History of Guided Activities in High Tatras as Beginnings of Tourism Development in Slovakia

With the first leaders or mountain guides in Tatra nature we already meet in the second half of the 17th century. In 1873 the Hungaro-Carpathian Association was established and the association started to organize and systemize all tour guides in High Tatras. In the 19th century was also built a railway which brought lot of visitors to the Tatra mountains. In this period almost every ascent could be practicable only with a professional guide. Change of the political system after World War II brought the disappearance of this profession. In 1991 was founded the National Association of Mountain Guides in Slovakia, which later in 1996 became a member of the International Association of Mountain Guides Associations (UIAGM).