TOURIST GUIDE OR TOUR DIRECTOR?

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) provided a definition for the profession of Tourist Guide, which fixed the requirements for their qualification and distinguishes their activity from the one involved in the profession of Tour Director actually putting restrictions to the latter.

A Tourist Guide is a

"Person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area, which person normally possesses an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognised by the appropriate authority."

 A Tour Director/tour manager/tour leader instead is a

"Person who manages and supervises the itinerary on behalf of the tour operator, ensuring the program is carried out as described in the tour operator's literature and sold to the traveller/consumer and who gives local practical information."

Note: Of course it is possible to get both licenses, but tour directors who have not attended the necessary training course and/or passed the final exam (written, oral and practical) to become a licensed tourist guide for a particular area ARE NOT allowed to guide tourists in that particular area illustrating city centres , main attractions, monuments, museums, etc., as they are neither trained, qualified and licensed to work there, nor possess the proper requirements or legal right.