Travel agents can reassure staycation customers about the safety of visiting UK tourist attractions, with guidelines being released for British tour guides.
It will ensure guides to work safely and members of the public can book and go on tours with confidence. Tourist guides form a critical part of the UK?s ?127 billion tourism industry.
Marilyn Collis, president, Institute of Tourist Guiding, said: ?The situation is changing daily and blue badge, green badge and white badge guides are chomping at the bit and ready to guide the minute the starting gun is fired.?
?We?re lucky to have guides who practised as medical doctors, before training as guides, to create this guidance. They?ve also kindly issued COVID-19 related public health advice to all our members. Whether we?re using our well-honed group management skills or the latest technology to maintain social distancing, we?ll be there playing our part in rejuvenating this vital industry?, she added.
The situation is changing daily and hence the institution is in regular contact with the visitor attractions where clients are guided. The institute is also involved with the Federation of European Guides to watch how tourism re-opens across Europe. Going on a tour with a ?badged? guide will be like being looked after with professionalism, care and sensitivity.
The Institute of Tourist Guiding represents nearly 2,000 qualified guides over these islands, many guiding in a language other than English. Institute-qualified tourist guides have undergone lengthy training courses and have to pass demanding exams before guiding the general public.
The iconic ?Blue Badge? tourist guides have unique professional guiding rights to sites such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul?s Cathedral and the Tower of London.
Image Credit: Aaron Bradley/ Flickr
