To lay down standards and to establish conditions recognizing the profession of tour guide as a self-employment opportunity solely by investing in one's self through quality education, it was concluded Tuesday at a promotion of the first digital registry of qualified tour guides in Macedonia.
Tour guides, their representatives said, are considered ambassadors through whom a country is presented to foreign tourists. At the same time, tour guides are deemed the most vulnerable category in the tourism industry.
Latest surveys show that nearly 65% of the impressions from tours are a direct result of the quality of a tourist guide.
"Authentic presentation of cultural heritage and history must be protected. At the same time, the young people who are studying to become tour guides must invest in themselves and find ways to be self-employed," noted Branko Bosilkov of the Association of Tourist Guides.
There are 790 licensed tourist guides in Macedonia, but not all of them are full-time guides.
One of the most vulnerable links in the tourism industry are in fact tour guides, according to Elena Ivanova.
"On the other hand, tour guides are one of the most vital links in the chain of tourism having a serious impact on the impression of tourists," said the manager of the tourism sector at the Swiss programme on Increasing Market Employability (IME), which has supported the publishing of the registry.
The promotion of the first digital registry of qualified tourist guides in Macedonia was held on International Tourist Guide Day.
The publication encompasses all licensed tourist guides in Macedonia with the purpose to connect tour guides and travel agencies and to make the profession more dignified.
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