Let's calendar active Guild participation in this for 2026, which is going to be a break-out year for our SFTGG. Next February, we'll also be fielding a delegation at the WFTGA (World Federation of Tour Guide Associations) conference in Fukuoka, (the Gateway to Asia), Japan. This was Barbara Dimas's idea, as she plans to attend, as she did the last WFTGA conference in Siracusa, Italy (Sicily).
This is a natural for us, as in many ways San Francisco is a Pacific-Rim city, belonging more to Asia than to Europe and having the largest Japantown in the US.
As more details about the conference become available from the WFTGA over the next month or so, we'll post them on the Forums under the heading of Programs. We've already begun to post useful and interesting pieces about Fukuoka and Japan on the Forums, so as to titillate you at the prospect of a Nipponese adventure next February. Check them out.
Every Year on 21st February - International Tourist Guides Day
To celebrate the skills of professional tourist guides in their localities the WFTGA initiated the ITGD – the International Tourist Guides Day – on or near the 21st February every year. This commemorates the day when the WFTGA was formed and since the 1990s, guide associations have offered free tours and events to local people to showcase our skills in our own communities.
In 1990, Mrs. Titina Loizides, president of the WFTGA was involved when it was held for the first time, 15 countries participated. Since then, tourist guides in an ever growing number of countries have been giving help to their local communities, conducting tours for disabled persons, disadvantaged persons, for children, industry partners, officials and the general public.
Events are also held for local tourist guides including presentations and retraining courses. It is a public relations event par excellence, drawing the attention of local authorities, fellow citizens and the media to the quality and value of the work of professional tourist guides. Each member country contributes to the success of the day in its own way; coach companies have contributed complimentary coaches, attractions and museums have opened their doors without charge. Each year, awareness grows and there is an increasing contribution by both regional and national governments to the International Tourist Guide Day.
International Tourist Guide Day
Greg