International Tourist Guide Day 2013 - "Men and Markets” as a nationwide theme
The BVGD-Topic of the International Tourist Guide Day 2013 in Halle was “Men and Markets”. Numerous commited tourist guides of 80 BVGD-member associations have again participated and offered a multifaceted programme to around 9.000 guests that came in spite of adverse weather conditions. No boundaries were set to imagination.
Since 2008, the central opening of the International Tourist Guide Day in one of the participating member towns has additionally accounted for the success of this BVGD joint project. It has developed as positively as we could have wished. The greatly varying events took place at special locations in the presence of local politicians, touristic and cultural representatives as well as guests of other tourist guide associations with a programme relating both on each town or region and on the particular topic.
On February 16, 2013, we were invited to Halle on the river Saale, and that event too, had clearly shown the esteem of the BVGD, of its members and of the International Tourist Guide Day itself. Again a hearty thanks to all involved.
Ingrid Schwoon, BVGD ExCo
Successful nationwide opening of the International Tourist Guide Day in Germany in Halle upon Saale
Halle is a liveable and likeable town – that was communicated to 35.000 people by the local guides in 2012. It was a credit and an honour to the association of Halle guides to arrange the nationwide opening of the International Tourist Guide Day in Germany on February 16, 2013. The splendid ballroom of the Halle town house was overcrowded. The event was opened with a swinging version of the popular folk song „An der Saale hellem Strande“ given by the choir „Hallesaaler“.
The welcoming of the standing spokesman of the association of Halle guides Hans Joachim Gunkel was followed by different guest speakers: the mayor of Halle Dr Bernd Wiegand, the undersecretary of state in the Department of science and economy in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt Dr Tamara Zieschang, Ingrid Schwoon as a representative of the German National Tourist Guide Association (BVGD), Bärbel Pieper as the business leader of the tourist association of Saxony-Anhalt and Daniela Rühs who acted for the association of city marketing in Halle.
Dr. Bernd Wiegand brought out in particular the task of the guide as the town’s promoter who allows other people to look behind the scenes and piques the guests’ curiosity by charisma, knowledge and humour.
Dr. Tamara Zieschang emphasised the charm of the city of Halle with its large stock of sacred buildings, marvellous domestic architecture, its variety of cultural life and its different kinds of museums. She pointed that people often remember the smaller anecdotes of a place they have visited. Saxony-Anhalt campaigns for itself with the slogan „We get up earlier“. This sentence largely applies to the general improvement in training of professional guides. Already in 1998, the guides in Halle were educated by binding European standards within the framework of a pilot scheme.
In her spirited speech, Ingrid Schwoon mentioned the association’s commitment concerning the occupational profile of the tourist guide; she also illustrated aspects of training and qualification. Performing the International Tourist Guide Day in the whole of Germany every year since 1999 is probably unique in the world and that is even more impressive, since that day competes with the Carnival in February.
Among other things, Bärbel. Pieper broached the issue of the 20th anniversary of the “Romanesque Street” in 2013 as well as the state wide activities concerning the Luther Decade.
Daniela Rühs thanked all the tourist guides for their good cooperation. Each of the present guides received a red umbrella as a reward, written on it was the saying: “Elsewhere it rains, in Halle it jirschs”. However, we were happy not to be forced to use it later on.
The slogan “Men and Markets” appeared to be made for our town, as we have three markets in the inner city. Beginning on the Market Square, the tours led over the Old Market and the Hallmarket towards the Halloren- and Saline Museum, where the salt worker brotherhood invited to a tasting of spicy sausages, pickled eggs and Saline brew. Tourist associations had the opportunity to present themselves.
The whole was accompanied by the music of our musical tourist guide Catch Bolder. Relaxed, with conversation among guests and guides, we let this successful event finish.
Ute Key: Interessenverband Hallesche Gästeführer (Interest Group Halle Tourist Guides)
