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E-mail: office@itg.org.uk
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Tourist Guiding excellence promoted with the creation of the Institute of Tourist Guiding
In the most important development since the introduction of the Blue Badge qualification fifty years ago, the Institute of Tourist Guiding was launched on 18 April 2002 as the standard-setting body not only for Blue Badge tourist guides but for the whole tourist guiding sector.
For the first time a career structure will exist in the sector, with recognised qualifications at each level, clearly related to the national educational levels.
The Institute has been created following widespread nationwide consultation, the involvement of both the English Tourism Council and the Tourist Guiding Foundation and the approval of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Alan Britten, Chairman of the English Tourism Council, said: "The English Tourism Council is delighted to be associated with the launch of the Institute. High quality guiding is an absolutely vital ingredient of world-class tourism. The creation of this Institute will encourage greater professionalism throughout the tourism community, spreading best practice and greatly improving levels of customer service."
Kim Howells, Minister for Tourism, who will host the official reception in the Palace of Westminster, said: "I welcome the creation of the Institute of Tourist Guiding. I am sure that its status will raise the profile of tourist guiding, give the profession a much higher standing and raise standards of tourist guide training across the country. The qualification structure for the entire profession will ensure uniform standards of course accreditation and examinations and encourage best practice."
All Members of the Institute, already numbering over one thousand, hold the coveted Blue Badge. Town or walking tour guides will be eligible to become Associates of the Institute, whilst those working on sites or giving fixed route commentaries on sightseeing buses or boats will be eligible to become Affiliates.
The London Tourist Board has supported the project throughout, whilst Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, in his Foreword to the first Institute Directory of London Members, to be published in the next few weeks, says that "Blue Badge guides add inestimable value to the London tourism product and are one of its major and undisputed assets."
For further information, application forms or to order a copy of the Institute of Tourist Guiding Directory of London Members please contact:
The Institute of Tourist Guiding, email office@itg.org.uk
The Institute of Tourist Guiding
1. Key objectives:
(i) To promote for the public benefit the discipline and practice of tourist guiding.
(ii) To establish uniform qualifications of the highest standards.
(iii) To publish from time to time a list of awards made by the Institute.
(iv) To provide professional examinations.
(v) To accredit examinations and qualifications.
(vi) To accredit training courses.
(vii) To provide for recognition, registration and for a code of professional practice.
2. Corporate structure and Governance
(i) The Institute is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
(ii) The Institute is governed by its Members and Fellows.
(iii) The Fellows and Members elect from among themselves a Board of Trustees to manage the Institute. Members of the Board have a fixed term of office.
(iv) The Trustees elect from among themselves a Chairman and other Officers, who have a fixed term of office.
(v) The Board has a limited power to co-opt, including persons outside the profession.
(v) There is a Consultative Council drawn from the tourist industry across the country. Council members are representatives of industry bodies, government nominees, academics and industry professionals. The Consultative Council is an advisory body only.
3. Membership
The categories of involvement, corresponding to professional qualifications are:
(i) Fellows: Members who have achieved distinction.
(ii) Members: those holding an Institute awarded or accredited qualification at level four, exemplified by the Blue Badge.
(iii) Companions: distinguished persons associated with tourism but not professionally qualified as tourist guides.
(iv) Associates: those holding an Institute awarded or accredited qualification, at a level exemplified by the Green Badge or NVQ level 3. (eg those doing city or countryside walking tours.)
(v) Affiliates: those holding an Institute awarded or accredited qualification, at a level exemplified by NVQ level 2. (Fixed route commentary eg those working on sites, open top buses, river boats etc.)
(vi) Students: those pursuing any studies deemed relevant by the Institute.
4. Rights of existing practitioners
In the first twenty-four months after the establishment of the Institute (until 11 March 2004):
(i) existing, practising Blue Badge guides with a full regional qualification are eligible for Membership
(ii) practising holders of the following qualifications are eligible to become Associates: Blue Badges which are not eligible for Membership, Tourist Board Green Badges, NVQ3 in Commentaries and Interpretation.