ITGDs

THE GOALS OF ITGD CELEBRATIONS

THE GOALS OF TOURIST GUIDE CONVENTIONS AND THEIR COURSES:

THE CELEBRATION WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2007 IN TEHRAN. ITS GOALS WERE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

_Having the tourist guides from Tehran assemble and get acquainted

_Honoring the tourist guides and paying tribute to the veterans in the field

_Synchronizing the Iranian tourist guides with their fellow colleagues from other countries since this convention is held on the International Tourist Guides’ Day.

_Emphasizing on employing the ICHTO certified tourist guides (All tourist guides are obliged to have their card with them)

_Emphasizing on the walking tour of Tehran (The tourist guides walked through some cities of Tehran and visited some cultural attractions)

_Collaborating leaders with each other (administrative activities related to the celebration were conducted by tourist guides)

_The professional identity proof (based on the creed that was elaborated and read at the ceremony)

THE CELEBRATION WAS HELD IN YAZD IN 2008 WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

_Respecting and stressing all the previous convention’s objectives and creeds

_Having all the tourist guides from all around the country gathered and getting to know each other

_Decentralization Tehran and exploiting local guides in order to perform tours / for the explanations

_ planning the travel for the tour guides (guides always need to travel because of their career, but for participating in this celebration they travel for themselves).

_Stressing the capabilities of the tourist guides to promote their hometowns and/or the city they come from through brochures, catalogues in tourism arena

_ involving the tourism-related industries (using the hotels, restaurants and handicraft…)

_ Praising the tourists who were researchers or researchers who were tourists as well

IN THE THIRD YEAR, THE CONVENTION WAS HELD IN TABRIZ WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

_Respecting and stressing all the previous convention’s objectives and creeds

_Paying tribute to the tourist guide who lost their lives on the action

_Appreciating the time and making a movement in this regard. This convention was started at 9:57

_Making the convention’s statue as a sustainable symbol for these annual assemblies

_Encouraging them to create the tour leaders associations in the provinces.

_ Encouraging Tourist Guides to establish Associations in their provinces. Involving Tourist Guides in decision-making issues of the ICHTO. In this convention all the tourist guides stressed the registration of the Tabriz old Bazaar under World Cultural Heritage.

_Emphasizing on travelling at all times and to all places. Tabriz was elected to host the convention despite the fact that it was an off-season to visit Tabriz.

_ Paying attention to local guides (they were admired in this convention)

IN THE FOURTH YEAR, THE CONVENTION WAS HELD IN RAMSAR WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

_Respecting and stressing all the previous convention’s objectives and creeds

_Decentralizing (In 2nd and 3rd year, they held the convention in other cities than the capital. This year, even with more tourist guides participating in the convention, it was held in a smaller city)

_Uniting with ordinary people (It was decided that the tourist guides stay with people on their walking tour)

_Enhancing the knowledge level (holding some workshops)

_Following the World Tourism goals (This year Iranian Tourist Guides utilized a slogan in line with WTG slogan for their national convention)

_Marking the time (It is intended to regard 9:57 as a time brand for these conventions. This year’s convention started at 9:57)

: THIS CONVENTION WAS HELD IN KHOUZESTAN IN 1390 / 2011 WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES

-Respecting and stressing all the previous convention’s objectives and creeds

-All the Iranian tourist guides considered and valued the creeds and instructions being previously announced to the provinces’ offices

-Respecting democracy and fulfilling it. For instance, the motto and poster of this year’s was voted through.

-This year, a weblog – Itdg.blogfa.com – was established in order to inform and poll all tourist guides so that everyone could monitor the procedures of holding the convention from A to Z and leave comments.

-Khouzestan province is quantitatively and qualitatively rich and considerable for it cultural heritage and tourist attractions but its visitors are not satisfactory yet. All the tourist guides emphasized the importance of Khouzestan by their presence over there and declared that all Iran is of utmost importance to them and they attempt to present it all.

-In 1398/2010 in Ramsar, the tourist guides requested the municipality officials to name a street or a square as “Tourist Guide” which was not approved. The tourist guides proved their perseverance in pursuing their goals, and requested the same thins again in Khouzestan. Finally, the third square in Kianpars streetin in ahvaz was renamed as “Tourist”.

-So far, there has been a lot of effort to establish provincial associations so that their rights are not violated. This year, they attempted to establish an institution comprising of all of the associations.

