Abstract:

The Article 23 which takes place in Tourist Guide Profession Regulation states; “undergraduate, bachelor and master degree graduates of the department of Tourist Guide program and who is acquired with sufficient foreign language” opens a way to be approved for the profession. On the basis of Article 23, the aim of this study is to present a critical point of view concerning with the approvement of non-field students in Tourist Guide master degree program. A qualitative approach was preferred to evaluate the perspective of the chosen sample in accordance with the rights provided by respective regulation. Snowball sampling technique which one of the purposive sampling methods has been adopted. The data obtained by applying a semi-structured interview form upon tourism guide undergraduate and postgraduate students, academicians, and tourist guides, were subjected to descriptive analysis. The themes emerging within the scope of the opinions regarding Article 23 are: lack of education; inadequacy of education program; degeneration of profession; psychological effect on tourist guides; psychological effect on students of tourist guide department; deficiency of professional belongingness; professional insufficiency; effect on professional employment; criticism of postgraduate program; teaching academics; curriculum of education program; planning of curriculum content; postgraduate recruitment requirements; program improvement, and integration for students. While these themes present a macro perspective regarding the article in question, the themes also portray the opinions and recommendations related to postgraduate tourism guide education.

Keywords: