I, receiving the certificate
I finally got my tour guide license on the 30th after three years of wait because I had applied for it in the year 2006. I started preparing for the entrance exam after applying for the license in 2006 and continued it for a few months but finally I stopped because the tour guide association of India sued the Indian government for issuing the license. They never want new people to come in the industry as they are afraid of loosing their bread and butter because most the old guides are not good. They got their license when it was so easy to get it. Now the process is tough but it will definitely produce better tour guides who are at least trained to not chew betel while talking with their clients:)
The certificate
My brother Chandan, who is an escort, told me something really funny. He said that when he was in Benares last time with his group, he had hired a government approved tour guide who went with them for morning time boat ride. This tour guide started talking about Benares, Hindu religion, Benares culture and Ganga. He said several times that Ganga is not only a river for Hindus, she is considered as mother. After a few minutes when his speech ended, he started chewing betel and later spited it out in the river Ganga in front of his clients. The clients got really upset and they asked him if Hindus spit on their mother and he just did not have any answer. I hope the people who have attended this training program will not do such thing.
Sana and I at convocation hall
The tour guide training program was stopped several times because the tour guide association of India was always suing the government. They sued the government first time right after the application forms were open and then it took few months to settle things, and then government organized entrance exam and then again tour guide association sued the government and the program was stopped again for a few months as the case was going on in Delhi High Court. Finally the government won the case and High Court of Delhi ordered the government to start the training as soon as possible so finally training was started after 3 years in August 2009.
Happy moments
The training was held at IITTM in Gwalior where I got to learn a lot. The total duration of training was 16 weeks- 6 weeks of classroom teaching and 10 weeks for field work. There were over 75 lectures in 6 weeks and I did wrote my research paper on Benares. I focused on cultural diversity of Benares. There was a written exam and an interview at the end of the program and I passed both and finally got the certificate. Now I have to go to Delhi to India tourism office with a police verification certificate and then they will issue me a provisional license which will be valid only for two months. And after two months my red card (the permanent license) will be issued. I hope they will not create any problem in Delhi.
I have done my MBA in tourism from
MLS Udaipur Univercity & also having A2 level diploma in french , can I get lisence directly from india tourism
You have to pass the entrance exam, go through training of 16 weeks, then again pass an exam and an interview, and if you get through all of these, only then you get a license. There were several people during my training who had done MBA in tourism, had diploma in two-three foreign languages, had experience of over 20 years of working in the trade as an escort but they also had to pass the entrance exam and go through training and everything.
Congratulations Nandan.
Searching for information on giving examination for Tourist Guide in India, I reached your site. Thank you for the details provided here.
If you would be kind enough to email me at: celine.suares@gmail.com, I’d like to ask a few more questions. Thanks in advance.
Thanks for contacting. I will write you soon.
Dear sir,
I am engineer graduvate but due to resession i had started rent a car business.sir
can you help me to get the certificate from mumbai city.Is ther is any center in mumbai.
waitting for your reply.
regards,
rushikesh
9322228244
Dear Rishikesh,
I am not from Mumbai so I can not help, sorry. But I am really wondering why did you think that I could help you out with the certification thing in Mumbai???
hi
i am gaurav and i am preparing for the language guide exam can you suggest me how to prepare for it
act i want to know what kind of books shoud i study to get the good marks
Study NCERT history books from class 6th to 12th which will help you prepare your history part. For GK, I will suggest you to buy Manorama year book or anything like that. And try to find some information online about monuments and world heritage sites in India because there will be questions about monuments and world heritage sites as well. If you can study NCERT history books, I am sure you pass the exam. All the best.
thank you for your advise it really help me
i wanna north india guide licen
how to i do
i m working in travel company
please advised me
9529281357
You will have to pass an entrance exam but I am not sure when they will give more licenses next time. Just keep checking news papers. The ministry advertises for new applications.
Hi Nandan
I’m from engineering background, can I become a tourist guide? Not that I don’t like IT field anymore but i find it rather interesting to be a tourist guide than being a software developer. Can you please give me details of what should be my first step?
I’ll be waiting for your reply thanks. Oh i’m from Delhi btw.
Jatinder,
Anyone with bachelors degree in any subject can apply for a tour guide license. All you have to do is wait until ministry of tourism starts new training program. Keep looking at the news paper for advertisements and prepare yourself for the exam. They ask questions about history, general knowledge and monuments, so just be prepared for it. Once you pass the exam, they put you in a training of sixteen weeks and after completion of the training, you will be provided a license.
Sir,
I want to appear for the next tour guide lincence exam, please guide me, from where I get the form. Is there any guide in the market which help me to prepare for the exam. Also please tell me from where I get the previous exam question papers as it would be helpful while preparing. I belongs to MP so please guide for which region I have to apply and is it possible for me to apply for northern region. Sir if possible please reply to my email also.
best regards.
navin
dear friend
kindly suggest me how could i obtain tourist escort license from indian government?
i have diploma in russian language and i have experience of working as russian language interpretor for over 4 years for russian companies working in india.
regards
mukul sharma
dear friend
but i am not graduate still i can apply for it or not.
mukul sharma
Navin,
The form is published in the local news papers so keep checking them. I don’t really think there is any guide book to help you prepare for the exams. No availability of previous exam questions. Since you are from MP, you can apply for western region. Look at the other comments on this post, it replies all your queries.