IN 1391/2012 THE CONVENTION WAS HELD WITH 700 PARTICIPANTS FOLLOWING THE BELOW OBJECTIVES:

-Respecting and stressing all the previous convention’s objectives and creeds

-We hope that the presence of the tourist guides in West Azarbaeijan attraction the attention of the official to Urumiye Lake environmental issues. All the tourist guides showed their support of this unique environmental phenomenon by going there.

-In order to involve more provinces in the convention, the share of some of the provinces were decreased so that more members can participate in the convention.

-, this year the convention was held internationally After five years of holding the national convention

-Regarding the talks, “the first assembly of the tour leaders and hotel ownder of the ECCO members” was held at time of the 6th Tourist Guides Convention.

-Performing mutual projects between tourist guides and tour operators was an objective which was not attained, unfortunately.

-In order to hold the convention this year, there was more communication and cooperation, both quantitatively and qualitatively, with private and governmental sectors.

-One of the outcomes of the conventions in previous years was to unite the tourist guides and establish guild associations in several provinces. Establishing ITGA and introducing its website was a major accomplishment.

-It is noteworthy that establishing ITGA was an objective of the previous conventions as well which was ultimately done this year.

THE CONVENTION WAS HELD IN KERMAN IN 1392/2013 BEARING THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES

-Respecting and stressing all the previous convention’s objectives and creeds

-After the Bam earthquake catastrophe, we witnessed the diminishing role of Bam and ultimately Kerman in incoming tours. We hope that the presence of the tourist guides in Kerman and visiting Bam- which recently is out of the endangered UNESCO heritage and is one of the world cultural heritage items-creates new opportunities for Kerman as a tourist destination.

-Kerman cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism organization, is willing to prepare the environmental heritage file of Lut Desert to be sent to UNESCO. The tourist guides will support this ominous event with their presence in Kerman.

-The 7th Tourist guides convention was held with cordial cooperation and collaboration of the ITGA and IFTGA.

-We intend to invite some guest from the environment organization to collaborate with tourist guides in order to stress the importance of the collaboration between the two organizations.

-Considering the financial problems to hold the convention annually, we are willing to hold this convention with more financial supporters.

-Regarding the international concept for tourist guides, there will be some international guests.

-The president of the WFTGA was present in this convention for the first time ever.

Tehran 2008

The first tourist guides’ global day was held in Tehran on Esfand 2nd, 1386. This convention was run with the aid of tourist guides and ICHTO with the support of the Khane Faravaran Iran. In order to encourage the tour guides to have walking tours, a walking tour was organized. During the convention, all the guides were to hang their official cards for the aim of emphasizing on Tour Guides’ Card.

In this convention, the statement of the tourist guides’ global day was announced. Via this, the tourist guides as the cultural ambassadors asked for their deserved position and also they requested that the second of Esfand be named as the tourist guides’ global day in the Iranian calendar.

This convention was started from Golestan palace, with Mr. Kiumars Ghafariand other experts’ explanations and after the waking tour, it was held in national museum. The outstanding tour guides and also Mohammad Inanlu, the special guest of the ceremony, were praised.

YAZD 2009

The second national congress of International Tourist Guide Day was held in Yazd, one of the most important tourist destinationsofIran, in February 2009. The main objectives of the congress were to: “increase coherence and coordination between tourist guides and develop their professional knowledge and skills”

In this event, attended by upward 300 tourist guides from across the country, authorities of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization as well as Omidvar Brothers, the first Iranian World Explorers, various tourism issues were discussed. Meanwhile, the congress attendees visited the major tourist attractions of the province, including Amir Chakhmaq Complex, Jame Mosque of Yazd, Alexander’s Prison (Ziyaiyeh School), Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, Pigeon Tower, Narin Castle and Kharanaq historical village

It is to be mentioned that in this event, we enjoyed the collaboration of Yazd Culture Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization as well as the private sector. Furthermore, a number of hotels had a great collaboration with the executive committee in accommodating participants

It is expected that by the continuity of such events and discussions, several years of sincere efforts of tourism industry experts for achieving the rights and demands of tourist guides come to fruition

M. Masoud Seyedhassani

Secretary of the second national congress of International Tourist Guide Day

TABRIZ 2010

The third celebration of tour guides, hosting by Tabriz, was hold on 20-21 February 2009. To witness the guides who have participated in 2 last celebrations executive discipline in this time was the best.

