TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION TO TOUR GUIDING
I. Concepts Of Tour Guiding
Terminologies used in tour guiding
a) Tours
A tour is form of travel from one place to another with multiple features that can be packaged and
sold as a single unit.
A trip with visits to various places of interest for business, pleasure, or instruction complete trip,
usually including fare, accommodation, meals, ground transport, tour guides services, taxes, etc.,
in one all inclusive price.
This is an organized journey from a point of origin to another place which is the destination for
various reasons e.g. sightseeing, business, and medical purposes among others.
b) Tour guide
A tour guide is a professional who provides assistance, information on cultural, historical and
contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized tours, individual clients, and
educational establishment at religious and historical sites and at venues of other significant interest
The guide is a professional who is expected to handle his duties in a professional manner. He is at
the frontline meeting clients and also spends a lot of time with the clients before they depart. For
all the glamour of escorting clients it is hard work and a chance of meeting disagreeable clients,
hitches or impediments of lifestyles, places or relationships
c) Tour guiding
This is the act of assisting tourists and/or excursionists with information about a particular tourist
destination and also showing them around the destination of which they may not be familiar with.
It is a skill used in leading a group of people during a tour.
d) Trip
Journey for some purpose (usually including the return) to the point of origin)
A trip is defined as each time a person travel/goes 100 miles away from home and returns.
e) Excursion
This is tour that lasts less than 24 hours in a particular tourist destination, usually for leisure or
educational purposes. The purpose of the tour must not be for work purposes for which the
remuneration is at the destination and also not to travel home
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f) Itinerary
This is a road map for a tour or in an organized journey. It shows how a tour is organized in
terms of time, activities and objectives among others.
g) Tour commentaries
These are narrations a tour guide prepares and uses in order to explain and describe touristic
attractions to a group of tourists
h) Tour conducting
This involves managing tours through travelling with tour groups, staying with them, controlling,
entertaining and dealing with their problems
I) Package tour
It is the sum total of variety of services offered to the tourists in one price
II. The Three Main Components Of Tour Guiding
1) Attractions
2) Visitors
3) Guide
Others support services are:
Accommodation
Transport
Food and beverage
Iv. Types Of Tour Guides
1) Freelance guide-this guide is not permanently connected to any tour companies.
2) Staff guide –this guide is permanently connected with a tour operator and receives a monthly
salary
3) Local area guide- a person competent enough to guide in a certain locality or area.
4) Tour conductor/escort /tour manager –a person who accompanies a group of tourists from the
point of origin to the destination and back to the origin.
5) Specialist guide-a person who has specialized in a certain area, field such as botany,
architecture and zoologist
6) Linguist guide- a person who speaks fluently two or more foreign languages.
7) Eco-tour guide- a person who performs the tour guide roles within ecological classified areas.
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8) National guide –a person who is competent enough to guide long itineraries in a certain
country.
V. Importance Of Engaging Tour Guides:
1) Tour guides provide knowledge about a destination in regards to their history, geography,
culture, tradition and every life.
2) Provide translation of the strangeness of attractions and culture in ways that are familiar to
tourists.
3) They provide access to non-public territories for the visitors.
4) Provide exploration of new areas and places in destinations.
5) They help select particular experiences on itineraries for tourists depending on the tourist
needs and wants.
6) Helps with the management of the limited time the tourists have at a destination.
7) They provide sense of protection to tourists who are exploring new places.
8) Provide expertise that enhances the visitors’ experience.
9) To avoid the fear of being lost in an unknown place.
10) To be able to meet with the natives without offending their sensitivities.
Vi. Roles Of A Tour Guide (Duties & Responsibilities)
1) Providing information to clients.
2) Planning of the area of visitation sites to visit depending on the time of the tour.
3) Advising the clients about the rules and regulations of the area of visitation.
4) Briefing and de-briefing of the clients to know if they are satisfied or objectives were met.
5) Organizing for the tour
6) Co-ordinate of the tourist with the other tour guides.
7) Planning itinerary –he /she plans the way the day will be spent in the site of attraction.
8) Provide security to the visitors.
9) They may be used to interpret what is happening in a destination.
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Vii. Principles Of Tour Guiding
In order to maintain the integrity of the Tours and to ensure that customers have consistently
great experiences, Tour Guides adhere/ uphold the following Principles.
1. Professionalism
tour guide are a professional, whose primary concern is to provide customers with unique travel
experiences. To that end, he/she always act in a friendly, calm but professional manner. You
understand that everything you say and do is a reflection of you, your country and your culture.
You accept that you have total responsibility for your customer's happiness and safety. You
believe that it is best to under promise and over deliver. In the event that a customer expresses
dissatisfaction with their experience, you respond to the complaint in an appropriate manner -
even if the complaint is groundless.
2. Full Information
tour guide believe in full and complete disclosure. All information in tour guide profile and tour
description pages should accurate and up-to-date. Where changes due to weather or other
circumstance are possible, they are noted in the tour description. You have a keen awareness of
any hazards and clearly explain issues related to personal safety.
3. Responsive
Questions regarding tour details or tour bookings are responded to as soon as possible, but no
longer than within 24 hours. If you will be out of touch for a period of time, you've assigned a
back up person to deal with any issues that arise.
4. Reliable
Once a tour booking is confirmed, you will do your utmost to deliver the tour unless there is an
illness or other exceptional circumstance. In this case, as soon as possible, you will inform the
customer and ToursByLocals so that we can work with you to find another qualified tour guide
to take the tour. In all cases, you are responsible for the successful delivery of the tour.
5. Value for Money
The cost charged to customers will be as described in the tour description. You understand that
the last thing a customer wants is to be surprised that things cost more than they expected. Under
no circumstances will you ask for a tip. If someone asks you about our tipping policy you will
say that since you've set the price yourself, tipping is not necessary.
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6. Knowledgeable
Your role is critical to the success of the tour. You are passionate and are well versed in the
subject matter of your tour. If you don't know something, you are forthright about saying so and
make an effort to get the answer before the end of the tour.
7. Proactive
You are proactive and confirm and reconfirm all details of your tour, a day or two ahead of the
activity. If possible, you contact the customer on the evening prior to the tour. During the tour,
you anticipate events and are aware of what's going on around you. You understand that you are
responsible for the well-being of your customers and are aware of their emotional and physical
safety at all times.
8. Well Groomed
You present a tidy appearance, appropriate for the tour and avoid activities that might give
offense - smoking, chewing gum, foul language and the like.
9. Flexible
You understand that your job very is demanding and that things won't always run smoothly.
When changes have to be made, you are clear to the customer why the change is being made.
You do your best to make the customer happy at all times.
