In response to questions on the subject on the occasion of the European Heritage Days, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, Minister for Culture, and Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of tourism, French people from abroad and La Francophonie, want to reaffirm their support for this essential profession, so hard hit by the crisis we are going through.

Guide-speakers, whose profession is recognized and regulated by law, play a leading role in the presentation of French historical and cultural heritage. Deprived of any activity during the lockdown period, they are still today in a very difficult situation due to the collapse of the use of the places for which they work (museums, monuments, tourist sites, cities and countries of art and history). The near absence of foreign tourists is particularly detrimental to them.

Fully aware of these difficulties, the Government decided last June that the guides-Speakers would be among the activities that would continue to benefit from the support mechanisms put in place for the sectors most affected by the consequences of the Covid19 crisis.

They benefit from the solidarity fund until the end of 2020 (aid up to €1500).

At the same time, the State’s heritage operators, who will be supported to the tune of €334 million under the recovery plan, will be encouraged to use the services of the guide-speakers as widely as possible as their activities resume.

In order to resolve the problems that continue to arise, the Government has also set up an interdepartmental working group with the participation of the leaders of the three professional organizations representing the guides-Speakers: the National Federation of Interpretive Guides and Speakers (FNGIC), the Professional Union of Interpretive Guide Speakers (CIMS), and the National Union of Guide Speakers (NCMS).

It was in this context that it was decided:

  • Funding, by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Economy, of a monograph study to better understand the profession and assess its needs. All practical consequences to be derived from the results of this study will be;
  • the creation of a secure business card through the maintenance of a digital register to avoid falsifications, today numerous.

The guide-speakers are expected to play a major role in the resumption of cultural activities and tourism throughout the territory. They can count on the full commitment of the Government at their side.