According the schedule set, the whole Tour guides before departure to Tabriz gathered in Tehran and visited the Sa`ad Abad Palace.

At 5 a.m on 20 February, reception and accommodation of tour guides in 2 hotels: Gostaresh and Tabriz (4 star hotels) began and after having breakfast; the visit to the BLUE MOSQUE, AZERBAIJAN MUSEUM, THE GREAT BAZAAR OF TABRIZ (the largest porch building in the world), JAME MOSQUE, THE HOUSE MEUSUM OF MASHRUTE began and it has been finished by lunch. At all stages of programs, the disciplines of guides and visits as well as the expert descriptions of Tabrizi tour guides had given special effects to ceremony. The performance and coordination was impressive.

For lunch the tour guides went to Ghahramani restaurant in ILKHCHI (the beginning of Orumie lake`s Bridge).

The guides` presents and the arrival of the buses were coordinated so that the constraints of locations and seats did not cause the guests standing however the last bus arrived, the first group of the guides had been finished their lunch.

After lunch all participants visited the Candvan village (one of the three rocky villages in the world and of course the only one where people still living there). And also the Hilevar village was visited (the village in mountain, contemporary the invasion of Moghol to Iran). In the evening of the first day, the guides were gathered in the historical area of Elgoly and had drunk cups of tea in pavilion, in the middle of the pool. At the end of the day, there was Tahchin for dinner.

The second day and before the ceremony, an exhibition of books , brochures , CDs and whatever is related to the introduction of historical attractions of provinces was held in the area where the ceremony was in . The guides received more information from their colleagues in other provinces.

In Tabriz ceremony there were some important events which occurred for the first time:

1-Being founded the beginning of closing ceremony at 9:45 a.m to emphasis the importance of time management on the role of the tour guides in this case.

2- Unveiling the special status of guides` ceremony which has been built by Isfahani`s friends (especial Mr.Majid Danesh Mobarhan). That was inspired of natural and historical symbols of our countries.

3- The closing ceremony was hosted by two persons in two different parts. The first host was from cultural heritage organization and the other one was Michael Nazari, representing tour guides` associations and selecting by staff celebrations.

4- Memorial tour guides who lost their lives on Jobs such as Abbas Jafari, Aram Ahmadi, Anahita Amini

Celebration Goal:

1-Encourage to establish the associations in provinces

2-Tour guides involved in decision relating to Cultural Heritage (Specifically, Focusing on the universal record of Tabriz Bazaar)

3-Emphasis on possibility of traveling to all locations in all times (By choosing Tabriz in the coldest season of northwest of Iran)

4- Heeding local guides (Glorifying the local guides of provinces)

Special guest: Professor Parviz Rajabi

Total number of participants: 550

Supporters: Marco Polo Travel agency, Tabriz Hotel, Gostaresh Hotel, Delestan Restaurant

Bahman Hakimi

Secretary of the third national congress of International Tourist Guide Day

RAMSAR 2011

In the year 1389, as previous years, the tour guide ceremony was held in 3 days in Ramsar city in which 400 people participated.

Motto: according to the world tourism organization, we selected the motto of this ceremony upon the environment, which was ” Tour Guide, environmental varieties, responsibility”.

It’s obvious that for holding this important convention, some special meetings were needed. Some of the meetings were held on Aban 17th and Azar 22nd. Some authorities like the mayor, governor and the hotels’ managers participated in these meeting. The reasons that Ramsar were selected as the host are as follows:

1.The year 89 were the 40th anniversary of signing ” protecting the world’s ponds” which was famous as ” Ramsar Convention”

2.The motto of tour guides global day in the year 2010 was tourism and environmental varieties, so according to this motto we were concerned to emphasize on this motto. Considering these reasons Ramsar seemed to be a good choice.

3.Considering the tour guides emphasis on registering Tabriz Bazar globally, we wanted to try to register the Hirkani Jungle globally.

4.We wanted to show that the small cities can have a great role in holding such important events.

5.Our aim was to focus on events and food and drink, Ramsar seemed a good chose for this.

6.Although Ramsar in located in Mazandaran Province, it’s culture is close to Gilan province. By selecting Ramsar as the border town, we aimed to use both provinces’ cultures.

The first day:

All the tour guide from all over the country came to Ramsar on Bahman 30th. Then the workshops were started.

