Tourist Guiding Profession in Iceland
Author
Guðjónsdóttir, María Ester
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-05-30
Abstract
This thesis examines how tourist guides in Iceland view legal protection of their profession and the factors shaping these perspectives. Using a mixed-methods design, it combines a survey with semi-structured informal interviews and applies Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to interpret intrinsic and extrinsic motivations underlying job satisfaction and professional behavior. Data were collected from guides across Iceland, focusing on demographics, education, job satisfaction, and attitudes toward regulation. Findings indicate that over 70 percent of participants support legal protection, driven by expectations of higher pay, improved quality standards, preventing unqualified practice, and standardizing education and training. Concerns about job security, unregulated competition, and the need for professional recognition also influence views. The thesis suggests measures such as a voluntary certification scheme and enhanced educational resources, and emphasizes the wicked problem nature of the issue, calling for more comprehensive research. It contributes an up-to-date analysis of the guiding profession in Iceland and highlights the importance of suitable regulatory frameworks to ensure high-quality and safe tourism experiences.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan turistguider i Island ser på den juridiske beskyttelse af deres profession, og hvilke forhold der præger deres holdninger. Med udgangspunkt i et blandet metode-design kombineres en spørgeskemaundersøgelse med semistrukturerede, uformelle interviews, og Maslows behovspyramide anvendes til at forstå de indre og ydre motivationer, der påvirker jobtilfredshed og professionel adfærd. Data blev indsamlet fra turistguider på tværs af Island med fokus på demografi, uddannelsesbaggrund, jobtilfredshed og syn på regulering. Resultaterne viser, at over 70 procent af deltagerne støtter juridisk beskyttelse af guiderhvervet, motiveret af forventning om højere løn, bedre kvalitetsstandarder, forebyggelse af uautoriseret udøvelse samt standardisering af uddannelse og træning. Bekymringer om jobtryghed, ureguleret konkurrence og behov for professionel anerkendelse påvirker ligeledes perspektiverne. Afhandlingen foreslår blandt andet en frivillig certificeringsordning og styrkelse af uddannelsesressourcer som mulige tiltag og påpeger, at problemfeltet har karakter af en wicked problem, der kræver mere omfattende forskning. Studiet bidrager med et aktuelt overblik over guiderhvervet i Island og understreger betydningen af hensigtsmæssige reguleringsrammer for at sikre høj kvalitet og sikkerhed i turismen.
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Keywords