom (for all in-person convention participants) 

* In case of any health issues or dietary requirements, please inform our team during the registration.

Throughout the convention:

• Hot desk on the use of the internal part of the WFTGA website (for WFTGA members only) – make an appointment
• One-to-one with Head of Training: Succession Planning – your role in the Training Division (e-mail [email protected] )
• informal discussion on how to adapt the WFTGA HOT Course for Wildlife and Nature Guiding 

Day 6:

22nd Feb 25

Post-Convention Tours / Departures

For details and prices download the convention brochure. 

Organisers reserve the right to make changes to the  programme.