Professional certification: A mechanism to enhance ecotour guide performance

The pivotal role of the tour guide in the tourism industry has been recognised and the recent increase in nature-based and ecotourism has highlighted the vital role the guide plays in these sectors. Evidence suggests that some ecotour guides may not be adequately performing all their roles. To assist in improving guide performance and raising guiding standards a number of quality assurance mechanisms can be used, including professional certification, the focus of this chapter. In Australia two professional certification programs for ecotour and nature guides have been developed and implemented over the past fifteen years, the first was Savannah Guides and more recently the EcoGuide Australia Certification Program.