The UN Department of Public Information (DPI) maintains at United Nations Headquarters a Visitors' Service Section which handles queries from visitors and conducts public briefings and guided tours of the Headquarters buildings. The tour service began in October 1952; it was operated by the American Association for the United Nations until June 1955, when it became part of the DPI's Public Liaison and Distribution Division. Initiated with a staff of 50 guides, the service is now manned by 70 of them and has conducted tours for over three million visitors. The tours can be conducted in any of 19 different languages.

One of the guides, Denise Blondel, a native of Belgium, giving explanations to a group of visitors while taking them through the General Assembly building. Seen in the background is the large tapestry that was donated as a gift to the UN by the Belgian Government.