Mukul,
Keep checking your local news papers and Times of India. Government advertises in the news papers when they need new tour guides. You have to apply for it, pass the entrance exam, go through training and only then you get a license. Please check other comments on this post.
Mukul,
You need to have a graduate degree to be able to apply for tour guide license. But sometimes government issues special licenses for foreign language speaking guys. If you have a diploma of six months in any foreign language and have completed 12th class then I think you can apply for it. Keep checking Times of India newspaper.
Thanks for reply. I may need your help while preparing for the exam. At that time I contact you. Please tell me what is the next date of exam or when will form come out in the market.
navin
hi sir, i m hanish luthra …… i m persuing japanese language from priite institute………
n part time i m doing delhi side seen for japanese clints…….. i want to give guiding exam. and achive my guide licence…..so plz tell me what is prosess for the licence……
thankyou
hanish luthra…….
Sir,
One of my friend is also interested to obtain a tour guide licence, but he is not a graduate. He had completed a diploma in electrical and he is well known of Italian language. At present he is working a Italian tour escort for some travel companies in India. Is it possible for him to obtain tour guide licence. He had also done a italian language course in Italy. Please suggest what he have to do to obtain a tour guide lincence.
thanks
best regards
navin
Hanish,
Licensing process is same for everyone. Just go through the post and other comments on this post, it will answer all of your questions.
Navin,
Look at the other comments on this post. Mukul had also asked the same question.
I Mrityunjoy Roy,son of late Madhusudhan Roy,aged about 39 years resident of Rabindra Nagar,Siliguri,West Bengal express willingness to work as Tourist Guide because siliguri Geographical location advantage for the purpose.Bhutan,Nepal,Bangladesh,Assom,Darjeeling,Gangtok etc. can be centre siliguri.I do not have any Tourist Guide License but want to start as a training.Can you provide me the agencies name who is require tourist guide for this location ?
Mriyunjoy,
The area you are talking about comes under Eastern Region. So keep looking at your local news papers and please read this whole post and other comments. It will answer all of your questions. I don’t know about the places you are talking about so I will suggest you to contact some travel agencies working in your area. But be prepared to pass the entrance exam. You can not get a license without passing the entrance exam and going through sixteen weeks training program.
hi Nandan …
i m Manish bhatt ….
i have diploma in french language
can i be a tourist guide…bcz i like this work very much …
this time i m working through a tourism comp. but i wanna be escourt ….plz tell me how i can find the license….
Manish,
You can also become a tour guide and the rules are same for everyone. So just read the post and go through other comments, it will answer all of your questions.
hiiiiiiiiii
i have greduation from delhi university and also completed the diploma in aviation , hospitality , and travel & toursim from frankfinn insititute of air hostess training . and one year diploma in spanish language so i request you to provide me tour guide license ……… thanks………………………..
i have done greduation from delhi university and also completed the diploma in aviation , hospitality , and travel & toursim from frankfinn insititute of air hostess training . and one year diploma in spanish language so i request you to provide me tour guide license ……… thanks………………………..
Veeresh,
How can I provide you a tour guide license? It is provided by Ministry of Tourism for Government of India and Archeological Survey of India. Just read this whole post and go through other comments and you will come to know how you can get a tour guide license. How can you even imagine that I can provide you a tour guide license? I am not government, I am just a government approved tour guide and I had to pass the entrance exam, go through sixteen week of training in Gwalior and then again pass an exam and interview and only then I got my license. You tell me that you have done diploma in Spanish, travel and tourism, aviation and hospitality but didn’t your institute tell you anything about the procedure of getting a tour guide license? Your comment is really funny!
hi! i m rupesh ranjan.
i m working as a french tour escort for several companies.
i just want to get the tour guide license.could u plz show me the way..how can i get the license?
i will be thankful to you.
thanks!
Rupesh,
I am not really sure when government will issue the license next time but just keep checking Times of India and your local news paper. Rules are same for everyone so you can read my other posts on this website about how I got my license.
i m from j&k.
i have completed my MA IN ENGLISH LITERATURE.
I HAVE TOUR GUIDE LICENCE FOR THE KASHMIR VALLEY.
BUT I HAVE SPENT MANY YEARS IN DELHI.I HAVE LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DELHI MONOMENTS.
NOW I WANT TO GET GUIDE LICENCE FOR DEHLI.
PLZ GUIDE ME IN THIS CASE.
