21 February: International Day of the Tourist Guide

21-02-23

21 February marks International Tourist Guide Day, a day that aims to raise awareness of the fact that tourist guides are cultural ambassadors for the regions they represent. In 1990, fifteen countries participated in International Tour Guide Day. Since then, the number of participants has grown steadily.

Tourist Guides provide guidance and information to tourists and visitors about the culture, history and cuisine of every corner of the world. Through their work they contribute to boosting tourism, which is an important economic activity for cities.

World Federation of Professional Tourist Guides

The World Federation of Professional Tour Guides (WFTGA) is a non-profit organisation, created on 21 February 1985 during the first International Tourist Guide Convention held in Austria.

Today, the association represents more than 70,000 tour guides from over 70 countries. It is the only global forum for tour guides from all over the world, uniting individual tour guides, tour guide associations, educational institutions and tourism partners. The first International Tour Guide Day was proposed by the then President of the WFTGA, Titina Loizides. And since then, WFTGA members are encouraged to hold events to draw the attention of fellow citizens, the media and local authorities to the importance of the work of tour guides and tourism in general.

From the beginning, the founders of the WFTGA and its first presidents, Yossi Grau and Jane Orde, knew they were creating something good, although they did not imagine how far-reaching the organisation would become. "Let's continue to build on our legacies and work together to keep moving forward and growing. Many have contributed to the growth of the WFTGA and the recognition of this special day, International Tour Guide Day.