GANYC Report on 2024 WFTGA Convention
GANYC Report on 2024 WFTGA Convention
by Emma Guest-Consales
From January 20th to the 26th 2024, I attended the 20th WFTGA Convention in Siracusa, Italy. The conference took place on the beautiful island of Ortigia, one of the oldest parts of Syracuse which has been inhabited for over 2,700 years. Convention activities included the WFTGA General Assembly, the election of the new Executive Board, reports from all attending member countries, plenary speakers, workshops, site visits, and so much delicious Sicilian food. Delegates also voted on the next country to host the 2026 Convention; the bidding countries were Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, and Philippines and the winning country was announced: Fukuoka, Japan!
This was my second WFTGA Convention, I had previously attended the one in Prague, Czechia in 2015; other GANYC members attended the conventions in Tehran, Iran (2017) and Tbilisi, Georgia (2019). WFTGA conventions are educational and fun, and they are great opportunities to meet with tour guides from around the world to learn from them and to exchange ideas and best practices.
Every day included speakers and workshops, as well as meetings for the delegates to conduct WFTGA business. The main speakers and events took place in the magnificent Teatro Massimo Città di Siracusa, while the General Assembly was in the Sala Borsellino of the Palazzo Vermexio.
Two of the speakers who really stood out to me the most were Professor Valerie Higgins, Program Director for Sustainable Cultural Heritage at the American University of Rome and Online Guided Tours and Martina Gatti, founder of the DMC (Destination Management Company) My Italian Guide. Both speakers addressed overtourism and sustainable tourism in different ways, but with similar conclusions. As tour guides, we can make a real difference by getting people to visit unique places and creating experiences that draw on local cultures and their people. As Prof. Higgins said, “Need to reinvent and rethink cultural tourism and turn tourists back into travelers—people with a curiosity of a place and an interest in doing things deeper.”
I also enjoyed the panels on technology, especially the one on Online Guided Tours led by Mateja Kregar Gliha (Slovenia), Dimitra Papadopoulou (Greece), and Tatiana Lupascu (transmitting live from Moldova). The speakers defined the different types of online tours, from webinars to virtual tours, and included a demonstration of a live-stream guided tour with audience participation. Sebastian Frankenberger, the new president of WFTGA, gave a presentation on AI and using ChatGPT for tour preparation and more.
The USA was well-represented by attendees from New York City and Washington, D.C. NFTGA President Michael Dillinger, GANYC President Michael Morgenthal, and DC Guild President Jim Carr all spoke and networked on behalf of their respective associations. I delivered the Finance Inspection Committee report and was selected to stay on the committee for another two years. I am also the newest Area Representative for North America, the Caribbean, and Oceania.
The main convention included visits to various sites in Siracusa, from the depths of the Catacombs of San Giovanni (no photos allowed inside) to the open spaces of the magnificent Parco Archeologico.
We also went on an excursion to the towns of Avola and Noto, driving through citrus orchards laden with ripe oranges and lemons. I have visited Sicily many times, but never in the winter months when it is so green and lush.
The convention ended with a lavish gala dinner at the 13th century Castello Maniace, complete with traditional Sicilian dancing, great food, and plenty of wine.
The WFTGA Convention in Siracusa was a memorable experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn, discover, and network with an international group of tour guides. I highly recommend attending the next conference in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2026; I am starting to save up for it already!
