International Tourist Guide Day

Every year on February 21, the world celebrates International Tourist Guide Day, established in 1990 by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. This day highlights a key profession in tourism: the one that turns a simple visit into a living cultural experience.

Beyond accompanying travelers, the tourist guide has become a strategic actor in sustainable tourism. Guides lead visitors toward responsible experiences, showcase local heritage, and embody the cultural identity of destinations.

In Madagascar, this vision is strongly embraced. The Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts recently emphasized that the professionalization of the guide’s role is a national priority. Training, certification, and service quality are central to this effort, ensuring that Malagasy guides can promote the country’s cultural and natural wealth while strengthening its international image.

This day is a reminder that tourist guides are not merely companions, but true ambassadors of heritage and the future of tourism.