8th World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations Convention 1999

The lectures

Eco-Tourism
Are You a Super High Level Guide?
Tourism in China
Guiding Hong Kong Style
International Benchmark
Adult Learning and Guiding World-Wide

THE LECTURES WERE of a very high standard and were relevant to guiding world-wide. The theme of the Convention, Tour Guiding Into the New Millennium - The Tourist Guide/The Human Link, was exploited very well in a fascinating lecture by Ms Deborah Luhrman of the World Tourism Organisation described how tourism is a complex endeavour with the tourist guide providing a fundamental human element in the tourism chain.

The World Tourism Organisation has launched a new and fascinating study, Tourism: 2020 Vision. Current ranking of the world's top destinations:
1.  France
2.  Spain
3.  USA
4.  Italy
5.  UK
In 2020 China will be the number one destination. China will also be the biggest tourism market of the future.

Some predictions:

• 1960, only 69 million people world-wide travelled to a foreign country.
• 1997 there were 612 million trips abroad.
• Tourism arrivals have grown by 5% a year since 1980 and tourism earnings are up by 9%.
• By 2020 1.6 billion people will be travelling.
• The WTO predicts that technology will have penetrated into every aspect of human life, people will go for days without human contact, that's why the tourist guide will remain in demand!
• Long-haul trips will rise, cruise ship tourism will continue to grow.
• A new cruse ship is being built at the moment for 6,200 passengers!
• The prime motivator to travel will be the three E's : Entertainment Excitement and Education.
• Soft adventure and activity-based tourism and activities relating to nature will also become more popular.

Eco-Tourism

ECO-TOURISM WAS THE SUBJECT of another lecture by Dr. Lew Young. Dr Young explained that research has shown that 85% of all German Tourists want a holiday that is environmentally correct.
There is a very fine balance in Eco-tourism - visits should benefit a particular area and not have an adverse impact.
Eco-tourism can benefit the local economy - eg through the use of local resources and local residents providing food and services or selling crafts. However, there is a great leakage of money back to the country of origin often 55% or higher.
In Tunisia and Morocco local people believe that tourists lack respect for their Muslim culture by the way they dress in shorts and T-shirts. In addition tourists act as a constant reminder of the wide disparity in wealth, they the poor, and the visitors the rich.
The guide has a very important role to play in Eco-tourism, we are in a position to educate tourists about a site they are visiting, its ecology, wildlife, cultural customs and heritage.

Are you a Super High Level Guide?

IN CHINA IT WILL TAKE YOU 12 years to reach this level. Each level has an examination. There are four levels:
1.  Elementary. You must have worked as a guide for at least 1 year.
2.  After another 2 years you can move up to the Intermediate level.
3.  After you have been working at intermediate level for 4 years you then have the right to apply for the high level rank.
4.  After 5 years at high level you can apply for Super High Level ranking (after you have passed all the exams on the way of course!)

Tourism in China

MR LI LEI, DEPUTY DIVISION DIRECTOR, CHINA NATIONAL TOURISM ASSOCIATION announced that over the last two decades the tourism industry has been growing at 20% per annum. In 1998 tourist arrivals reached more than 62.5 million with tourism foreign exchange receipts of 12.5 billion US dollars.
In 1987 the first tourist guide policy was established. In 1989 the first exams were established., 50,000 have passed since then! The trainee tourist guide is examined in the following subjects : Policies and Regulations, The Business of Tour Guiding and Chinese Literature. 'On spot' guiding is also tested which includes particular reference to 'tour guiding skills, vocal ability, problem solving ability, countenance and courtesy'.
As a result of their involvement in the World Federation Convention , China has decided to form its own Tourist Guide Association.

Guiding Hong Kong Style

GUIDING IN HONG KONG contrasts greatly to the Super High Level Guides from Mainland China. Currently there is no basic guide training in Hong Kong, but there has been a recent initiative to upgrade this service. In his lecture, An Evaluation of the Need to Upgrade the Professionalism of Tourist Guides, Dr Kevin Wong explained the following problems that affect the profession in Hong Kong:
No basic training;
No registration or licence;
Low pay and heavy reliance on shopping commissions and an unglamorous image (as a survey of parents revealed).

International Benchmark

AN INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK STUDY was carried out to examine practices elsewhere in the world. (The FEG definition on guiding was quoted in the lecture.)
Unlicensed guiding was studied and the way that authorities control it - eg in the Philippines it was discovered that unlicensed tour guides are arrested but then bribe the police to let them go!
An in-depth study was made at local level and the strategic action plan recommends a 20-day basic training programme with a written exam (60% of the course) and a practical exam (40%).
The report recommends that the Hong Kong Association of Registered Tour Co-Ordinators (HARTCO) assumes responsibility for licences and registration. The report also recommends the banning of under-cost pricing employed by tour operators, that the language proficiency be raised overall, and that a code of conduct be set.
As a result of the Convention HARTCO have enquired about the possible training opportunities set up by the new World Fedeartion of Trainers.

There was also a lecture on Adult Learning and Guiding World-Wide by former President Jane Orde currently being updated and which will be available soon.

• The Workshops
• International Day of the Guide 2000
• Beyond the Hotel: Tours and Visits

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