16 February 2006
On 21 February 2006, South Africa will join the rest of the world in
celebrating the 16-year old International Tourist Guides Day. In 1989, during
the Third International Convention of the World Federation of Tourist Guide
Association, members of the association pondered at ideas to promote awareness
about professional tourists guides amongst the public. The result was the
celebration of the first International Tourist Guide Day that was held in 1990
with 15 countries participating.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) will be
celebrating the Day in the Western Cape as a national event under the theme
âFighting against illegal tourist guidingâ âHave you asked for the Badge and ID
card registration proof from your Tourist Guide?â This theme is part of the
national plan to combat illegal guiding, which will be launched on the day.
âThis day is of importance to the tourist guiding fraternity and we believe
that it should be used to lift the profile of tourist guiding in the country as
an honest profession as well as an important link in the tourism value chainâ
said Mr Lulamile Stuurman, Acting National Registrar of Tourist Guides.
Activities to celebrate the day are to include visits to popular tourist
attractions in Cape Town by the national and provincial Registrar together with
the Western Cape Provincial MEC for Economic Development and Tourism where they
will inspect whether tourist guides are carrying their ID cards and badges as
required by the Law. Furthermore, there will be an exhibition stand in the city
centre manned by tourist guides, giving information on tourist guiding as a
professional career.
âOther than the travel operator and the internet, the real contact that the
tourist has with South Africa is through a tour guide. In fact most letters
that DEAT receives from tourists, who share their experiences in the country,
sing praises about the knowledge and professionalism of tour guides more than
the operators who packaged their tours! Tour guides are indeed our ambassadors,
as we all know that tourism thrives on person-to-person encounters,â commented
Dr Patrick Matlou, Deputy Director-General for Tourism.
Enquiries:
Edwin Rihlamvu
International Tourism Relations
Tel: (012) 310 3940
Cell: 073 902 4504
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
16 February 2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
