Finally received tour guide license

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I, receiving the certificate

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 definitelyproduce better tour guides who are at least trained to not chew betel while talking with their clients:)

The certificate

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

Sana and I at convocation hall

The tour guide training program was stopped several times because the tour guide association of India was alwayssuing 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 moment

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.

152 thoughts on “Finally received tour guide license”

  1. Dear Nandanji

    First of all congratulations for the license and thanks a lot for giving us so useful information about our trade, i have been working in this trade for last nine years without license u can understand how difficult is surviving without license, few month back i got the license of UP State and on 12th of this month i will be giving entrance exam for northern region, wish me good luck and i also wish good luck to all the candidates.

    Regards
    Bala

  2. Namaste Bala ji,

    Thanks for writing and best of luck for your exam! I hope that you will succeed. I also had so many problems when I did not have this license. I am not using this license much for guiding purpose because most of my work is with students and researchers but I feel more confident now with my red card, so definitely it makes a difference. Where are you from? I heard that UP government licenses are still not approved by ASI and is not valid at ASI sites??? Where else do you need the license or where else tourist wants to go??? Seriously crazy! Like for example UP government licenses are not valid at Sarnath and Dashashwamedh ghat in Varanasi which are two major attractions of Varanasi. Anyways, I have heard that this problem will be solved soon.

    Best of luck!

  3. dear sir,
    my name is ashwini and larning spanish, i want to be tourist guide, how to possile tell me detail.

    tell me about couch surfing is it possible to invite couch surfers , how to possible tell me detail.

    wating for your suggestion
    ASHWINI

  4. Hey guys, i am also an part of this trade, i feel very sorry and frustrated an i cannot change the system, by the grace of god i am an promising tour escort but unfortunately our people are not ready to undertstand what is the difference between an guide and tour escort? infact its mentioned clearly at wftga.org please check this website, as you enter the website click ‘ tour guiding-what is a tour guide once you on this page you will get to know the difference between an escort and an guide.

    We need to make an association of tour escort’s

  5. We definitely need an association. I do not have much experience of working as a tour guide or an escort but I have noticed one thing that this whole industry is completely disorganized.

  7. Sir I am an M A. I am doing the german language from MMB pune. I am 35 years old guy from jaipur. I want to be a tourist guide. so please suggest me that what should I do to get the license of all india tourist association. When is the tourism department is going to fill the applications fort the certificate.

  8. Mr. Gulab,

    Thanks for writing. Just wait for the start of tour guide training course again. Keep checking your news papers or ask other people in the industry about when it is going to be organized again or you can visit India tourism office in your city and they can tell you when tourist guide training course will be organized again. The only way to get the license is that you pass the entrance exam and go through training.

  9. Sir,

    I want to do a Spanish Language course. Please tell me from where I can do the Spanish Language Course. Please tell the list of institutes of the following cities( if possible): Delhi, Goa, Pune, Mumbai, Kanpur, Bhopal, Indore or any other good institute. Please reply me soon.

    Regards.

    Navin

  10. Sir,

    I want to do a Spanish Language Course. Please suggest me good institute. Navin

  11. dear sir,
    my name is Devendra Pandey and purssuing hotel management final year, i want to be tourist guide, how to possile tell me detail.

    wating for your suggestion
    DEVENDRA PANDEY

  12. haii nandhan,
    I am jinto from south india kerala state. i am working in United State now. I would like to open a travel and tours agency so i need some good tourist guides(m/f)age between 24 to 35 and they must have a license if u know some one with this qualifications pls tell them to contact this email adress jinto_88@yahoo.com.

  13. Dear sir,
    My name is Santosh borde I am a B.com graduate. after my graduate I have done my PG in (M.T.A.) Master of Tourism Administration from Maharashtra in 2010. but I have great intrest in tourist guide .
    I am learning German language and my aim is to become a tourist guide. so please suggest me what exam do i need to tourist guide.

  14. Mr. Pandey,

    Kindly spend a few minutes reading this whole article and going through all the comments and you will get your answer.

  15. Mr. Santosh,

    Kindly spend a few minutes reading this whole article and going through all the comments and you will get your answer.

