NTA Reviews Tour Guide Policy with NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner
February 13, 2004
NTA Reviews Tour Guide Policy with NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner
February 13, 2004 – NTA Chairman Mitch Sussman, CTP, and President Hank Phillips, CTP, met Tuesday, Feb. 10 with Gretchen Dykstra, Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs. NTA requested the meeting as a result of DCA’s recent announcement that all tour guides, out-of-town and local, must be licensed and that securing a license involves passing a written test.
At the outset of the meeting, NTA representatives and Commissioner Dykstra discussed their mutual interest in that tourists enjoy a high quality and factually accurate New York City visitor experience. "We weren’t there to question DCA’s motives, " said Sussman. "But we have all experienced well-intended government policies that had unintended negative consequences."
Commissioner Dykstra emphasized that enforcement of the policy will not be disruptive or intrusive. She recited earlier statements that "DCA will enforce this requirement by responding to substantiated complaints only."
A key consideration discussed with Commissioner Dykstra was the distinction between a tour director or escort, who manages the tour, as opposed to a tour guide who provides sightseeing narrative. She demonstrated an understanding of this distinction and further noted that a person functioning strictly in the capacity of a tour director and not a sightseeing or tour guide would not be expected to have a license.
For example, a tour that is traveling from one attraction or event to another within the city and between, during which sightseeing is not a final part of the itinerary, would not be required to have a licensed tour guide. The same would be true of a day tour coming into the city, the purpose of which is to visit one or more events or attractions. No licensed tour guide would be required in this case either. However, in the course of sightseeing where narrative information is being imparted, a licensed guide would be required.
Based on their discussions, Sussman stated, "We came away from the meeting with a good comfort level that Commission Dykstra and the DCA will be approaching the new policy on a reasonable, fair and informed basis. We’ll monitor the situation to be sure that this is the case, but at this point we are optimistic that the policy is going to help and not hurt."
Other key points concerning the policy include:
In addition to discussing the tour guide policy, Sussman and Phillips offered the association’s assistance on other consumer issues that may arise and in communicating New York City consumer information to the membership.