The second day:

The tour guides went some places like Ramsar green roof, Chaldare,etc. They enjoyed the traditional music, foods, games, etc. the press conference was held in Negin Restaurant.

The third day:

As always, the ceremony was started at 9:57 am. In the ceremony the head of Ramsar Cultural Heritage Organization and Mr. Hossein Setode gave lectures. Like previous years, the great tour guides were praised. The special guests such as Bijan Farhang Dare Shuri and Dr. Naser Karami talked with the tour guides.

Workshops:

For the first time, 12 educational workshops were held. The subjects of these workshops were such as: getting familiar with tourism attractions of provinces, health tourism, RSS usages, etc.

KHUZESTAN 2012

The fifth celebration of the world day of tour guides was held in 19-21 Feb 2011 in Khuzestan in such cities: Andimeshkh, Susa, Shushtar , Dezful and Ahvaz.

The conference was attended by 500 participants ,while some guides were from Markazi , Kurdistan, Zanjan , Kerman , Hamedan , Isfahan , Chaharmahal Bakhtiari and Khurasan arrived on 19 February , they settled on Mukhtar Castle in Andimeshk.

Khuzestan was chosen to host the fifth ceremony since it was consistent more than other provinces to celebrate the year by the world tourism slogan “Tourism linking cultures”. A broad and diverse geographic and ethnic diversity as well as coexistence in such climate created social and cultural diversity.

In addition to hold the ceremony in this province after forming the associations, it was shown as a model for the other provinces so that they are also creating the guild in their province till highlighting the professional tour guides` career and it will be effective and active for the formation of the national association of guides in Iran.

Purposes and Goals of the Ceremony

Respecting and emphasizing on all the previous purposes, the goals were considered that all participants had to follow them. Respecting to the democracy in this celebration was top of all. The fact that a lot of decision such as determining the slogan and designing the poster of celebration were put to a referendum. Also in this year a weblog was created for information and feedback of tour guides in Iran. This weblog is: www.iftgd.blogfa.com

Another important point in this celebration was emphasizing on the introduction of the tourism capacity of the host state. Despite numerous cultural and tourism attractions in Khuzestan as well as there are two sites inscribed on the list of world index, it is faced with few tourists and lack of basic suitable infrastructure.

However guides known these matters and lack of adequate facilities and standard accommodation, but they emphasized on common place of travelling by their presences.

In this celebration, it was also attempted to fulfill the previous objectives, one of the streets or squares of Ahvaz to be named Guides or Tourism. In coordination with Ahvaz municipality the third square of Kianpars was named officially to “Tourism Square” and obtaining this permission was announced to all at the closing ceremony.

The other important point in this celebration was the publish of Special for the first time by tour guides` efforts.

The Slogan of the ceremony was chosen as “tourist Guides, A bridge between cultures”.

The special guest in this celebration was Mrs. Tooran MirHadi; The writer, translator and founder of children`s encyclopedia due to a medical condition her presence at ceremony was not possible. However her message was shown via the movie and Mrs Fakharnia was presented as her representing in tour guides` community.

Other honorable guests attended also the Khuzestan celebration, including; Mrs Parvin Bahmani ;Ghashghaee`s Musician and researcher, Mrs Soodabe Fazayeli ;writer and translator in cultural symbols and myths as well as Mr. Muhammad Reza Aslani ; in addition to various activities , he has been known more as a documentary producer.

In celebration the effort of some caused next to the all scheduled programs and for increasing the guides` academic ability and also to exchange the experiences, the workshops were held in different levels. Some topics of these workshops were: Peace education, Tourism and wild life, management of planning and ecotourism places in tourism market, Tourism development in each region and its ratio to total demand, rescue and first aid in tourism; CPR, sport tourism and liking as well as Iranian civilization in desert, Guests with special needs, types of tourism and the possibility of combining with each other and the role of this combination in the synergistic at each other.

The three day festival programs

The celebration officially began on Sunday morning, 19 February. After breakfast in Andimeshk Grand hotel, the guides were headed to Susa by 12 buses. They visited the palace and fortress of Susa then they went to Shooshtar for ease of visiting, the guides were divided into two groups and visits started from historical water structures , Salasel Castle, Daryvan river , Mostofi House and Mizan Dam. After lunch they went to Ziggurat, in addition to visit Ilami`s Sites in the evening, they enjoyed the music, space and lighted the candles. They had also their dinner at this beautiful site.

