Welcome!
Statue of Liberty
Photo: Ben Shafer, Photographer
NFTGA was formed in 1998 to represent, promote and protect the common interests of tourist guide associations in the United States of America. The organization is comprised of 21 member associations from different geographic areas around the United States, and has ties to associations throughout the world though our membership in the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA). Collectively, we represent thousands of tour guides, managers and planners throughout the US. You can see the listing of member associations here.
The on-going focus and commitment of the NFTGA-USA is to promote effective training and continuing education, while upholding a strict code of ethics and demonstrating the highest degree of professionalism. It is essential that guides welcome visitors and act in such a way as to bring credit to the U.S. and their local area while promoting their country, region and city as desirable tourist destinations.
Tourist guides are the frontline tourism professionals, who act as good-will ambassadors to throngs of domestic and international visitors who visit our cities and our nation. Formation of the NFTGA-USA was just the first step towards the promotion of the visibility and importance of using professional, trained guides.
Dear NFTGA Member Associations,
As the Covid-19 crisis unfolds across the country our industry is experiencing massive cancellations with huge financial setbacks. To better serve you, NFTGA is gathering information to communicate to governmental agencies, tourism partners, the public etc the dramatic loss of income of all independent tour guides. The information we are seeking is critical to enabling us to get our voices and concerns heard in the plans for any relief measure that may be adopted.
Please share the survey with all guides/td's in your area whether they are members of your association or not. Please also share on your associations social media and encourage members to share with each other. We want to provide as wide a picture as we can of the effects that this crisis is having on tour guides in the United States.
The US Travel Association had designated April 1, 2020 as Destination Capitol Hill, a day of lobbying for tourism issues. The event will most likely be canceled but we would still like to provide information that they can pass on to legislators.
Please encourage your members to fill out the survey by March 27, 2020. It will remain active after that for any updates but we'd like to have information available to distribute for April 1, 2020.
Also, please designate a point person in your association for any needed follow up. Have that point person email Amada Anderson at secretary@nftga.com. For any other questions or concerns please email Michael Dillinger nftgavicepresident@gmail.com.
The Survery Link: https://forms.gle/HsFd7oKF1GFUVUR66
Thank you,
NFTGA Board