Tour Guiding Technique

Tour Guiding Tour Guiding TechniquesTechniquesContent and MethodologyContent and Methodology

TouristsTourists

People who leave their homes to temporarily People who leave their homes to temporarily visit a placevisit a place

They should be spending and not earning They should be spending and not earning money from the place they visitmoney from the place they visit

Reasons can be pleasure, meetings or Reasons can be pleasure, meetings or seminarsseminars

With the intention of learning something about With the intention of learning something about the place like its history, people, culturethe place like its history, people, culture

Basic factors for a Basic factors for a successful tourist successful tourist destinationdestination

Attractions which can be site itself or an Attractions which can be site itself or an eventevent

Amenities or facilities like Amenities or facilities like accommodation, food, local, accommodation, food, local, transportation, communication and transportation, communication and entertainment at the siteentertainment at the site

AccessibilityAccessibility Peace and orderPeace and order

Characteristics of Characteristics of TourismTourism

Product is not brought to the consumer;Product is not brought to the consumer; The tourism product is not used up, it doesn’t The tourism product is not used up, it doesn’t

exhaust the country’s natural resources;exhaust the country’s natural resources; People-oriented;People-oriented; Labor-intensive;Labor-intensive; Multi-dimensional;Multi-dimensional; Seasonal;Seasonal; Dynamic;Dynamic; Characterized by the changing ideas of its Characterized by the changing ideas of its

customers.customers.

Nature of Tour Reception Nature of Tour Reception & Guiding& Guiding

First impression of tourists play a very First impression of tourists play a very important roleimportant role

Receiving tourists is just like receiving Receiving tourists is just like receiving guests in your homeguests in your home

Show the best without boasting or Show the best without boasting or overdoingoverdoing

Guiding is not simply telling them “to your Guiding is not simply telling them “to your left, to your left”, there’s a lot more into it.left, to your left”, there’s a lot more into it.

Duties and Duties and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Provide them information and explanations Provide them information and explanations about the place honestly without prejudice;about the place honestly without prejudice;

Ensure a factual presentation, make sure to Ensure a factual presentation, make sure to distinguish the truth stories, legends, traditions;distinguish the truth stories, legends, traditions;

Act fairly and reasonably in all dealings with Act fairly and reasonably in all dealings with colleagues and co-workers;colleagues and co-workers;

Always act with tact and diplomacy in dealing Always act with tact and diplomacy in dealing with the guestswith the guests

Always report for duty healthy and positiveAlways report for duty healthy and positive Never take advantage of the ignorance of the Never take advantage of the ignorance of the

touriststourists Never allow yourself to be used by Never allow yourself to be used by

unscrupulous organizations who want to take unscrupulous organizations who want to take advantage of the touristsadvantage of the tourists

Use common sense and be honest by saying “ Use common sense and be honest by saying “ I don’t know,…I will check,..”I don’t know,…I will check,..”

Ensure guest’s safety, warn them on:Ensure guest’s safety, warn them on: Plants that might cause some allergiesPlants that might cause some allergies Food and drinks that might not suit their Food and drinks that might not suit their

digestive systemdigestive system Elevation for those with vertigo and fear of Elevation for those with vertigo and fear of

heightheight Dogs that might biteDogs that might bite Presence of pickpockets in crowded areasPresence of pickpockets in crowded areas

Protect the reputation of tourism by Protect the reputation of tourism by making every assignment a treat, with making every assignment a treat, with respect to the environment, wildlife, respect to the environment, wildlife, sights & monuments, local customs & sights & monuments, local customs & traditionstraditions

Act responsibly as representative of the Act responsibly as representative of the country and the peoplecountry and the people

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Language proficiencyLanguage proficiency Avoid using highfalutin words, use Avoid using highfalutin words, use

simple, easy to understand wordssimple, easy to understand words Try to get rid of regional accentTry to get rid of regional accent Use synonyms to explain, to describe Use synonyms to explain, to describe

somethingsomething Use non-verbal communication in a Use non-verbal communication in a

difficult thing or situation difficult thing or situation

Speak audibly, not too soft and not too Speak audibly, not too soft and not too loudloud

Conduct your commentary in a relaxed, Conduct your commentary in a relaxed, entertaining manner (they came here to entertaining manner (they came here to enjoy, remember)enjoy, remember)

Guiding TechniquesGuiding Techniques

Be prepared, study the destinationBe prepared, study the destination Plan your spiel or commentary, it should be Plan your spiel or commentary, it should be

structuredstructured Have an update on the local and global news Have an update on the local and global news

and environmental issuesand environmental issues Intercede when necessary in the interaction Intercede when necessary in the interaction

with the guest and the localswith the guest and the locals Be aware on the basic human behavior and Be aware on the basic human behavior and

attitudesattitudes

Do not research to back up your factsDo not research to back up your facts Be ready for pertinent and impertinent Be ready for pertinent and impertinent

questionsquestions In cases of having more than one guide, find In cases of having more than one guide, find

some time to sit down, discuss to synchronize some time to sit down, discuss to synchronize information & learn from each otherinformation & learn from each other

