Institute of Tourist Guiding :: Blue Badge...
In the most important development since the introduction of the Blue Badge qualification fifty years ago, the Institute of Tourist Guiding was launched on 18 April 2002 as the standard-setting body not only for Blue Badge tourist guides but for the whole tourist guiding sector. This momentous step for tourist guiding gives the greatest ever recognition of its contribution to the tourism industry and acknowledges the importance of a national Institute that has a distinct role in ensuring excellence now and for the future.
The Institute was created following widespread nationwide consultation, the involvement of both the English Tourism Council and the Tourist Guiding Foundation and the approval of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry.
At the official reception in Parliament to mark our launch both the Minister for Tourism and the Chairman of the English Tourism Council spoke of the Institute’s role in encouraging greater professionalism and of raising the status of the guiding sector.
The ITG mission statement states the following aims:
- to achieve and maintain recognition of the profession of Tourist Guiding and related occupations and to put in place uniform standards for qualifications at all levels, the Blue Badge being the highest award.
- to provide for examinations and/or assessments for qualifications at all levels and to make awards.
- to promote the family of qualifications and awards to the public and profession alike, to achieve clarity and greater understanding of the profession and related occupations.
- to put in place and enforce a Code of conduct for all those who join the Institute.
- to encourage all qualified tourist guides and all those who hold qualifications in related occupations to join the Institute.
- to provide professional services for those who join the Institute, including by the publication of an annual National Register.
To find out more about what the ITG does to improve the services offered by our tourist
guides to the ongoing benefit of our tourist clients, please access the ITG web site here.
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Black Cab Tours are Wheelchair Friendly All our cabs have WHEELCHAIR ACCESS |
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All our Black Cab Tours drivers are fully trained BLUE BADGE GUIDES |
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