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Trainee tourist guides allowed to lead tours amid shortage of qualified guides

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Trainee tourist guides will be able to lead excursions while still in training, under new rules set out in a legal notice issued earlier this week.

The move aims to address a chronic shortage of qualified tourist guides, as Malta’s tourist arrivals continue to swell.

The new rules say that a person undergoing tourist guide training can now apply for a tourist guide licence before completing their studies. 

Typically, tourist guides had to complete a higher diploma in tourist guiding before obtaining a licence. Their training covers a range of subjects, from the different periods of Malta’s rich history to modules on Malta’s environment and countryside walks.

However, the new rules come with several caveats.

For a start, trainee guides will only be able to work between April and October, the busiest periods of the year.

They must also have completed at least half of their course before applying, the legal notice says.

Also, trainee guides may only lead excursions to sites for which they have completed the relevant training modules, which must be listed when applying for the licence.

The rules also prohibit trainee guides from leading excursions of more than 52 people.

Malta Union of Tourist Guides president Ana de Barro told Times of Malta that the new rules are “a good solution all around”.

“We address the shortage of tour guides during peak season while trainee guides have the opportunity to practice on the job and get paid for it,” de Barro said.

She said the union first proposed the scheme back in November, with discussions focusing on how it could be implemented without dropping the standard of excursions or of training.

In a Facebook post, the union said it was “proud to have collaborated in the formulation of the new Legal Notice”.

In April, several tour guides told Times of Malta about the relentless flow of tourists arriving in Malta during the typically quieter shoulder months, with operators struggling to meet demand.

Since then, new tourist arrival figures were published, suggesting that Malta is on track for another record year in 2025.

Tourism Minister Ian Borg announced on Facebook on Wednesday that tourism numbers for June were up by 10 per cent from last year.

“More importantly, their spending was 19.1% higher,” he added. 



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Trip Planning

Audley Travel reintroduces Jamaica after three-year gap

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Audley Travel has relaunched its programme to Jamaica three years after pulling out of the destination.

The tailor-made tour operator said it had reintroduced the country due to client demand for more Caribbean islands.

A sample itinerary to Jamaica includes a nine-day ‘Jamaica beach & rainforest escape’ with stays in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Other itineraries include a tour of Kingston and a visit to Dunn’s River Falls and The Blue Hole. 

Audley has also expanded its programme in India, Japan and Tanzania.

New tours in India include a 15-night tailor-made itinerary, with stays in Delhi, Nimmu, Uleytopko, Nurla, Leh, Nubra Valley and two nights at the Drenmo Lodge. There’s also bear tracking in the valleys of Dras, where guests can stay in the Drenmo Lodge for the chance to see the Himalayan Brown Bear. 

In Japan, Audley has added Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, which can be included in a traditional Japanese itinerary to expand the Golden Route. A sample itinerary includes a 17-day trip with two nights in Nagoya as well as time in Tokyo and Kyoto. 

The expanded Tanzania programme includes a 10-day itinerary with one night in Arusha, four nights for the Great Rift Valley Trek and two nights in Karatu. 





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2027-28 Itineraries From National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

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National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has revealed details of its first 2027-28 deployment, marking its return to the Oceania region.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ 2027–28 season features voyages across seven continents, designed to connect travelers with wildlife, wild places and local communities in ways that are authentic, enriching and respectful. The season will see its return to the Oceania region after two years with the relaunch of several immersive itineraries on board the National Geographic Resolution, including the 11-day Pearls of the Pacific: The Society and Tuamotu Islands, and a return to Easter Island after four years with the 18-day Easter Island To Tahiti: Tales of The Pacific itinerary.

“Our 2027-28 deployment reflects everything our guests value about traveling with us: extraordinary access, thoughtful pacing and a deep respect for the environments and cultures we visit,” said Trey Byus, Chief Expedition Officer, Lindblad Expeditions, in a press release statement. “Every itinerary has been crafted with care—whether it’s a guest favorite or a returning route—to offer experiences that are not only awe-inspiring, but also positively impactful. We believe travel can be a powerful force for good, and through these voyages, we invite our guests to deepen their connection to the planet, support conservation and communities, and return home with a renewed sense of wonder and purpose.”

The brand will also return to Alaska in 2027-28, inviting guests to explore its snow-capped mountains, fjords and wildlife with additional departures of its eight-day Alaska’s Inside Passage, 11-day Voyage to the Great Bear Rainforest, and 14- and 15-day Treasures of the Inside Passage itineraries aboard National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture.

Additional departures will also be available on its 16-day Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture itinerary, exploring Japan’s history, culture, and landscapes—from the storied castle towns of the Edo period to the shrines and merchant districts of the Meiji era.

Whether kayaking alongside icebergs in Antarctica, observing sea lions while snorkeling in Baja California, wandering through rainforests in Central America, or journeying where few travelers have before by sailing through the Northwest Passage, each voyage is designed to offer transformative experiences that deepen guests’ understanding of the world—and their place within it.

For more information, visit expeditions.com.



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Take inspiration from Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa’s trip to Aotearoa New Zealand

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New Zealand lives and breathes kaitiakitanga, which translates to guardianship of the land. For a sustainable holiday, check into The Hotel Britomart–New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel–or stroll through Brick Bay vineyard, known for its greening ethos and farm-to-table delicacies.

From donning a wizard’s hat to spinning on the water, laughing in a Hobbit™ Hole, or soaking in geothermal pools, the actors found joy in spontaneity. They even shared quiet villa breakfasts with a view of Lake Taupō. Beyond these experiences, the country offers a rare connection to verdant landscapes where trees have stood tall for hundreds of years. Up north, Sanctuary Mountain stands as one of the country’s largest ecological projects, while down south, Fiordland comes alive with the chatter of rare birds like the kea, weka, tūī, and bellbirds.

Rajkummar and Patralekhaa departed with stories, smiles, and soulful memories. Whether it was the warmth of Māori hospitality, the mist rising from hot springs, or the hush of a native forest, every memory felt earned and cherished.

The mini-series will be released in phases on newzealand.com/in and owned channels, with advertising campaigns going live across digital channels and social platforms. Watch the first episode of the mini-series here. Inspired to take a no-filter trip to Aotearoa New Zealand? Explore SOTC travel packages here and Thomas Cook packages here.



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