Never tell your personal life at first meetingNever tell your personal life at first meeting

Never sell anything at first meeting Never sell anything at first meeting unless they askunless they ask

Be punctual at all times. Be there at least Be punctual at all times. Be there at least one hour before the tour startsone hour before the tour starts

Learn map readingLearn map reading Learn how to say NO to indecent Learn how to say NO to indecent

proposalsproposals

Always make a head count before, during Always make a head count before, during and after the tour, especially on stopsand after the tour, especially on stops

Be practical when making judgment, Be practical when making judgment, think if the benefit of the majoritythink if the benefit of the majority

Be a good decision makerBe a good decision maker Learn basic first aidLearn basic first aid

Qualities of an effective Qualities of an effective Tour GuideTour Guide

Love of countryLove of country People-lovingPeople-loving Open-mindednessOpen-mindedness TactfulnessTactfulness PunctualityPunctuality Proper decorumProper decorum HonestyHonesty resourcefulnessresourcefulness

Self- confidenceSelf- confidence Sense of humorSense of humor EnthusiasmEnthusiasm Fairness in treatmentFairness in treatment Good healthGood health Good communicatorGood communicator PatiencePatience ReasonableReasonable AssertivenessAssertiveness Humble and politeHumble and polite

Steps on how to make a Steps on how to make a commentarycommentary

Begin with a smile, greeting and Begin with a smile, greeting and introductionintroduction

Brief the guests about the tour for the dayBrief the guests about the tour for the day Review the inclusions and exclusions of Review the inclusions and exclusions of

the tourthe tour Give the distance and traveling time of Give the distance and traveling time of

the destinationthe destination

What to expect from the tourWhat to expect from the tour Give necessary precautionsGive necessary precautions Do not miss to point important landmarks Do not miss to point important landmarks

along the wayalong the way Announce comfort stopsAnnounce comfort stops Always do the head countAlways do the head count

Tips for an effective tour Tips for an effective tour commentarycommentary

Start with a greeting or introductionStart with a greeting or introduction Information should be delivered in a Information should be delivered in a

manner that would interest the guestsmanner that would interest the guests Sense of humor should be part of the Sense of humor should be part of the

delivery of informationdelivery of information Remember, commentaries help people Remember, commentaries help people

understand and appreciate what they understand and appreciate what they actually see actually see

Face the group, not a fewFace the group, not a few Speak slowly and clearlySpeak slowly and clearly Voice should be audibleVoice should be audible Practice eye contactPractice eye contact Prepare yourself for questions to be Prepare yourself for questions to be

askedasked Take control of your breathing and Take control of your breathing and

emphasize important wordsemphasize important words

Use synonyms, example in explaining Use synonyms, example in explaining somethingsomething

When mentioning a name, repeat it or spell itWhen mentioning a name, repeat it or spell it Maintain silence, if the need arisesMaintain silence, if the need arises Listen carefully to questions and other Listen carefully to questions and other

concernsconcerns Never argue with the guestsNever argue with the guests End your tour always by thanking the guestsEnd your tour always by thanking the guests

MethodologyMethodology

Discuss the Tour guide PersonalityDiscuss the Tour guide Personality Kinds of tour guidesKinds of tour guides Types of tour guidesTypes of tour guides Scope and responsibilitiesScope and responsibilities Rewards of the professionRewards of the profession

Research SkillsResearch Skills Domestic tourismDomestic tourism Natural and man-made attractionsNatural and man-made attractions Historical sitesHistorical sites Events, fiestasEvents, fiestas National, local and regional boundariesNational, local and regional boundaries Geography and topographyGeography and topography

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills ReadingReading

Thinking and writingThinking and writing

Delivery of commentaryDelivery of commentary

Verbal and non- verbalVerbal and non- verbal

Mock tourMock tour Inside the classroomInside the classroom

Individual commentary-makingIndividual commentary-making

Delivery of commentaryDelivery of commentary

Actual tour to a destinationActual tour to a destination

Observation from a licensed, professional Observation from a licensed, professional tour guide how to conduct a tourtour guide how to conduct a tour

Critiquing based on tour guiding principles Critiquing based on tour guiding principles and techniquesand techniques

Tour to a destination with a prepared, Tour to a destination with a prepared, memorized spiel or commentary on a chosen memorized spiel or commentary on a chosen tourist attraction ( on the bus)tourist attraction ( on the bus)

Invite resource speaker, tour guide for Invite resource speaker, tour guide for additional hands-on lecture/presentationadditional hands-on lecture/presentation

Mock and actual tour is required to complete Mock and actual tour is required to complete the competencies of a tour guidethe competencies of a tour guide

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