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Tourist Guiding Registration and Assessment in South Africa - Frequently Asked Questions

1.What are the implications of the Act for me as a tourist guide?
The Second Tourism Amendment Act, 2000 was passed on the 1st October 2001. All previously SATOUR registered guides and any unregistered/illegal guides are now required to register with the province in which they live by 31 May 2002. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is now the national body responsible for maintaining a national database of guides and issuing cards and badges.


Once registered all tourist guides are required to go through an assessment process as prescribed by THETA before 1 October 2003.

2.What is THETA?
Amongst other portfolio’s THETA (Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Education Training Authority) performs the function of an Education and Training Quality Assurance Body. It was established under the Skills Development Act (No. 97 of 1988) with the mission of facilitating the achievement of excellent standards and growth through the development and recognition of people.

3.How does THETA relate to me as a tourist guide?
The South African Qualifications Authority Act (1995) stipulated that National Qualifications would be developed for all components of the education and training system in South Africa. This effectively meant that the Tourist Guiding sector had to develop a set of national Qualifications that tourist guides would be expected to achieve. Once you have completed your assessment you will receive a formal, recognized qualification in tourist guiding that can be measured, as a profession against the National Qualifications Framework. THETA accredited assessors will be assessing tourist guides countrywide and converting all their present qualifications and work experience into National Certificates in Tourist Guiding.

4.What will the assessors be assessing?
The Guiding qualifications are made up of a collection of unit standards. Each unit standard represents knowledge that a person must have, specific to his profession (see attached list). These unit standards were devised in close consultation with tourist guides and other stakeholders. Each guide will be assessed against these standards.

5.What happens if I fail?
You cannot fail your assessment. Your assessor will point out the areas/unit standards that you may need to do extra work on. Once you are ready with this you will meet with your assessor again and complete the assessment.

6.Who is going to assess me?
Guides are free to choose any assessor to work with. The THETA call centre (0860 100 221) has details of accredited assessors for you to contact. Each assessor is a guide himself and is only allowed to assess the qualifications that they have been accredited for.

7.What is Recognition of Prior Learning?
This is the type of assessment that will be used for ex- SATOUR guides and those who have been working as unregistered guides in the past. This assessment takes into account all the qualifications, work experience, life skills etc. that you already have and fits these into the formal qualifications prescribed for guiding. Your assessor may point out the areas/unit standards that you need to do extra work on. Once you are ready with this you will meet with your assessor again and complete the assessment.

8.What must I do if I want to become a tourist guide?
People who have no guiding experience and want to become guides have to be trained by a THETA accredited Tourist guide trainer and assessed as a competent guide before they can register and start working.

9.What happens if we do not comply with the Act?
Failure to register as a guide by 31 May 2002 will result in you being liable for prosecution should you continue working as a guide. Fines of up to R5000 will be imposed on illegal guides. Operators found to be using illegal guides can be fined amounts up to R10 000. Failure to get THETA accreditation by 1 October 2003 will result in you being de-registered as a guide. You will be liable for prosecution should you continue working.

10.How will tourist guides be identified?
The old SATOUR badges and ID cards will be null and void as of 31 May 2002. Ex- SATOUR guides will be identified as before with new badges and ID cards. The ID cards state the qualifications as given by SATOUR. Once you have been assessed you will be issued with a new card stating your THETA qualifications. Any unregistered person that has been working as a tourist guide in any capacity must apply for registration with their Provincial Registrar within 6 months. Proof of employment must be submitted. You will be issued with a provisional ID card. You also have until 1 October 2003 to be assessed and accredited as a guide by THETA. Only once this has been done will you be issued with a badge and new ID card stating your THETA qualifications.

11.I am a specialist guide, which category of tourist guides do I now fall under?
There are 3 self-explanatory categories of guides: Nature, culture and adventure. You will notice that even though you may go for your assessment as a nature guide there will be one cultural unit standard that you have to attain and vice versa- this to keep you well- rounded! We do encourage those guides to be assessed for as many categories as possible to prevent you from being limited in terms of the work that you are allowed to carry out.
Example 1: I am a specialist birding guide….where do I fit in here?
ANSWER: You will need to be accredited as a nature guide and then as a birding specialist.
Example 2: I am a battlefields specialist….
ANSWER: You will be accredited as a cultural guide, specializing in battlefields.


The unit standards that have been developed for guiding are being added to all the time. As the demand for certain specialists emerge, so the unit standards will be developed.

12.What is the difference between a site guide and a regional guide?
A site guide is a person who usually guides in one place only eg. the guide at the Main Caves at Giants Castle, the guides working at the Botanical gardens or at Seaworld, or the guide conducting wilderness trails in Hluhluwe/Umfolozi. Ultimately the new legislation will entail site guides being used as the specialists in their specific areas.
Example: Guide A is employed as a guide at Shakaland. He will be assessed and classified as a Site guide: Culture.


Regional guides are entitled to guide in the entire province limited to the specific category (culture, nature, adventure) that they are registered for.
Example: Guide B was registered with SATOUR as a Provincial guide for KZN. He presently conducts tours including Zulu culture and wildlife. This guide will now be assessed and classified as a Regional guide: Nature and Regional guide: Culture.

- How to become a Tourist Guide-
- Guidelines for Tourist Guide Registration-

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