Facts about the Association of Authorized Tourist Guides

 

The Tourist Guide Association of Denmark (Turistførerforeningen) was established in 1933 and is the oldest in the world. Turistførerforeningen is a member of the Inter-nordic Guide Club (IGC) www.internordicguides.org, Fédération Européenne des Associations de Guide Touristiques (FEG) www.feg-touristguides.org and the World Federations of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) www.wftga.org.

 

Tourist guiding is recognized as a unique area-specific profession separate from tour managing or any other component within tourism. The tourist guiding qualification itself is not like any other professional qualification. It is not ‘portable’ in the same way as many other professional qualifications might be. It involves a highly unusual combination of practical and academic skills, which by nature of the profession, must be acquired locally, not by long distance learning. In fact, the tourist guiding qualification relates to a particular location whether town, region or country – it is, in other words, uniquely and inherently specific to an area and requires a continuous updating of knowledge concerning this area.

 

The professional tourist guides of the Turistførerforeningen (250 active members) have all completed a university training, to ensure they are proficient in their field and we cover 24 different languages. The comprehensive and countrywide studies are conducted today under the auspices of the Roskilde University Centre (RUC). The professional tourist guides are easily recognisable. They wear the Turistførerforeningen's badge visibly on their red outfits.

 

Professional tourist guides are available for standard tours as well as for individual tours. Even small groups and visitors with special interests can be catered for at short notice.

 

Walking tours around the city in the company of a Turistførerforeningen guide are becoming increasingly popular. We provide special information and explanations on matters relating to history, archaeology, monuments and works of art, cultural development, natural beauty spots, places of interest, and in general any subject, which may help to promote our country and its people for tourism.

 

We provide services for our visitors with care and commitment, providing an objective understanding of the places visited, free from prejudice or propaganda. We strive to impart correct information and to make a clear distinction between facts, stories, legends, traditions and opinions.

 

The Turistførerforeningen professional tourist guides will always endeavour to make your visit to Copenhagen, Denmark or Southern Sweden memorable and enjoyable. We will also be able to recommend further places of interest or activities to suit your own individual interests. We will ensure that you will get value for your money!