The Department of Trade and Industry, with the support of the Department of Culture, the English Tourism Council and the Wales Tourist Board has given its final approval for the establishment of the Institute of Tourist Guiding. The establishment of the Institute is considered by many inside and outside the profession to be the most important development in the tourist guiding sector since the introduction of the Blue Badge over fifty years ago.

Kim Howells, Minister for Tourism, who hosted the official reception in the Palace of Westminster, said: I welcome the creation of the Institute of Tourist Guiding. I am sure that its status will raise the profile of tourist guiding, give the profession a much higher standing and raise standards of tourist guide training across the country. The qualification structure for the entire profession will ensure uniform standards of course accreditation and examinations and encourage best practice.