SveGuide Sweden

10 Things To Know About SveGuide

1. What year was the Swedish Tourist Guide Association established, and where is the headquarters?

Sveriges Guideförbund, SveGuide was established in 1983. We do not have any physical office, our office address is where the chair resides.

2. What is the primary mission/goal of the Swedish Tourist guide Association?

SveGuide consists today of about 400 qualified tourist guides and qualified nature guides that are members of 18 local guide associations or are individual members from around the country.

Our primary mission is to achieve acknowledgment of the concept of qualified tourist guide in Sweden and to promote high professional competence among our members via high quality education, authorization and training.

3. How does someone become a qualified tourist guide in Sweden?

There is a dual possibility to become a qualified tourist guide. Local and regional tourist guide authorizations are held frequently throughout the country and are based on deep knowledge of the area. Nationally, the possibility of getting a vocational certification is held in conjunction with the local exams. This leads to an exam as a nationally certified tourist guide based on the vocational skills.

In order to become a qualified tourist guide one has the to get a proper guide education at one of our community colleges, universities or regionally-held guide education. The course length can vary but is on average 8 months to 1 1/2 years. The University of Gothenburg provides a three year long education for those who want to combine employment in the hospitality industry with the guide profession. At the end of the course one has to pass written exams and practical tests in guiding skills and hospitality, by giving a guided walking tour and a coach tour in the languages for which one wants to be qualified.

4. After becoming qualified, what are some of the professional development classes that guides typically take in Sweden to enhance their knowledge and skills?

Through SveGuide, every year, there are about eight further education online lectures such as voice care and body language, Storytelling, guiding techniques, foreign languages, First aid, studies in history and art, guided tours of different museums etc. At least once a year a weekend is organized for networking and further professional development with workshops and lectures.

5. Is there an official badge that qualified tourist guides in Sweden wear?

The SveGuide badge shows that the carrier of this badge is a gualified tourist guide who has successfully passed theoretical and practical tests and showed professional guiding skills according to the SveGuide criteria based on CEN 15565. It also shows which languages and geographical areas the tourist guide is qualified to guide in as well as whether the guide is a member of a local guide association.

6. How many qualified tourist guides are members of SveGuide, and what are their diverse backgrounds? Also, how many languages do they guide in, and do they specialize in themed tours?

Almost 400 qualified tourist guides who together speak 20 foreign languages are members of SveGuide. Born in Sweden or abroad, having worked or working as teachers, researchers, stewards, interpreters etc. Themed tours are becoming more and more popular among our members. It can be dramas as guided tours, culinary tours, Viking tours, Royal tours, etc.

7. What are some of the top reasons for using a qualified tourist guide in Sweden?

Guiding quality and professional skills is the number one reason why a qualified tourist guide should be hired. In some cases (specific areas or tourist attractions) it can also be to have special/exclusive access to sites.

Photo: Anette Bargel

8. What are some of the popular places to visit in Sweden?

Sweden provides a great variety of cities and nature. The largest cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö and many other places all over the country are the big draw of visitors. Sweden offers both great nature, wilderness, mountains and coastal areas as well as medieval and modern cities. There are a lot of tourist attractions to visit in Sweden, among which The Vasa museum, Skansen and the Old Town in Stockholm, the Stockholm Archipelago, Gothenburg´s Archipelago and Bohuslän Coast, Marstrand and Smögen. The region of Dalarna and lake Siljan in the middle of the country, Visby on the island of Gotland, the region of Skåne in the South, Höga Kusten (the High Coast) and Lapland in the North to experience the northern lights and visit the IceHotell in Jukkäsjarvi.

Photo: Sundborn.org

Photo: Staffan Widstrand/imagebank.sweden.se

Photo: Jeppe Wikström/mediabank.visitstockholm.com

9. What are some general tips you would give to potential visitors planning a vacation to Sweden?

Plan your travel well (passport and visa information, which airline flies where, hotel booking, currency, credit cards and money). Find out how to get around once in Sweden (trains, bicycle, buses, flights). Climate and weather - depending on the season there are different attractions and sites which can be of interest. Decide where in Sweden you want to go and find your qualified tourist guide who will help you to experience our beautiful country.

10. Where can potential visitors to Sweden find out more information about SveGuide and also find a qualified tourist guide?

To find a qualified tourist guide in Sweden please visit our website www.guidesofsweden.com

Go to the page 'Find a guide' where you will find a list with names of regions and cities which you can also see on the map of Sweden to the right. When you have chosen an area or a city with a click on the list, the section will expand and show links to websites of local guide associations and individual members in that exact area.