Malta Union of Tourist Guides established 1980, in Valletta, Malta. Our current office address is 123a St Christopher Street, Valletta, VLT1461
The aim of the MUTG to protect the collective and individual interest of licensed guides, represent guides with the authorities, promote and encourage the cultural and professional development of its members.
To become a tourist guide, one has to satisfy the Malta Tourism Authority that one has the skills and knowledge to act as a guide. Most people follow a course at the Institute for Tourism Studies. The courses run for 2-year full time and 3-year part time. The course is recognised as level 5 of the international skills framework. This will now include 250 hours work experience supervised by a licensed practising tourist guide.
The renewal of the license is subject to attending CPD, currently 1-day session every 2 years. MUTG in collaboration with ITS and University of Malta promotes other courses to improve skills and knowledge of guides, we also stimulate attendance at lectures organised by special entities in the field like museums, national library, societies for study of history etc.
Tourist guides have a license badge. MUTG members also have a membership card. Pictures of both are below. Tourist guides are expected to wear their licence badge while working. Failure to display their badge can result in fines from €1200 to €4000. This is done to ensure transparency in the profession and promote qualified tourist guides.
There are approximately 400 active tourist guides in Malta at the moment. The MUTG membership is more than half of that, at 210 active tourist guides.
MUTG members are multilingual with some guides speaking as many as 9 different languages. The minimum is 2 languages per tourist guides.
The MUTG members come from a variety of background and that enables them to offer not only mainstream but also highly specialised tours.
There are many reasons for using qualified tourist guides. The three most important ones are:
Malta and Gozo are in the centre of the Mediterranean and as a result have been crossroads of civilizations and cultures from ancient times to today.
Take enough time to explore. Malta might be small but so rich in offerings that several days are required for any serious exploit.
Guides listings are available from the MTA website www.visitmalta.com. MUTG does not have a separate website however you can communicate with us and out member via Facebook. The Facebook page @MUTG17 is our interface for messages and guiding requests.