Tour guides: "Squatters invade cities and ruin the profession. Ministers intervene."

Strong stance by theNational Association of Tourist Guides (ANGT) against those who practice the profession illegally in all cities in Italy. As is well known, the profession of tour guide in Italy is subject to a special qualification that is obtained after a thorough and not easy examination, and the practice of the profession can only be conducted by licensed professionals. Yet, despite this, there are many squatters raging in art cities, historic centers, museums, parks and tourist resorts causing economic damage to the business and to the tourists themselves (who risk paying for a poor service).

“Unfortunately, our major tourist destinations,” Adina Persano, president of theANGT, explained in a note, “are now invaded by groups led by squatters of all nationalities, who display invalid badges, passing themselves off as licensed guides.” The problem is felt especially in large cities, where for some time the phenomenon of free tours has taken hold, i.e., group visits conducted by guides who often lack requirements, and set up by organizations that offer tours on paper free of charge but whose livelihood is based on a bidding system such that tourists pay for the service with an offer if they are satisfied with the visit. Moreover, the abusive practice of the profession, ANGT guides point out, also creates damage to the state in the form of lost tax and social security revenue.

“Tourist Guides,” Adina Persano continues, “due to the peculiarity of the profession exercised, are present daily and capillary in the places most crowded by tourists of all backgrounds, which coincide with sensitive targets. Not only do licensed Tourist Guides constitute an element of legality to defend and protect the artistic heritage of aCountry, but they have often gone far beyondthis task. I am referring to how recently, at the Bardo Museum in Tunis, a Tourist Guide saved the lives of many people: he was able to do this not only because of his courage, but above all because of the specific knowledge of the places ,given by his particular, special profession.”

The ANGT guides therefore ask the relevant ministers (tourism, interior, cultural heritage) for careful vigilance since, they point out, the discomfort is very high and the safety of tourists as well as the respect of professionals also depends on it. “We recall,” Persano concludes, “that security is an imperativ odi general interest of the state. We therefore ask the government to make this appeal to Tourist Guides as soon as possible: ’Do not use false guides, do not be guided by those who have no title to do so, do not buy guided tours or irregular tours that can be detrimental to the protection and enhancement of our heritage and culture, impoverishing true tourism professionals.’”

Tour guides: "Squatters invade cities and ruin the profession. Ministers intervene."

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