  17. I m anil from jaipur (Indian) . I m doing Travel and tourism course from RCCI and french language So plz any information touist guide me

  18. Mr. Anil,

    I have already provided all the information I could about the process of getting tour guide license. Please go through this entire post and other comments and you will find answers of all your questions. If there is something which is neither mentioned in the post nor in any comments then please discuss it and I will be glad to reply them.

    Thanks,

  19. Hi Nandan,
    first of all many congratulation for getting license.

    Hey I am working with a travel company as ticketting executive and now I want to be tour escort as I belonged to Jhansi center for Orchha, Khajuraho and of course Gwalior. Could you please suggest me which language is the most beneficial.

    THanks Javed

  20. Mr Javed,

    I don’t really that I should suggest you any language because the first thing is that I belong to Northern region and do not know much about Western region and second thing is that you never know the business. Sometimes we have more Italians than Spanish and sometimes French or German but I asked a few other escorts and they told me that learning either Italian or Spanish could be a good option if you want to work in Orcha, Khajuraho or Gwalior. I think you should better get tourist arrival data in Western region from India tourism office, see the average of the past a few years and then go with biggest one.

  21. sir ,
    Can you tell me if i have a degree in travel and tourismand a higher diploma plus higher advance diploma in russian language then i am elegible for special trening for a foreigen language guide by the ministre of tourism.

  22. Mr. Raushan,

    Ministry of Tourism organizes two kinds of tour guide training program: one for the general people like me who do not speak any foreign language and one for the people like you who speak foreign language like the one you have mentioned Russian. Since you hold a degree and have higher advance diploma in a language, you are just the right candidate for special training program for foreign language speaking candidates. Just keep looking when they organize the training. Best of Luck!

  23. Dear sir,
    I live in china and study in medical PG . I have passed also chinese language as intermediate . I heard that during the commonwealth games 2010 there are lack of chinese tourist guides in India . I have a good command upon chinese language and Indian history .Are there any provision to issue temporary license for tourist guide .
    kindly tell me about it. thanks,
    Rukhsar Ahmad

  24. dear sir ,
    I live in china and student of medical PG . I also have passed chinese language as intermediate in china . I have also good command upon chinese language and Indian culture & history . I have heard that there are so lack of chinese tour guide during the commonwealth games 2010 in India. Are there any provision to issue temporary guide license in chinese language in India ?
    Kindly tell me about it . thanks
    Rukhsar ahmad

  25. Mr. Ahmad,

    You are right that we are in serious lack of Chinese speaking tour guides and the Ministry of Tourism had once organized a training especially for foreign language speaking guides and it was not temporary but it was part time. And since Commonwealth games are starting only after 20 days I don’t think it is possible to organize a new training program and give the license. This tour guide training program will be organized again but only next year, this year not possible.

  26. I have completed my graduation with tourism . I am doing the Russian language from Russian culture institute Delhi. I am 24 years old guy from rohtak. I want to be a tourist guide. so please suggest me that what should I do to get the license of all India tourist association. When is the tourism department is going to fill the applications fort the certificate.

  27. Mr. Kumar,

    Procedure is same for everyone so just go through this entire post and other comments and you will get all of your answers. I have not heard anything about next training program so I will suggest you to keep checking out newspapers and IITTM website. Ministry of Tourism and IITTM both advertise every time they organize a training program.

  28. Hi would appreciate your guidance in obtaining a tour guide license. However I would like to know if it is possible to work in Mumbai alone and not travel rest of India.

  29. Chandni,

    Its up to you where you want to work. If you want to work in Mumbai only, it is possible. If you want to work out of Mumbai, its up to you. Many guides do city sightseeing only. Contact these people to see if they give any state level tour guide license http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/MTDCConnect/Contact_us.html. You should contact some local travel agencies as well.
    Need any other help?

  30. Helo sir, i have passed master degree in tourism management. And my bachelor degree also in tourism. Now i m doing french speaking course. So tell me sir what type of question will ask in entrance exam of tourist guide for french tourist. I m from Rajasthan and i have good knowledge abt north india.

  32. respected sir i v done diploma in spanish language i can speek this language fluently.if there any requirement as a spanish tour guide(escort)so i m ready for this purpuse.if there any requirement so plz inform quickly………i m waiting for your respone u can inform me on my cell too. no is 9873467865/9716079005

  33. Mr Prakash,

    Thanks for writing. I have saved your mobile no and contact details and will let you know if have something for you. Cheers.

