Who can join?
We welcome all tour guides qualified at levels 2, 3 or 4. Membership is also open to those with a Blue Badge, and Failte Ireland tour guiding qualification.
If you are a tourism organisation or a tour operator you may be interested in our industry partner program. Our Honorary Membership brings together some of the leading experts in a range of subjects. For details of joining either program get in touch through our contact page.
How do I join?
You can join by leaving your details in the form above. We will be in touch and send you a form to fill in with all the information we need to create your TGNI profile.
What are the benefits of joining?
General Tour Guide Liability Insurance
Quality Assurance, Continued Professional Development (CPD) & Training
Members only Fam Tours and site visits
Professional and Social Networking Opportunities
Advocacy for Tour Guiding Profession in Northern Ireland
Industry Partner Program
Tour operators regularly look first to our membership when hiring professional tour guides in Northern Ireland. Join these ranks today!
What sort of training is available?
Guides can avail of professional training at levels 2, 3 and 4. All levels are referenced to national qualifications frameworks and are therefore recognised throughout the UK and endorsed by Tourism NI and TGNI.
The OCN NI Level 2 Award is going strong in locations throughout Northern Ireland, with a number of guides gaining qualifications in Greater Belfast, the Mournes, the Glens and the Sperrins. A tour guide qualified at Level 2 (yellow ID card and lanyard) will deliver walking tours around designated sights or a specific route around a city, town, village or location.
The OCN NI Level 3 Certificate is available through Belfast Met and other colleges throughout Northern Ireland. Local Councils and Landscape Partnerships are also planning to offer these. A guide at Level 3 (green ID card and lanyard) will deliver city, themed coach-, or walking tours.
TGNI is proud to have played a vital role in the development of the Level 4 Tour Guiding Certificate in Higher Education. Delivered by Belfast Metropolitan College and validated by Ulster University, Level 4 offers the highest level of qualification for professional tour guiding currently available in Northern Ireland. Tour guides at Level 4 (blue ID card and lanyard) are qualified to offer tours around Northern Ireland and all Ireland by coach or walking, including tours lasting a number of days.
For more information go to:
https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/courses/?keyword=tour%20guiding
Language guides not yet qualified at levels 2, 3 or 4 (grey ID card and lanyard) are guiding in their respective languages.
