In mid April the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) launched the “Western Silk Road Experience”, an online life-long training course for qualified tourist guides.
Since then, the FEG Executive Committee has been actively promoting the creation of the course. In 15 May, only one month after the launching of the course, FEG was successful in being accepted and has joined the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Silk Road Task Force. The Silk Road Task Force was created in 1993, to raise the profile of the Silk Road on the international stage and ensures that all 34 Silk Road Member States have equal representation.
Being in the Task Force is important for FEG as one of the main responsibilities of the Task Force is sharing and exchanging know-how and best practices. FEG can take advantage of the high profile of the Task Force, make use of its resources and promotional paths. It is also important to show how serious tourist guides are about continuing their training, updating skills, using best practices, and promoting new destinations and routes for a sustainable tourism model in Europe.
Suman Billa, Director of the UNWTO Silk Road Department wrote to FEG: “We look forward to collaborating with you in developing Silk Road tourism, especially along its Western section” and “I wish to congratulate you on the development of the “Western Silk Road Experience” training, which will prove very positive in raising capacities within selected countries”.
FEG will continue in its efforts to promote tourist guide training, improve heritage interpretation and explore sustainable tourism products.
