International Tourist Guides Day 2023: Date, History, Activities, Facts and more

International Tourist Guides Day (ITGD) 2023 was established by the WFTGA in order to honor the work of professional tour guides in their respective regions on or around the 21st of February each year. WFTGA was created on this day in 1990, and since then local guide organizations have been offering free tours and activities to the public in order to demonstrate our expertise in our own towns.

When it was originally held in 1990, 15 nations were represented by WFTGA President Titina Loizides. An increasing number of nations’ tour guides have been helping their local communities since then by leading tours for people with disabilities or disadvantages, for school groups and for members of the public, as well as for business partners and government officials.

International Tourist Guides Day 2023 Date

This year in 2023, this event will be held on the 21st of February. From bus companies that have provided gratis vehicles to museums and attractions that have waived admission fees, each member nation has made a contribution to the success of the day in its own manner. The International Tourist Guide Day is becoming more and more popular, and both regional and national governments are becoming more involved.

Brief background about International Tourist Guides Day 2023

In February of 1985, during the inaugural International Convention of Tourist Guides, the WFTGA was established. As of this writing, the organization includes about 2,000,00 individual tour guides from more than 70 nations. It is the only worldwide platform that brings together individual tour guides, tour guide organizations, educational institutions, and tourism partners from all over the globe.

In 1990, the first-ever International Tourist Guide Day was celebrated in London, United Kingdom, United States. Titina Loizides, the WFTGA’s former president, came up with the idea. To raise public awareness of the fact that tourist guides are cultural ambassadors for the places they serve, this day is being held today.

How to celebrate International Tourist Guides Day 2023?

Presentations and refresher courses are among the other activities offered to the region’s tourism guides. It is a perfect opportunity for local officials, people, and the media to learn about the importance of experienced tour guides and the high quality of their job.

From bus companies that have provided gratis vehicles to museums and attractions that have waived admission fees, each member nation has made a contribution to the success of the day in its own manner. The International Tourist Guide Day is becoming more and more popular, and both regional and national governments are becoming more involved.

Why Use a Local Tour Guide?

Local tour guides have the following advantages:

• They have a wealth of knowledge that enriches and enriches their travels. Professional tour guides are well-versed in the history of tourist destinations.
• Queuing for hours to become a tour guide on the day of the trip might be exhausting. To save time, reserving a tour guide in advance using the tour guide adviser website and registering into your account might be a wonderful option. You may learn a lot on the trip and at a nice pace because of enough time you have.
• They’ve been doing this for a long time, so they know all there is to know about the location. As a result, the visitor might get a great deal of knowledge from the guide during the course of the walking or traveling trip.
• When hiring a local tour guide, flexibility is one of the best benefits. They work according to your instructions. As a result, it is up to you to let him/her know when and where you feel most comfortable doing the sightseeing.

Some facts about International Tourist Guides Day

• Presentations and refresher courses are among the other activities offered to the region’s tourism guides.
• 21st February is International Tourist Guide Day, which takes place every year. For the first occasion, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) conducted a combined celebration of this day in 1990, with just 15 nations participating.
• It has been more well known throughout time, and now more than 70 nations participate in this annual event.
• This day is honored in South Africa with a variety of events and programs, including presentations, motivational speeches, field trips, and workshops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: When was the first International Tourist Guides Day celebrated?

Answer: In 1990, the first-ever International Tourist Guide Day was celebrated in London, United Kingdom, United States. Titina Loizides, the WFTGA’s former president, came up with the idea.

Question 2: What are the skills needed to be a tourist guide?

Answer: Skills in customer service, the ability to manage a team, Investing time in learning new skills, the importance of proper safety instruction cannot be overstated, Excellent ability to convey ideas orally are some of the most required skills.

Question 3: How did people start knowing about International Tourist Guides Day?

Answer: International Tourist Guide Day was held in fifteen countries in 1990. Participation has steadily increased since then. The WFTGA encourages its members to undertake public events to raise awareness about the significance of tourist guides’ jobs and tourism in general among their fellow citizens, the media, and local authorities.