Ethiopian Tourist Guide Professional Association, a full member of the United Nation World Federation of Tourist Guide Association, celebrated International Tourist Guides day with a panel discussion about entitled “Tourist Guides and Green Tourism.”

Great points were raised by think-thank panelists about the role of tourist guides in building the image of their country, and do the media and tourism stakeholders understand the profession, what the meaning of green tourism is as a type of travel that focuses on minimizing the negative impact of tourism and promoting environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and social responsibility, and
its timely significance as there is now a shift from conventional/traditional tourism to sustainable and responsible tourism, the role of the tourist guide in implementing sustainable tourism as its position is between the tourist and the host community.

Our association’s knowledgeable and experienced tourist guides also shared their practical experiences with the first, second, and third-year students of tour guiding, tour operation supervision, and tourism management. They are the future of Ethiopian tourism and our association.

We really appreciate our regular financial sponsor, Dashen Bank, and the Tourism Ministry for allowing us to use its meeting hall, Tourism Training Institute and all the patiently attended guests .

Ethiopian tourist guides are the internal ambassadors of their country, for they reach tourists that come from about 195 countries in the world, more than 85 of which Ethiopia reaches through its embassies and consulates.