National Tourist Guide Course (Licensing Program)

Tourist Guide Service as defined as a service provided to tourists by escorting them or giving them information and narrations concerning all aspects of tourism interests in Sri Lanka. As unofficial ambassadors of the host country, fundamental prerequisites for tourist guides are positive personal, ethical and moral characteristics including honesty, modesty, dignity, and trustworthiness. Equally important are intellectual qualities including comprehensive knowledge and a strong grasp of the subject matter, good analytical skills, a comparative perspective for historic cultural sites, and a commitment to continuous learning and personal enrichment. Moreover, essential professional qualities include the ability to communicate and present facts in the visitor’s language, the capacity to lead and organize groups, correct posture and eye contact, and the ability to tell stories. The aim of this course is to produce a Tourist Guide with all the above mentioned qualifications and qualities. This course focuses to develop standardized Tour guides with and to obtain the “licence” issued by SLTDA as the prime legal requirement to perform as a Tourist Guide in Sri Lanka.