In Primorye, the ranks of guides who have passed mandatory certification are replenished

In Primorye there is a mandatory certification of guides (guides) and guides-interpreters. On the eve of five people confirmed their professional level. 

A certified tour guide is a guarantee of the quality of services provided. And tourists already understand that. Today in the region in the register of guides and guides-interpreters 135 people, including 25 – with knowledge of a foreign language (English, Chinese, Korean Japanese). All of them have passed voluntary certification, its results are valid until January 1, 2025. After this date, they will have to confirm their professional level, but already within the framework of mandatory certification.

On April 25, applications from six people were submitted for certification. First, they took the test part of the exam, answering questions. One question and several answers. But there's only one right one. It all took less than 15 minutes. The practical part followed. The basis is what the guide will tell on the excursion. So the topics were very different. Participants in the certification were to convey to the commission their knowledge in various fields, for example, to tell about the achievements of Vasily Babkin (note: military hydrograph), Mikhail Yankovsky’s contribution to the formation and development of the region’s economy, tell about the first settlers or Korean settlements, know a lot of interesting things about the flora and fauna of Primorye, be aware of the history of the Vladivostok fortress and know details about specially protected natural areas. Everyone told in their own way. Someone was filled with emotions, someone weighed every sentence. Someone during the answer managed not only to tell about the main character of the question, but also to “walk” through the era of that period. For someone, it was very important to analyze the historical event, identifying the main points. The certification of one person takes about 15-20 minutes. This is enough to listen to the nominee, ask him questions, understand whether the guide has the technique of conducting the tour, whether he knows the material, knows how to teach it or not. According to the results of yesterday’s assessment, five people were certified. Taking into account yesterday’s “exam”, 22 guides have passed the mandatory certification list, including one person with knowledge of German and one with knowledge of Chinese. Their certificate is valid for five years. 

"Approaching July 1, 2024. Therefore, we remind the tourist community about the importance and necessity of certification of guides and guides-interpreters. After all, from this date they are entitled to provide services only if they have a badge confirming the passing of certification. Work in this direction continues. Certification is an increase in the professional level of guides, it is an increase in their competencies. And the work of an uncertified guide will be considered a violation of the law. And those who have not yet passed the certification can prepare and apply for the qualification exam, the Primorsky Territory Tourism Agency explained.

The next certification exam is scheduled for June 7, 2024. An application and a package of documents for the passage of mandatory certification can be submitted through the portal of State Services or contact the Tourism Agency of Primorsky Krai (Vladivostok, Aleutskaya str., 45-a, room 430, tel.: 240-09-01, Korsak Julia Sergeevna). All information about the certification is posted on the official page of the department.

The material was prepared by the Primorsky Territory Tourism Agency.