The Cape Tourist Guides Association (CTGA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African Adventure Industry Association in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration and improving compliance within Cape Town’s adventure guiding sector.
The agreement, which was announced during WTM Africa on April 13, is expected to support the professionalisation of adventure guiding and help expand training opportunities for guides working in the destination’s growing adventure tourism segment.
Professional guide and member of CTGA Michael Wilcox said the partnership marks an important step towards strengthening standards in the sector.
“We thought it fit and proper to become more compliant and more aligned with the adventure industry by signing an agreement with the South African Adventure Industry Association,” he said.
“We look forward to growing the adventure sector by getting more guides qualified within the adventure scope so that Cape Town can continue strengthening its offering as an adventure destination.”
Collaboration between industry bodies remains central to strengthening the guiding profession, he added.
“Collaboration is key. As an association, working together with partners like this helps us achieve far more for our guides and for the destination.”
Vos named CTGA patron
At the same event, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, was named patron of the CTGA.
Vos said he is honoured by the recognition and highlighted the central role tourist guides play in shaping visitor experiences in the city.
“I feel extremely honoured and humbled by this recognition,” he said. “There are many tourism bodies across the world but what makes guiding special is that it represents people. You are crafting the story about why visitors should choose Cape Town.”
He described tourist guides as foundational to the visitor experience and the destination’s global positioning.
“It all starts with you. What happens in those walks, those vehicles, those welcome spaces and on our streets with visitors is what matters most.”
