Why You Should Use an Official Tour Guide?
Who is an “Official Guide”?
An official tourist guide (also known as licensed or authorized professional guide) is a profession regulated by specific laws in each country. To practice this profession, individuals must hold a license granted by official authorities, meeting specific criteria.
What are the Advantages of Using an Official Guide?
Official guides provide accurate and detailed information on history, art, culture, and gastronomy, helping to bridge cultural gaps. In many countries, only official guides are permitted to explain at museums, monuments, and archaeological sites. During peak periods, they can save time by purchasing priority entrance tickets to museums. Their expertise enables them to explain complex histories in easily understandable ways and they are well-informed about tourist traps and current information.
How Can You Identify a Licensed Guide?
Every official guide worldwide carries a special “Identity Card” issued by official authorities, which must be visibly displayed while working.
What if Your Guide Does Not Have a License?
While some countries may not have specific laws for official guiding, guiding without a license is illegal in most places. It’s important to differentiate between “official guiding” and other roles like “tour leading,” “hosting,” and “local guiding.”
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Local Guiding: This is a general term where guides may or may not have a license. Those without a license may lack permission to explain at museums and archaeological sites. In some destinations, we collaborate with local guides if an official guide isn’t available for specific languages.
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Tour Leading: Tour leaders oversee travel groups. Those without a license may also lack permission to explain at museums and archaeological sites.
Criteria to Become an Official Guide:
Authorized guides can only practice after meeting specific criteria and education requirements, which vary by country. Here’s an overview of the process to become a licensed guide in Turkey, a leading global tourism destination:
- Completion of 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education in tourist guiding.
- Passing language exams administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
- Participating in a 30-day practical training trip across different regions of Turkey.
- Successfully passing an exam at the end of the training trip.
Courses Offered in Tourist Guiding Departments at Turkish Universities Include:
- Archaeology
- Anatolian Civilizations
- Mythology
- History of Arts
- History of Religions
- Traditional Architecture
- Turkish Arts and History
- Cultural Heritage of Turkey
- Anatolian Folklore
- Tourism Geography
- International Destinations
- Basics of Guiding
- Tourism Legislation
- Tourism and Travel Agencies