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Tourism Celebrates the Tourist Guiding Profession in the Northern Cape Province  

The Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), and the Northern Cape Tourism Authority (NCTA) will host the International Tourist Guides' Day (ITG) celebrations in Northern Cape Province from 16 -17 March 2023.

Themed 'Recovery and Beyond – Future of Tourist Guiding,' the two-day event will cast a spotlight on the future of guiding, in particular the lessons learnt during the recent  global crisis, and the steps that should be taken to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the guiding profession.

Programme Highlights:

• The State of  Tourist Guiding in SA  by Ms. Mmaditonki Setwaba, National Registrar of Tourist Guides
• Guiding Across the World by Ms. Alushca Ritchie, President of the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA)
• Global Tourism Consumer Trends: Domestic and Regional Travel by Dr Unathi Henama, University of Free State (UFS)​​​
• Innovation and Digitalisation and the Future of Tourism/Tourist Guiding by Dr. Mmboneni Muofhe, Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)​
• The Role of Indigenous Storytellers in the Tourism Value Chain by Prof Karen Harris,   University of Pretoria (UP)​

The tourist guiding profession is commemorated annually on International Tourist Guide Day on the 21st of February. The day was first celebrated by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Association (WFTGA) in 1990, recognising the important work done by tourist guides in the tourism value chain​.

In South Africa, the event has gained prominence and is celebrated at both national and provincial levels. The objective of the event is to profile the tourist guiding sub-sector and create awareness about the profession.​​