The Department of Tour Guiding was established within the Faculty of Tourism at Aksaray University on 25 October 2017 and began admitting undergraduate students in the 2018–2019 academic year. The Department continues its education, training, and research activities with a strong academic staff comprising 1 Professor, 3 Associate Professors, 1 Assistant Professor (Dr. Faculty Member), and 1 Research Assistant.
The mission of the Department of Tour Guiding is to educate professional tourist guides who can represent our country and cultural heritage with distinction; possess strong communication skills; internalize ethical values; demonstrate strong foreign-language proficiency; and are equipped with the professional knowledge and skills required by the field. With a student-centered educational approach, the Department aims to cultivate tolerant and responsible individuals with advanced problem-solving and leadership skills, and with high competence in cultural heritage interpretation and transmission.
The vision of the Department is to become a model department—preferred in the national and international tourism sector—recognized for developing innovative, practice-based education models and for its strong academic staff and stakeholder collaborations.
Accurate Interpretation of Cultural and Natural Heritage: Providing visitors with scientifically grounded and ethically responsible interpretation, guided by an awareness of safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage.
Local Identity and Storytelling: A guiding approach that enhances local narratives and makes the destination’s authentic identity visible without distortion.
Stakeholder Partnership and Local Collaboration: A culture of joint planning and implementation with guides, museums, local governments, and the tourism sector.
Local Experience Design: Transforming local life into high-quality experiences through cultural routes, events, and field-based practice.
Ethics, Professional Integrity, and Responsibility: Adherence to guiding ethics, academic integrity, and public responsibility.
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement: Evidence-based monitoring, feedback mechanisms, and PDCA-oriented development.
Multiculturalism and Communication Competence: Intercultural communication, inclusive narration, and a focus on the visitor experience.
Innovation and Digital Adaptation: Integrating digital content, navigation, and communication tools into guiding processes.
The main objectives of the Department of Tour Guiding are to:
Teach the fundamental concepts, theories, and practices of tour guiding,
Provide comprehensive knowledge of the structure, functioning, and actors of the tourism sector,
Develop students’ research, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills,
Strengthen primary and secondary foreign-language education to enhance international competitiveness,
Offer practice-based learning environments that support social, cultural, and professional development,
Educate qualified tourist guides, managers, and researchers needed by the tourism sector.
The Tour Guiding Program is an undergraduate program that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical training and is delivered in continuous cooperation with the industry. Key features include:
Strong vocational foreign-language education,
Applied field studies and technical excursions,
Internship practices carried out in cooperation with the industry,
Innovative applications based on DEMEF (Experiential Vocational Mindfulness),
Comprehensive course content on cultural heritage, tour itineraries, tour management, organization, communication, and guiding techniques.
Graduates of the program:
Acquire the knowledge and skills required under Law No. 6326 on the Profession of Professional Tourist Guiding,
Use at least one foreign language at an advanced level and gain proficiency in a second foreign language,
Develop competencies in tour management, guest relations, tour planning, and crisis management,
Are equipped to work as managers or specialists in tourism enterprises (e.g., agencies, accommodation establishments, museums, marinas),
May serve in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and affiliated units,
Gain the academic foundation required to pursue an academic career.
Our graduates have a wide range of employment opportunities:
a) Professional Tourist Guiding
Graduates who achieve at least 75 points on the YDS and complete the compulsory practice tours may apply to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to obtain the title of “Professional Tourist Guide.”
b) Managerial and Specialist Positions in Tourism Enterprises
They may work in travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, cruise enterprises, marina operations, destination management offices, and many other areas.
c) Public Institutions
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Provincial Directorates of Culture and Tourism
Information offices
Museums and archaeological sites
d) Academic Career
Graduates who meet the required conditions may continue in academia as research assistants or academic staff at universities.
The growing global demand for qualified tourist guides significantly strengthens the employment prospects of program graduates.
The Department admits students based on the Language (DİL) score type. International student admissions are carried out in line with the principles set by the University and the criteria of ÖSYM.
To graduate from the Tour Guiding Undergraduate Program, students must:
Complete the full course load of 240 ECTS,
Fulfill the requirements of the University’s Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulations,
Complete a compulsory internship of 45 working days.
For students who will not undertake an internship, documented insured employment for 45 working days at designated establishments is accepted in lieu of the internship.
