İstanbul Tourist Guides Room
The history of the Istanbul Chamber of Guides dates back to the Istanbul Association of Interpreters and Guides, founded on September 1, 1955, by İnci Pirinçcioğlu, Reşdan Zorlu, Raşit Erman, Ercümend Özbay, Hüsnü Ertek, and Kutsal Tülbentçi, who completed guidance courses for university students organized by the Turkish National Student Federation (TMTF), the Istanbul Municipality, and the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Press and Broadcasting and began working as interpreters and guides.
From its professional organization as an association, it transitioned to the "Istanbul Chamber of Tourist Guides" in 1991, in accordance with current legal regulations.
As a result of the joint efforts of the chambers and professional organizations organized as associations, the "Tourist Guide Profession Law No. 6326" was passed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on June 7, 2012, legally sanctioning guiding as a profession. In accordance with the Temporary Article 2 of the Law, the Istanbul Chamber of Guides, which was established in accordance with the Tradesmen and Craftsmen Professional Organizations Law, has gained the status of a professional chamber established in Istanbul.
