TOUR GUIDING TIPS

Tour Guiding Tour Guiding TechniquesTechniquesContent and MethodologyContent and Methodology

TouristsTourists People who leave their homes to People who leave their homes to temporarily visit a placetemporarily visit 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 With the intention of learning something about the place like its something about the place like its history, people, culturehistory, people, culture

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

Attractions which can be site Attractions which can be site itself or an eventitself or an event

Amenities or facilities like Amenities or facilities like accommodation, food, local, accommodation, food, local, transportation, communication transportation, communication and entertainment at the siteand entertainment 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 The tourism product is not used up, it doesn’t exhaust the country’s natural doesn’t exhaust the country’s natural resources;resources;

People-oriented;People-oriented; Labor-intensive;Labor-intensive; Multi-dimensional;Multi-dimensional; Seasonal;Seasonal; Dynamic;Dynamic; Characterized by the changing ideas of Characterized by the changing ideas of its customers.its customers.

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

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

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

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

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

Duties and Duties and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

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

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

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

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

Always report for duty healthy and Always report for duty healthy and positivepositive

Never take advantage of the ignorance Never take advantage of the ignorance of the touristsof the tourists

Never allow yourself to be used by Never allow yourself to be used by unscrupulous organizations who want to unscrupulous organizations who want to take advantage of the touriststake advantage of the tourists

Use common sense and be honest by Use common sense and be honest by saying “ I don’t know,…I will check,..”saying “ 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 Food and drinks that might not suit their digestive systemtheir digestive system

Elevation for those with vertigo and Elevation for those with vertigo and fear of heightfear of height

Dogs that might biteDogs that might bite Presence of pickpockets in crowded Presence of pickpockets in crowded areasareas

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

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

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills Language proficiencyLanguage proficiency Avoid using highfalutin words, Avoid using highfalutin words, use simple, easy to understand use simple, easy to understand wordswords

Try to get rid of regional accentTry to get rid of regional accent Use synonyms to explain, to Use synonyms to explain, to describe somethingdescribe something

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 Speak audibly, not too soft and not too loudand not too loud

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

Guiding TechniquesGuiding Techniques Be prepared, study the destinationBe prepared, study the destination Plan your spiel or commentary, it Plan your spiel or commentary, it should be structuredshould be structured

Have an update on the local and Have an update on the local and global news and environmental issuesglobal news and environmental issues

Intercede when necessary in the Intercede when necessary in the interaction with the guest and the interaction with the guest and the localslocals

Be aware on the basic human behavior Be aware on the basic human behavior and attitudesand attitudes

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

In cases of having more than one In cases of having more than one guide, find some time to sit down, guide, find some time to sit down, discuss to synchronize information & discuss to synchronize information & learn from each otherlearn from each other

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

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

Be punctual at all times. Be Be punctual at all times. Be there at least one hour before there at least one hour before the tour startsthe 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 Always make a head count before, during and after the before, during and after the tour, especially on stopstour, especially on stops

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

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

Qualities of an Qualities of an effective Tour Guideeffective Tour 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 Begin with a smile, greeting and introductionand introduction

Brief the guests about the tour Brief the guests about the tour for the dayfor the day

Review the inclusions and Review the inclusions and exclusions of the tourexclusions of the tour

Give the distance and traveling Give the distance and traveling time of the destinationtime of the destination

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

Announce comfort stopsAnnounce comfort stops Always do the head countAlways do the head count

Tips for an effective Tips for an effective tour commentarytour commentary

Start with a greeting or Start with a greeting or introductionintroduction

Information should be delivered in Information should be delivered in a manner that would interest the a manner that would interest the guestsguests

Sense of humor should be part of Sense of humor should be part of the delivery of informationthe delivery 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 Prepare yourself for questions to be askedto be asked

Take control of your breathing Take control of your breathing and emphasize important wordsand emphasize important words

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

When mentioning a name, repeat it or When mentioning a name, repeat it or spell itspell 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 End your tour always by thanking the guestsguests

MethodologyMethodology Discuss the Tour guide Discuss the Tour guide PersonalityPersonality 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 National, local and regional boundariesboundaries

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

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

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

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

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

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