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‘As examples, since becoming VP for the WFTGA I was invited to Batalha in Portugal (2018) to talk about the WFTGA. However, I was also specifically asked about the UK and Scottish Blue Badge guides. The reason was mainly that Portugal is becoming a deregulated country when it comes to tourist guides. Tourist Guides there are concerned about job security and the future. I was asked to explain how we operated and to discuss how/why we exist so prominently and sustainably in a country where we operate with no regulation as is the case in the UK.
‘In Costa Rica, Hungary, Moldova, and many other places, the same admiration of the Scottish system of badges and training and questioning has repeated itself. Similarly I have been asked again and again as VP to speak a little about regulation and deregulation, and when many hear that in the nation of Blue Badge Tourist Guides we require no licences, most are aghast and many are in awe.’
At the WFTGA Convention in Tbilisi in January 2019 Viola was voted onto the WFTGA Executive Board as Head of Training. Iris Barry is also a WFTGA Lead International Trainer and Pat Blain and Robert Bowles are WFTGA International Trainers. Alison Reid, Anne Robertson, Stewart Wood, Ian Linn, Margaret Hubbard, Linda Arthur and Dalia Rimkuniene are all WFTGA National Trainers. The Scottish Blue Badge Guide Course is accredited by WFTGA.
Norma Clarkson has been a member of the FEG Executive Board for four years using her expertise as a lawyer in negotiations and discussions with the European authorities and governments, defending and promoting the two European Standards as well as negotiating contracts for FEG within EU tourism training programmes and with other organisations like the World Food Travel Agency, Moxee Marketing to raise the profile of tourist guides, and LIVE which provides a booking App solely for qualified tourist guides.
Viola Lewis was Convener of FEG’s Training Consultative Group between 2014 and 2017 when she handed over the role to fellow Scottish tourist guide Iris Barry. During her tenure Viola worked to bring together and grow the FEG Trainer Team, to up-date, develop and document FEG’s training policy and activities, as well as to create training programmes, specifically tailored for European Tourist Guides. Iris Barry, Mary Kemp Clarke and Viola Lewis are accredited FEG Trainers.
Ros Newlands says that today FEG focuses primarily on Continuous Professional Development for qualified tourist guides in Europe. T-GUIDE (Tourist Guides for People with Learning Difficulties) is one example. T-GUIDE is a joint initiative with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT). Viola is an inaugural member of the joint FEG ENAT T- GUIDE Committee. Currently six STGA guides have the additional T-GUIDE Qualification: Bruce Cochran, Dave Tucker, Helen Manning, Dianne McGuinness, Elma McMenemy and Viola Lewis.
In May 2019 FEG signed an agreement with the World Food Travel Association (WFTA) to offer the World’s first truly on-line Culinary Tourist Guide Certification training programme. The first STGA guide to gain this accreditation was Stephen Cribb.
So how much influence does the Scottish guide training system have on that of WFTGA and FEG? Viola Lewis says it is substantial, but there is a mutual influence. ‘We learn from FEG and WFTGA (and not to forget the Member Associations of both) and we influence and develop training activities of the WFTGA and FEG (and their member associations),’ she says. ‘STGA has been there from the beginning for both the WFTGA and FEG in the mid- 1980s. Possibly the 2000s were a big step forward when STGA members were part of developing the EN13809 Definitions and the EN15565 Training Standard in a European arena.
‘This gave the Scottish training a lot of exposure, but I believe also gave our training more structure’ continued Viola. ‘When the WFTGA Convention came to Dunblane in 2003 our guides were ‘on show’ and undoubtedly inspired colleagues from around the world. Even now, almost 20 years later, we are being told at WFTGA Conventions how amazing 2003 was and get questioned on when we are hosting WFTGA again.
‘A similar request for the STGA to host a FEG AGM comes up every year at their AGM when the next venue is decided.’ Norma added.
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