REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER TO BECOME A TOURIST GUIDE
Tourist guide are required by the legislation to be suitably qualified and to conduct themselves professionally at all times. Tourist guides are required to complete tourist guiding training before they can be considered for registration. Upon completion of training one need to register with the Provincial Registrar of their choice.
Training of Tourist Guides
Tourist guides must be trained by accredited training providers for their application for registration to be considered. Tourist guides are responsible for verifying the registration status of the training providers before commencement of training.
A full list of accredited training providers and assessors can be obtained on the Culture Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) website www.cathsseta.org . Information about tourist guiding programmes which are recognised by SAQA can be obtained from the SAQA website www.saqa.org.za. Alternatively, enquiries can be made at the Tourist Guides Registration Offices across Provinces.
Registration of Tourist Guides
Once training is completed, tourist guides can register with the relevant Provincial Registrar. Upon registration, the tourist guide will be issued with a unique tourist guide registration number, tourist guide badge and an identification card.
For registration to be completed successfully, tourist guides must submit the following:
- A completed and signed application form.
- Signed Code of Conduct and Ethics.
- Certified copy of Certificate in Tourist Guiding issued by CATHSSETA or Institution of Higher Learning, provided that these institutions offered programmes which are recognised by SAQA.
- Letter from accredited Institution confirming the site(s)/region(s) in which the guide was declared competent to guide.
- Certified copy of South African ID Permanent Residence or in the case of a non-South African citizen a certified copy of a valid Work Permit allowing giving permission to work as a tourist guide.
- A valid and certified copy of a First Aid Certificate issued by a recognised Institution (Basic Level 1). Proof of language proficiency for each foreign language in which tours will be conducted (i.e. a letter from an authority stating that the guide is proficient in a particular foreign language.
- Four passport-size, colour photos;
- The registration fee of R240.00 (renewable every three years).