S.L. 409.12 Art. 3Licence to act as a tourist guide.

(1) No person shall act or provide services as a tourist guide, or use the title "tourist guide" unless he is licensed or recognised to be licensed as such by the Authority in terms of these regulations.

(2) The Authority shall keep a register of persons who are licensed, or otherwise legally allowed to act as tourist guides. Such register shall be made public by the Authority.

(3) Any person who, to the satisfaction of the Authority -

(a) possesses any relevant qualification to act as tourist guide in Malta; or

(b) demonstrates that he has the practical and theoretical competencies and experience deemed and recognised to be equivalent to paragraph (a) by the Authority;

(c) is at least eighteen years of age; and

(d) is of a good character standing and is a fit and proper person to act as a tourist guide, shall be entitled to be licensed as a tourist guide and be enrolled in the said register of tourist guides:

Provided that access to and pursuit of the profession, as described in sub-regulation (1), shall also be granted to applicants who have pursued the profession referred to in that sub-regulation on a full-time basis for one year during the previous ten years in another Member State which does not regulate that profession, provided they possess one or more attestations of competence or documents providing evidence of formal qualifications.

(4) An application for a licence to act as a tourist guide shall be made to the Authority and shall be accompanied by:

(a) a copy of the applicant’s legally valid identification document or passport;

(b) a recent certificate of conduct of the applicant;

(c) a certificate or diploma proving successful completion of a qualification programme for tourist guides at least at Level 5 of the National Qualifications Framework attained from a training institution recognised by the Authority, provided that, for the purposes of sub-regulation (7), this regulation shall come into force within six months of the publication of these * regulations , or equivalent; or

(d) proof of competence equivalent to the successful completion of a training programme under paragraph (c), attested by a pass in practical and theoretical assessments, which shall be written and oral and being set for the purpose by the Authority, or by any other person on its behalf, from time to time: Provided that where the Authority considers that the equivalence of the qualification certificate or diploma required under paragraph (c) is only partial, it shall be possible for the applicant to prove his competence in the areas where it is deemed to be lacking by means of any assessment set by the Authority under paragraph (d);

(e) an application fee of twenty-five euro payable to the Authority.

(5) Any person who, on the coming into force of these regulations, holds a valid licence issued by the Authority to act as a tourist guide shall be deemed to be licensed for the purposes of this regulation.

(6) A licence issued or recognised as valid under this regulation shall remain valid for two years from the date of issue and shall be renewed by the Authority subject to the Authority’s satisfaction of the continued compliance with these regulations by the licence holder.

(7) For the purposes of sub-regulation (4)(c), and with the aim of enhancing the quality of tourist guiding services in Malta in line with Government policy, the Authority may, in consultation with the Minister, require that the level of training for tourist guides to be recognised by the Authority for the purposes of attaining a licence by applicants in terms of this regulation, be of a higher

*refers to Legal Notice 161 of 2013, published om 21st June, 2013. level:

Provided that such requirement shall be published in the Gazette at least six months before it becomes applicable.

(8) Licenced tourist guides shall be required by the Authority to undergo continued professional development training during their licence term.

(9) The Authority shall from time to time establish what training courses, content and number of hours shall qualify as continued professional development training for the purpose of sub-regulation (8).

(10) The Authority may, from time to time, organise such courses, seminars or other activities, for the continuing professional development of tourist guides.

(11) The Authority may suspend the licence of tourist guides who fail to undergo the continued professional development training in terms of sub-regulation (8).