Tourist guides: almost all passed the written test
94% of candidates have progressed to the oral and practical-technical tests (starting on 23 June): a different outcome compared to the failures seen in the first edition
Key points
Almost everyone passed the written test for the tour guide qualification test held on Friday 5 June: the two sessions (morning and afternoon) were attended by 8,346 candidates, just under 50% of the approximately 17,000 people who had registered. 7,844 candidates were deemed eligible to proceed to the next stages (oral and technical-practical), representing 94%.
A comparison with the first edition
These figures are markedly different from those of last year’s exams: on its debut,, the national exam, with around 30,000 registered candidates and 12,191 participants, recorded 230 successful candidates, reduced to 222 following the last two tests, which qualify candidates for inclusion in the national register of tourist guides established by the Ministry of Tourism. These statistics had drawn criticism from industry associations. For the new edition, the ministry led by Gianmarco Mazzi had promised a ‘simplified and streamlined procedure’ with ‘non-theoretical tests, designed to assess basic knowledge of the main Italian tourist sites, with the elimination of penalties for incorrect answers’.
Oral and practical exams
The oral and practical-technical examinations will take place from 23 June to 21 September 2026. The oral examination assesses communication skills, knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and consists of an interview, in Italian, on the subjects covered in the written examination, as well as an assessment of the candidate’s proficiency in the foreign language chosen at the time of application, at a level no lower than B2.
