Interpreter Guide: between hetero-and self-regulation. Tourism Law and Public Policy

Abstract

In the theoretical framework of Tourism Law, the preservation of professional standards within the tourism sector is of paramount importance. The provision of services is associated with the competitiveness of qualifications and sustainability in generating income and employment. Furthermore, guarantees of quality, equity, and protection of the tourist consumer are also associated. The Portuguese case study is presented as unique compared to Southern Europe. The regulation of the profession of tour guide-interpreter is the subject. The adoption of deregulation by the mainland legislator, as opposed to the regional regulation implemented in the Azores and Madeira Islands, has given rise to a series of issues pertaining to the professional systemic congruence of tourist information in Portugal. This has resulted in a diminution in the number of tourist entertainment companies that are certified in terms of quality and sustainability, as well as an absence of tourism management plans in the mainland.