Beyond Baedeker

By:Kira KloserJana Kopp

Andrea Kussman Tiah Frankish

LI801XDMarch 7, 2009

Tourists

Webster’s Definition• one that makes a tour for pleasure

or culturetourist. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from http://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/tourist

Beyond Baedeker’s Definition• a person or group that travels to a

new destination, venue or location outside of their normal routine

The Responsible Tourist

Open your mind to other cultures.

Preserve the natural

environment

Learn about your destination

Contribute to economic and social development

• The role of a travel agent is to sell travel related products and services on behalf of transportation, lodging and tourism venues.

• Within each travel agency there are certain rules in place to govern customer service.– Some agencies use familiarization trips to allow

the agents first hand experience.

Marybeth Bryant. Personal Interview. February 18, 2009.

Professional Organizations for the Travel Agent

• American Society for Travel Agents (ASTA)– “The world's largest association of travel professionals. Our

members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc. We are the leading advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public.”

– Who we are. ASTA. Retrieved February 22, 2009 from http://www.asta.org/about/content.cfm?ItemNumber=741&navItemNumber=510

• Specialty Travel Agents Association (STAA)– “The Specialty Travel Agents Association (STAA) is a premier

association and a valuable resource for travel professionals involved in specialty travel. STAA supports specialty travel, its agents, destinations and niche markets.” (Join, 2009)

Join STAA. Specialty Travel Agents Association: Get Connected! Retrieved February 22, 2009 from http://www.specialtytravelagents.com/travel-professionals-6/

Education for Travel Agents

• While many receive on the job training, there are several certifications that Travel Agents may earn, making them experts in their field. – Agents may take the Travel Agents Proficiency

Test to gain “national credentials and market potential to successfully build [their] career.”

– Agents may also get certified through certification programs geared to very specific regions or types of travel. They are usually online or self-directed.

Educational Program Courses. ASTA. Retrieved February 22, 2009 from http://www.asta.org/Education/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1497&navItemNumber=612

Current Trends in the Tourist Community

• “International Tourism [is] challenged by [a] deteriorating global economy” (UNWTO, 2008)– From January to June of 2008, UNWTO reported a

5% increase in international tourist arrivals over the numbers from 2007.

– But the second half of the year showed a significant slowing in international tourist arrivals resulting in an overall decline for the 2008 tourist year.

What factors play a role in planning a vacation?

Our Survey vs

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer

Alonso, F. (2009) UNTWO World Tourism Barometer. Volume 7, No.1 Retrieved on February 27, 2009 from http://www.untwo.org.

Finding Tourist Information

• Guide Books• Web Sites, for example:– Google Maps– City Owned Websites w/Tourism Link– National Park Websites

• Personal Recommendations

Info at your Library

• Guidebooks: Fromer’S, Fodor’s, Insight Guides, Inside Guides, and Rough Guides are popular series.

• Kiosks - http://10.1.40.20/kiosk/drupal/

Possible References of Guide Books on Greece

• Facars, D. (2007). Cadogan Guides Greek Islands. London: The Globe Pequot Press.

• Hellander, P., Armstrong K., Clark M., Deliso C., Hannigan D., Kyriakopoulos V. (2008). Lonely Planet Greece. Oakland: Lonely Planet.

• Discovery Channel. (2004). Insight Guide Greece. New York: Langenscheidt Publishers, Inc.

• DK Publishing. (2003). Eyewitness Guide Greece. New York: DK Publishing.

• Benson, A., Chilton, L., Dubin, M., Edwards, N., Ellingham, M., Fisher, J., Garvey, G., Jansz, N. (2006). The Rough Guide to Greece. New York: Rough Guides.

• Let’s Go. (2005). Greece. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Preservation 10 years ago

•Photo Albums•VHS tapes• Journals• Souvenirs

Preservation and Sharing Now

• photos• blogs• souvenirs• e-mail/internet• video cameras• scrapbook• digital preservation

How the Libraries can get involved…

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Reference Librarian

Scrapbooking Class

Writing a Blog, Uploading Photos, Creating Digital memories

Guest Lecturer

Passport Parties

Images Citations• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/

BaedekerGB_1937.png (slide one)• http://www.engineersedge.com/catalog/images/books.JPG

(books slide three)• C:\Users\Valued Client\AppData\Local\Microsoft\

Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\PS2PXDAL\MPj04310140000[1].jpg

• www.ultimatetaxi.com• cruises.about.com • www.destination360.com • www.ricksteves.com