Unlocking Sri Lanka's tourism potential through specialist guides

SRI Lanka’s tour guide system needs a serious rethink. Our current two-tier guide system - National Tour Guides for large groups and Chauffeur Guides for smaller parties - is a relic from the 1970s and 80s, when tourism meant package tours arriving from Europe. Back then, group sizes were large, itineraries were fixed, and visitors needed extensive interpretation of our culture and history. Guides would shepherd 30-40 people between sites, explaining everything from Buddhist iconography to colonial architecture to a captive audience.

- By Rukmankan Sivaloganathan

Today’s tourism landscape couldn’t be more different. Modern travellers arrive armed with smartphones full of information, prefer flexibility in their schedules, and often travel in small groups or as couples. Many have researched extensively online, watched YouTube videos of destinations, and read detailed reviews. They’re looking less for basic historical facts and more for authentic insights and unique perspectives. Yet our guide system remains stuck in the past, creating friction rather than enhancing the visitor experience.

The challenges

That the current system is not perfect is an open secret in the industry. While we often discuss these problems privately, it’s time to address them openly. Here are the key challenges we need to tackle with some real life stories that illustrate them.

The mandatory National Guide requirement for groups over seven is both socially awkward and expensive. For example, an English family of four adults and five children recently paid $700 extra as guide fees on their two-week tour of Sri Lanka. They resented the imposition of a stranger on their holiday more than the money they paid for it.

The quality of information provided varies wildly, with some guides offering questionable historical interpretations and sometimes downright incorrect explanations.

We've all heard the complaints about inappropriate interactions and poor service.

Evolution, not revolution

Now, I’m not suggesting we should scrap the entire system. The reality is that different travellers have different needs, and our current structure, while imperfect, serves some of these well. Take large Chinese tour groups, for instance — they absolutely need a National Guide who can manage logistics, provide translation, and ensure smooth operations. Group tours from large operators, especially from Europe, are still a significant segment of business and they all need National Guides.