Roles of tour guides in sustainable tourism

In a constantly changing and developing world, tourist guides, one of the stakeholders of the tourism sector, have important duties in order to transfer tourism to future generations, to use resources in the most efficient way, to minimise the destruction of natural areas and to ensure sustainability in tourism. Based on this, the aim of this research is to examine the practices of tour guides on tours regarding the socio-cultural, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism, their awareness and perceptions of sustainable tourism and to determine their suggestions for sustainable tourism practices. The research data were collected from volunteer participants consisting of 26 people between 05 March - 16 April 2024 through an e-interview form created in Google Forms. The data obtained in the research were analysed by thematic analysis technique using MAXQDA 2024 software. In the study, the role of tour guides regarding sustainable tourism was determined as 'educator/teacher role'. The role they undertake regarding the socio-cultural dimension of sustainability in tours is determined as 'environmental protector/protective role', the role undertaken regarding the economic dimension is determined as 'economic promoter role', and the role undertaken regarding the environmental dimension is determined as 'environmental protector/protective role'. Suggestions for sustainable tourism practices of tour guides were the organisation of online or applied 'seminars'. Based on the results of the research, suggestions for the academy and the sector are presented.