On Monday morning 20 February , the visit began from Dezful , walking in old city , old houses and brick Sabbaths then all guides went to Andimeshk to present in Mokhtar`s Castle and enjoyed the other cultural events including ; Khuzestan nomads` exhibitions, Bakhtiari folk music , Sword dancing Arab tribes of Khuzestan , Iranian ethnic handicrafts , showing ethnic local coverage.

After lunch, workshops were held with topics that were inserted and meeting with guides and media was the final program before dinner.

Early in the morning on Tuesday 21 February the guides went to Ahvaz while checked out their hotels in Andimeshk,Dezful and Mukhtar`s castle. After breakfast, the exhibition of provincial competence was held in closing ceremony in auditoriums national oil regions.

As every year the ceremony began at 9:45 a.m., national song , Official speeches , music , video play back remembered Dr.Parviz Rajabi ( special guest in 2009 ceremony ) who recently passed away, conveyor ceremony readings, unveiling audio logo , appreciating the reporters and supporters and also better guides were important parts of the celebration.

After lunch in pars hotel in Ahvaz and the guides took their memorial photos, they went to railway station.

Material and spiritual supporters:

Khuzestan county , Cultural heritage organization, Oil company in south region, Ahvaz municipality , Farabi advertising center, Administration of tribal affair tourism bank, Pars chain hotel groups, Isha airlines, Ta`atilat now, Marco polo travel agency, Hamedan Ganjname.

In order to celebration, the numerous meetings with Khuzestan county , cultural heritage organization, Andimeshk government, Ahvaz municipality , hotels and agency owners, Mah shahr government ,Arvand free zone, and the other trade unions, NGOs and activities in tourism were held.

Zhale Kazemzadeh

Secretary of the fifth national congress of International Tourist Guide Day

URUMIA 2013

The sixth of World Tourism Day celebration of tour guides, on February 30th to March 2nd in the province of West Azerbaijan was held in Urmia. In this program, 600 tourist guides, tourism and the environment students and professors, as well as journalists participated. According to the World Tourism Organization in 2012 with the slogan “Tourism and Sustainable Energy ‘, this great gathering under the slogan” tourism guide, protect natural resources, supporting sustainable energy “was held.

The program began with a visit to Lake Urmia and the site Kazem Dashi. Visiting other natural and historical sites in the second day of the celebration such as, Nazlo River Sahoolan cave and Orartoee castle were parts of this program. Also to raise the scientific level of tour guides, eleven workshops were held with various topics. It should be noted that one of the workshops in English with a focus on tourism and sustainable development, by the World Tourism Organization’s chief adviser, Mr. Marcello Nvtaryany were trained.

Holding a press conference attended by journalists and tourism professors And environment by providing expert panel on the topic of sustainable development in tourism and also forming the center of the tourist guides’ association in Iran with membership of 12 tour guides associations, was the other achievements in the second day of celebration.

Closing celebration, as in previous years, with emphasis on the Punctuality of guides began at 9:57. Special guest of the program, Mr. Ismail Kahrom doctor, professor and ornithologist who had the unique speech about Lake Urmia, and environment stimulated the audience’s emotions. One of the surprises of this year’s celebration of was the symbolic work done by two of the tourist guides in which Lake Urmia is designed on a dress and signed by all participants and donating it to the doctor Ismail Kahro made a different

Workshops concluding of:

1-Stable extent in tourism, was hold in English language by Marchello Natoriani one of the senior consulters of WTTO

2-Entrepreneurship in tourism according to local jobs by Ashkan Brouj senior expert in tourism management

3-Navigations and diplomacy technologies in tourism by Dr. Rahmani diplomatic Ph.D from Sorbon university and Masih Sharif from UIB university in Spain

4-Literary tourism and travel accounting by Zhaleh Ebrahimi

5- Literary tourism second part by Mr.Bapiry and Miss Makian senior expert in tourism management

6-Tour guides and cultural heritages and hands crafts by attending to Iranian carpets by Frazane moradi carpet expert

7-Tour guides and historical monuments and archeology in historical sites by Dr.Adibzade archeologist

8-Tourist and anthropology researches by Farzaneh Tahery expert in library

9-Gathering methods of researches in tourism and well-documenting and submitting the data by Kafashzadeh expert in constricting the historical sites

10- Recyclable energies stepping to stable energies mostly attending to solar systems by Soheila Ahmadi history expert

11-Explanation methods in tourism by Mikel Nazary senior expert in tourism planning

