The Role of Tour Guides in Sustainable Tourism Practices

Tour guides are important tourism stakeholders who undertake roles in transferring tourism to future generations, using resources efficiently, minimising the destruction of natural areas and ensuring sustainability in tourism. Based on this, the main purpose of the study is to determine the roles of tour guides within the scope of their tours regarding the socio-cultural, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism. In addition to the main goal of the study, the aim is to uncover the practices of tour guides on tours and their awareness of sustainable tourism. The research data were collected from a total of twenty-six participants working as tour guides between 5 March-16 April, 2024, through an e-interview form. The deductive thematic analysis of the data obtained in the research was carried out using the MAXQDA 2024 software program. As a result of the research, it was revealed that tour guides undertake various roles such as educator/instructor, environmental protector/ protector, and economic promoter regarding sustainable tourism. Tour guides stated that they care about protecting the natural environment of the regions visited on tours and that they are role models for tour participants in this regard. It has been determined that tour guides fulfill practices; preventing damage to historical sites, archaeological remains and findings, and the texture of the place in the socio-cultural dimension of sustainable tourism. They encourage the purchase of handicrafts and natural agricultural products produced by locals in the economic dimension, and warn people not to smoke in archaeological ruins in the environmental dimension. Tour guides' suggestions for sustainable tourism practices include organizing online or hands-on seminars.