CZECH REPUBLIC | KLÁRA DVOŘÁKOVÁ 11 9 Switzerland. However, before providing their service for the first time in the Czech Republic territory, these guides are required to notify electronically the Ministry for Regional Development. A tour guide is a natural person providing a group of people or individuals with a presentation regarding the country’s cultural, historical and natural heritage, as well as its current life. Such a presentation includes, in particular, information on culture (e.g. history, art, archaeology, folklore, ethnology, gastronomy), environment (e.g. geology, nature, climate), individual sites (e.g. historical and industrial sites, city centres), places (e.g. museums, churches) and areas (e.g. tourist areas, regions). A tour guide may also sell items related to tourism, for instance, admission tickets, maps, timetables and souvenirs. II.4. Mountain Leader and Mountain Guide The basic regulations concerning the activities of a mountain leader (in Czech: horský průvodce) and mountain guide (in Czech: horský vůdce) include the Trade Act and related Government regulations specifying the contents of individual trades. The trade’s official name now reads “tour guiding in mountains”. An amendment to the Tourism Act is being prepared, whereby the regulation of these professions should also be reflected in the Act. These are regulated professions that can also be performed in the Czech Republic in an employment relationship based on an employment contract, agreement to complete a job or an agreement to perform work. A trade licence for the operation of this professional trade may be granted to anyone who meets the general conditions for the operation of a trade (clean criminal record and legal capacity) and special conditions applicable to this trade, namely a specific degree of education. Mountain leaders and mountain guides escort people in a mountain environment, providing them with relevant information. Although the term “mountain environment” is currently not defined by law, in practice, for the purposes of these activities pursued by mountain leaders and mountain guides, it is understood as an area outside a built-up territory of a municipality which, given its geographical and geomorphological conditions and ensuing further characteristics, poses increased demands on ensuring safe movement of a client. Geographical conditions mean, in particular, a more or less steep change in altitude as compared to the surrounding environment; in turn, a higher altitude is reflected in weather conditions, which are more variable in a mountain environment and differ from other areas. In the Czech Republic, another typical feature of a mountain environment lies in relative inaccessibility of, or restricted
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