REGARDS
FROM
SHABIR
Shabir,
Is your J&K license issued by J&K government? I am not really sure about procedure of getting Delhi state government license valid for Delhi only but if you are interested in regional level license for North India then just go through this post and other comments and you will have answer to all of your questions.
yes the deptt of j&k tourism after examination has allowed me the licence.
i have keen intrest to do guiding in north india including delhi.
we also want to do something.
sir,more information we provide to the tourists more tourist can come.
so plz find any way for me.
even if i have toparticipate in the interview to get that licence ,im ready for that.
kind regards
from
shabir
Shabir,
I am not any government officer or something who can issue you a tour guide license for north India. I can only suggest you one thing- keep looking at your Times of India to see when they are going to issue new licenses. Apply for the exam and if you succeed, you go for the training and get the license. If you have any other questions then you may search tour guide license on this website and you will find other articles I wrote about my experience of getting this license.
Dear Mr Nandan,
My name is Deepak an MBA in marketing. I would like to take the exam for getting Tour Guide Licence. Kindly suggest me the books inorder to pass the tour guide exam with good grade. Also tell me is there any age limit.
Warm Regards
Deepak Kumar
Email: deepaakkumaar@gmail.com
I have done my MBA in tourism from
MLS Udaipur Univercity & also having diploma in spanish , can I get lisence directly from india tourism.
Deepak,
There is no age limit for either taking the exam or being in the industry. You can apply for the license anytime you want, the only thing that matters is that when they start the training again. And there is no retirement age so you can work as long as you can. Just prepare your history part with NCERT history books of class 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. And you can use any book you want to prepare for general knowledge. Make sure you have knowledge of monuments and world heritage sites as well.
Singh Sahab,
There is no way for you to get the license directly from India tourism. Doesn’t matter what course you have done or how many languages you speak or how much experience you have. I had met several people during my training who spoke four-five languages, had MBA in tourism and were working for the past ten-fifteen years but they also had to pass the exam, go through the training and only then they could get the license. So just wait for the next training program.
i want to join tourist industry i want to know that when the rajasthan guids forms are comming i mean new opening
i want to know when the all in india guide forms (red cetficat) are comming
Hi Nandan!
I just recently got to sign a contract with one of the travel firm as tour manager, I Dnt have this licence still as just came to know last mnth abt it as u said in ur coments i’ll wait accordingly just would request u that when u Cme to know abt it also plz try to mail me..
Had 1query ,, I wanna join any foreign language course, can u plz suggest me which wud be better and first prefreble and also thar which wud be the best institute in both govt and private and wat duration course has a gud value..
M frm Mumbai. My email is simmi.dinani@gmail.com , can u plz mail ur facebook a/c mine is by the same name.. Thnx . Regrds. By the way , u doing a gr8 job,,
Deependra,
First of all you must know that there is no tourist guide license for all India. Our tourism sector is divided into five regions: North, South, East, West and North-East and you can apply only for your particular region. I am not really sure when the new forms will come next time but I have heard that maybe once before Commonwealth Games. And I am not aware about Rajasthan state level guide license. There is already a legal case pending at Jaipur High Court about their state level guide training program which was supposed to be held 4-5 years ago. I have heard that they can not start new training until that case is finished. So just keep checking your local news papers.
And yes, neither our certificate is red nor it is called red certificate. Our license is called Red Card:)
Simmi,
I will write you when they start training again. I have heard that maybe they will organize new training program sometime before Commonwealth Games again, not really sure. Anyways, learning a language depends on your interest. If you are really serious about working as a tour guide then don’t only learn a language, try to learn the whole culture because it is not good if you know a foreign language but their culture or society doesn’t interest you. Just ask yourself what culture interests you most and then just learn their language. But I have heard that Italian, Spanish, German, Hebrew and French market is doing really good in North India. What is the situation like in West? USA and UK are our two top clients. You will surprised to hear that Bangladesh was our third biggest client in 2009 but I will not recommend you to learn Bangla for sure:) And yes, try to learn any language from Embassy’s cultural centers in India. There might be several foreign country’s embassy cultural centers in Mumbai, right? Six month diploma course makes you eligible to apply for tour guide training program. Although it is not compulsory for you to have knowledge of a foreign language, only English is fine, but if you know one then you may apply for their special training program only for foreign language speaking guides. I have added you on my facebook so now we can connect directly on facebook.
Hi
This is Rajendra Singh I am Graduate from University of Rajasthan B.com
is it possible to get Guide licence? for north India
What is the proceedor,
Training at Gawalier IITTM is mandatory before exam?
Thanks Regards
Hi Dear how are u? many ncongrats on getting license of tourist guide, it is acheivment, becouse the test was very difficult one,i had also sat in the exam but could not make it,I work in Amritsar A guide.
Thanks Gurinder. Try next time. I heard new license is coming soon, not sure!
Rajendra,
Any graduate can apply for the license. Go through this post and other comments and it will answer all your questions. And you go through the training at IITTM, Gwalior only once you have passed the entrance exam. So think about passing the entrance exam first.
Good Luck!