  34. hi bro,
    me brajesh kumar chauhan working as a chinese guide since last three year .
    facing too much problem on monuments due to unavibility of lisence.so how to get rid of this problem.
    thanks
    regards
    brajesh chauhan

  35. hello mr. nandan,how are you,i want to know how to become a tour escort,i am also want to know that without licence it is possible please reply me,i am waiting for your answer arvind jodha,jaipur

  36. Mr. Arvind,

    Definitely it is possible to work even without the license. I will suggest you to learn about the different famous monuments and routes like golden triangle and apply for a job at some travel agency as a tour escort. If you dont have a license then all you will have to do is that hire guides at ASI monuments, thats all. And keep checking IITTM website for more information about guide license.

    Thanks,

  37. Mr. Brajesh,

    There are two ways to solve this issue- either get a license or hire guides at the monuments.

    Thanks,

  38. my name is anirudh singh and i am a hotel management graduate.i have a experience of local guiding of one year plese tell me any opoortuninty in escorting.
    language….english

    emil …singh.anirudh87@gmail.com
    phone….99549364696

  39. Mr. Anirudh,

    There are only two things- either look for a job through travel agencies or develop a website and start selling your own tours.

  40. Dear sir,
    my name is Yogesh Garg and larning french, i want to be tourist guide, how to possile tell me detail.

    tell me about couch surfing is it possible to invite couch surfers , how to possible tell me detail.

    wating for your suggestion
    Regards,
    yogesh Garg

  41. Mr. Yogesh,

    The procedure is same for everyone so better read the whole post and all the comments. As far as couchsurfing is concerned, you can definitely invite foreign people at your home if you feel like doing it. There are several options on couchsurfing like it is not necessary for you to host people, you can just meet them or show them around which is a really nice idea to do networking but you must know that couchsurfing is completely free service. If you meet someone through couchsurfing, show them around and want to charge them then it is not permissible. Couchsurfing is more like cultural exchange with real people where services charges are not allowed. What do you want to do on couchsurfing?

  42. SIR,I WANT TO BE GUIDE LICENCE, PLEASE TELL ME PROCESES,

    PLEASE

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  43. SIR , AAP BATAIYE MUJE KI GUIDE KA LICENCE KAISE PRAPT KIYA JATA HAI, ME PICHALE 5 SAAL SE DAR-DAR BHATK RAHA HU PAR AAJ TAK KOI RASTA NAHI MILA, MENE TOURSIM LINE KI DIGREE LE RAKHI HAI, KRAPAYA MERI SAHAYTA KIJIYE. I NEED FOR HELP.

    AADMI KOI BADA HOTA HAI TO KOI CHOTA, PAR KUCH BADE CHOTE KE LIYE KUCH AISA KAR DETE HAI JISSE UNKI JINDGI SAWAR JATI HAI,

    PLEASE HELP

  45. Your village is in a heritage hotel named Sadargarh or there is a heritage hotel in your village? In any case, what it has to do with getting a tourist guide license???

  46. दर दर भटकने कि कोई जरूरत नहीं है दोस्त. थोडा इंतज़ार करिए और जैसे ही license आता है apply करिए और exam पास करने के बाद आपको license मिल जायेगा. दूसरा कोई रास्ता नहीं है.

  47. Process is same for everyone. Just go through this post and other comments and you will get answer of your each and every question.

  48. Hello Nandan Ji,

    I found this blog very useful and impressive for any body who wants to make there career as a tour escort.It is our bad luck that still our government does not understand the impotence of regular issuing the license.We can also work as a escort with good command over any foreign language and hiring a approved guide at ASI monuments. Please accept my heartiest wises for your bright future and I am also sure that people like you have an ability to change the face of this unorganized industry.I am Spanish language tour escort without license.On 12th June 2010 I had an exam and got 98 out of 200.In 2007 I scored 96.Only God knows What is happening with me.

  49. I NEED TOUR GUIDE LICIENCE TELL ME WHAT IS THE PROSCES I M PG DIPLOMA IN TOURISM DIPLOMA HOLDER (KUMAUN UNIVESITY NAINITAL ,1996)

  50. Respected Sir,

    I want to learn Russian Language, and I can also understand Russian alphabets, So please tell me from where I can learn this course and will be better. And recently I got the call Letter from the tourism Department to become a tourist guide. I want to be good in Russian also. Thanks.

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