12-Reviewing the connections of history and archeology and tour guides in introducing the sites attending to recorded sites in unisco in west Azarbayjan province by Dr. Farry history professor

Sponsors:

Governor’s office, state capitol building of West Azarbayjan Province

Municipality in city hall of Uremia

Commercial room of West Azarbayjan Province

Cultural Heritage and tourism and handcrafts organization of West Azarbayjan Province

Shadly factory

Nikzy factory

Nafise Azarsina

Secretary of the sixth national congress of International Tourist Guide Day

KERMAN 2014

Over 600 tourist guides, 100 reporters and guests of honour gathered for the 7th Iranian International Tourist Guides Day celebration under the theme of “Tourist Guide: Narrator of water, Protector of Land” WFTGA President Felicitas Wressnig was invited by Iran Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (IFTGA) to visit Tehran, Isfahan and Yazd before continuing to Kerman. During this trip she had meetings with officials including the Governors of Yadz and Kerman, as well as WFTGA members (the President of Iran Tourist Guide As- sociation [ITGA] and the Vice president of IFTGA) and the manager of Eavar travel agency, the sponsor of the first WFTGA courses in Tehran which took place in December 2013 the opening ceremony began with Mrs Wressnig’s lecture in which she men- tioned that she is hopeful for more coop- eration between Iranian tourist guides and the WFTGA. She also reminded .everyone about the Ethos and Code of Conduct for tourist guides

Visits took place to the Jabalieh Dome, Shahzadeh Garden, the Shah Nematol- lah Vali Shrine, the Bam Citadel and the Ganj Alikhan Complex where a statue was unveiled to mark the 7th Convention of the Iranian Tourist Guides. Trees were also planted in the desert area.

On the last day of the convention leading authorities attended including the Deputy of President Mr Soltanifar, Head of Tourism in Iran Mr Rahmani, the Governor of Kerman, the Head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of Kerman and Yazd, the writers Houshang Moradi and Terence Ward and Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce.

The high quality and standard as well as exuberance of this gathering as demon- strated by the positive feedback from authorities and guests, was due to the active participation of tourist guides.

KERMAN 2014

The high quality and standard as well as exuberance of this gathering as demon- strated by the positive feedback from authorities and guests, was due to the active participation of tourist guides.

MASHHAD 2015

The 8th rally of Iranian Tourist Guides was held for 3 nights and 4 days in Khorasan Razavi province which capital is Mashhad, from 17-20 Feb 2015.

Tourist Guides rally is held continuously since 2008 every year in one of the provinces

of the country which order is Tehran, Yazd, East Azerbaijan, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, West Azerbaijan, Kerman and Khorasan Razavi.

The 8th gathering was closed by attendance of 550 legal Tourist Guides, about 50 national and provincial journalists from news agencies, newspapers, magazines, radio and television and about 100 guests from public and private sectors.

The rally plan was as below:

1st day: Visiting the holly shrine of the 8th Imam of the Shias. Holding 15 different workshops.

2nd day: Visiting the mausoleum of the great Iranian poet, Abolghasem Ferdowsi. Calling on Neishabur city for the purpose of visiting Persian poets and mystics: Attar Neishaburi and Omar Khayyam.

3rd day: Holding the Optional tours in 5 provincial routes- news conference by attendance of MPs and managers of public and private sectors.

4th Day: Exhibiting the handicrafts and tourism capabilities of different provinces of Iran- closing ceremony which was attended by MPs, Mr Soltanifar, vice-president of I.R.Iran and the head of cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism organization, special guests, and the journalists.

The 8th rally of tourist guides in Iran was very important for different dimensions:

1-It was the first time that the MPs took part in this gathering and got familiar with insurance difficulties and citizenship of the Tourist Guides.

2-Miss Ruby Roy, The member of the board (The vice-president) of WFTGA took part in this gathering and examined the strengths and weaknesses of Iranian Tourist Guides for holding the convention of 2017.

3-Most of the responsible people in tourism industry have got familiar with Tourist Guides Job and their role.

4-The message of Talib Refahi, The secretary General of UNWTO about winning the hosting of convention 2017 and also holding 8 continuous Tourist Guides gathering was read.

5-Come 2 Iran campaign which was created by the Iranian tourist guides at the time of attendance in convention 2015, was considered more by the people and the officials.

Arash Nooraghaee

Translated by: Rasoul Jalalodini