International Tourist Guides day 21 February 2012

This year international Tourist Guides day (ITGD) was celebrated at Mabula, and Zebula game lodge in the Waterberg Region of the Limpopo province . The ITGD was sponsored by the Limpopo Economic Development, Enviroment and Tourism (LEDET) and held on the 20 and 21 February 2012.
The program consisted of a workshop on Monday 20 Feb.at Mabula and a Ministerial breakfast at Zebula on the 21Feb 2012.

Gauteng Guides Association (GGA) in conjunction with Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) decided to send a delegation to attend the workshop and participate in the discussions around the professionalisation program of guides set forward by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and followed up by the Federation of South African Tourist Guide Associations (FSATGA)
The FSATGA secured a visit and speaker from the World federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) in the Secretary Mrs Patricia Blain.
The program was the following

• Opening and welcoming was done by our Host Mr Moses Ngobeni registrar of Limpopo
  Mr Fanie Terblanche and Johan van Biljon representing FSATGA gave a presentation on the importance of associations and associations been members of the FSATGA as FSATGA was the one body recognised by NDT and will be registering as the professional body for tourist Guides.
• Mr Graeme Stickells representing SAQA gave a very comprehensive presentation on the path of professionalisation of the tourist guide industry which is been led by FSATGA .It was stated that the pilot program has been in operation very successfully in the last year and that final tweaks will be ratified in March 2012 and officially open in April for applications. This was very well received by all .
• Mrs Patricia Blain from the WFTGA gave a presentation on the WFTGA and how the matters that we in SA have problems with is the same as the the international problems . It was great to have such a high delegate from the WFTGA EXBO visit and take part in the local WTGD celebrations in SA.
• The last speaker for the workshop was Mr Bafana from NDT speaking about Service Excellence in Tourist guiding and explained that with the help of SABS a complied strategy for service excellence and requested guides get behind this strategy .

A great lunch was offered for all attending
During the afternoon there was gamedrives and activities for the people staying over ,with the GGA delegation returning to Johannesburg
The Afternoon also saw a smaller meeting been held between registrars, training providers,FSATGA and CATHSSETA, trying to understand and place problems arising from training to CATHSSETA.

A invited Gala dinner was held in the evening where a few students of Limpopo were awarded with completing training ,The Deputy Minister attended this function .

Tuesday 21 Feb , International Tourist guide day was celebrated with a Ministerial Breakfast session at Zebula Lodge ,in attendance was Deputy Minister Ms Tokozile Xasa,and the new National Registrar Victor Tharage
The celebrations ended with networking and many small meetings discussing the future of Tourist guiding in SA