Greeters are volunteers who welcome tourists in their city or region, and show them around for free as they would do with friends or family.
During a walk through the city, a Greeter will not only point out interesting or unknown places, but also talk about daily life in the city and listen to what the guests have to say about their hometown.
Some other institutions have greeters, such as universities, although the title is not consistent.
[1] It was hoped that the program, sponsored by Manhattan borough president Ruth Messinger, would improve New York's reputation as a "dangerous, expensive and overwhelming" place by letting tourists see it through the eyes of its residents.
[2] This idea soon spread to a variety of tourist destinations across the world.