International Tourist Guide Day 2018 on February 17 + 18th - in Germany under the motto "People who wrote history”
In 1985, February 21st, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associatons was founded. Worldwide this day is celebrated as a special day and has become a major promotion day for the professional tourist guides. In Germany, the International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD) takes place mainly on the weekends of February 17th and 18th or on 24th and 25th.
The members of the German National Tourist Guide Association (BVGD) every year decide on a new motto for this day. This year it is “People who wrote history”. Beate Krauße, who coordinates the ITGD in Germany, cordially invites everybody to participate: “The motto inspired the tourist guides to many very multifaceted programs. There will be stories about heretics and saints, about scientists and herring catchers in the tours. About famous, notorious, known and unknown personalities in 81 different locations: from Bremen to Burghausen, from Saarland to Dresden. 2018 also marks the 200th birthday of the philosopher Karl Marx. This will play a role in several locations” said Krauße.
Detailed information on all events can be found in the nationwide program booklet under the following link. In this brochure (only in German!), you can also find the contact details of the local associations:
https://www.bvgd.org/weltgaestefuehrertag/wgft-2018-aktuell/
The central upbeat event for the International Tourist Guide Day in Germany this year takes place on February 17th in Ingolstadt (Bavaria). After an opening ceremony by the BVGD and local representatives in the townhall, the local guides start their tours at 1.30 pm to interesting spots of Ingolstadt and its wellknown personalities under the motto “People who wrote history meet people from Ingolstadt today”.
The professional tourist guides offer their tours without any fees that day, but many ask for donations to support a project in their area. And they seize this opportunity to inform the guests about “The Art of Guiding” – better: about what professional guiding is all about.
The ITGD has become a well-known platform: locals and other guests, media representatives and managers of local politics or tourism facilities can discover their regions while having fun and feeling the joy of discovery – all introduced and accompanied by “their” local tourist guides!
In recent years, nationwide about 10,000 interested visitors participated in the International Tourist Guide Day, although the day is celebrated in the cold German winter time. Often local institutions or educational institutions open their doors and cooperate free of charge. According to BVGD chairman Dr. Ute Jäger, the importance of tourist guides for the tourism sector is not to be underestimated: “They convey much more than pure information. They communicate many things about the place we visit. Therefore, in addition to professional and local knowledge, great sensitivity is also required. Our guides let the guests feel at home and are ambassadors of their city or region. ”
For questions or suggestions concerning the ITGD 2018, please contact Beate Krauße. With her, you can also order a printed version of the program booklet:
Beate Krauße
Phone 0151-12569880 or 0345-5115971
krausse@bvgd.org
Detailed information about the goals and tasks of the BVGD and the program can be found on our website at www.bvgd.org.
Subscribe also for the “Guide info” there – the online newsletter of the BVGD.
Contact for the media:
Sonja Wagenbrenner
Member of the BVGD ExCo
Public Relations
Rückertstr. 8, D-97072 Würzburg
Tel. + 49- (0) 931-88075933
wagenbrenner@bvgd.org
www.bvgd.org
