Estonian Association of Tourist Guides

The Association was founded by three local Tourist Guide Societies on 24 September 1994.

The Association is a non-profit organisation representing the appropriate authority of tourist guides in Estonia. The Association includes eight members, which are local societies having individual members. At the head of the Association is a President elected for two consecutive years as a term and the number of terms is not restricted. The present President is Mr Aare Mae. There are two major events a year for our tourist guides. First there is International Tourist Guide Day on 21 February, which the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTA – http://wftga.org) began celebrating since 1990.

The second event of major significance is held at a weekend in March to gather and meet peer sin some part of our country, and get aligned with the new tourist season ahead. The event is called Tourist Guide Days of Estonia and once together we need two days. The first day highlights the local tourist attractions, background information, local hospitality facilities and available services, evening entertainment opportunities, and it is also the one day of a year to hold our annual meeting. On the second day we concentrate more on local recreation activities and have our final ceremony according our ethnic tradition, that is sitting together at a lunch or dinner table.

For the past ten years the Association has been active in developing the national standardisation of occupations and professions. The work has resulted in national standards of our profession. On the national standardisation level we do have three professions – Tourist Guide I; Tourist Guide II; Master Guide.

Following an ancient way of distinguishing expert skills we have stayed with old ways, which is apprentice, craftsman and master (the latter represents teaching skills as well). The Association is the only recognised authority to examine and approve the skills of our Tourist Guides to become licensed guides of the country.

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