• A tourist guide is someone who, for job, guides a person or a group during the visits at pieces of art, museums, galleries and archaeological excavations talking about the historical, artistic, monumental, landscape and natural aspects.
• A hiking guide is someone who, for job, guides a person or a group during the visit of natural areas, included the museums concerning the natural aspect; with also the aim of explaining the characteristics and the evolution of Ligurian ecosystems, especially of the regional protected areas.
• A travel guide is a person who, for job, stays with a person or a group during travels in Italy or abroad, takes care of the fulfilment of the program established by the organizers, gives assistance to the people with him, gives main tourist information about the areas where they travel with the exclusion of the peculiar competence of tourist and hiking guides.

The practice of the professions of tourist guide, hiking guide and travel guide is subject to the acquisition of a special pass certificate that is obtained after an examination and given by the Province of jurisdiction, according to the Regional Law n. 44/1999.

The Pro Loco (Tourist Local Promotion) Associations, according to the Regional Law n. 17/1996 and following changes, are recognized as instruments of preservation and promotion of local traditions that are put into practice thanks to:

• actions aimed at promoting the knowledge of local traditions, the protection, the improvement and the promotion of the area of competence
• actions aimed at promoting the appeal of the resort and the sojourns of tourists
• tourist assistance and information
• actions aimed at sensitizing the residents to tourism

The Regional Tourist Local Associations List is kept by the Giunta Regionale (Regional whole of district councillors). The request of inscription must be sent to the Province of jurisdiction. The Pro Loco recorded in the regional list can obtain subsidies by the Province of jurisdiction.

Travel Agencies are regulated by Regional Law n. 28/1997 (supplemented with R.L. 33/1999).
They involve all the activities connected with the organization and intermediation of tourist travels and stays.
Travel agencies are enterprises that produce, organize, present and sell on a lump-sum basis or on commission travels and stays, assistance to tourists included.