Tour Guiding Series

Roles guides play!

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary
Professor
Indian Institute of Tourism andFriday, MayManagement Travel 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation;

Friday, May 4, 2012 Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Role of tour guide

The interpretive component Interpretation Five roles explored

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Principles of interpretation
Any interpretation that does not somehow relate what is being displayed or described to something within the personality or experience of the visitor will be sterile Information is not interpretation however all interpretation includes information
Friday, May 4, 2012 Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Principles of interpretation
Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts, whether material presented are scientific, historical or architectural. Any art is in some degree teachable. The chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Principles of interpretation
The aim of interpretation is to present a whole rather than a part Interpretation is user targeteddifferent interpretation programmes for different user groups
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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Your role as interpreter

To assist visitor in developing a keener awareness, appreciation and understanding of the things they are visiting To encourage thoughtful use and reasonable behaviour that minimize impact on resources and respect for host communitys sensibilities

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

Your role as interpreter

To promote understanding of tourism products/ agency goals and objectives.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

5 roles of a guide
The leader The educator The public representative The host The conduit
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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The leader
Visionary Shows direction Leads the group Manages them to achieve the objectives Not the boss Not a strict disciplinarian Directs edutainment process
Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Tour Guiding Series

The leader
The measure of effectiveness of the guide is the extent to which visitors feel they are heard, and feel inspired and empowered to venture out on their own and experience new places on their own An effective guide create the right environment

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The leader
1. The instrumental component: navigating, providing special access, shepherding, and maintaining control; and 2. The social component: tension management, integrating the group, keeping good humor and morale, and entertaining members of the tour.

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The educator
Tourists seek pleasure in learning about host community and its cultures and artifacts Guide is an educator who facilitate this learning Guides get too zealous- they become self absorbed and pedantic

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The educator
Awaken peoples curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The education!
Cognitive
History, geography, botany, architecture, etc.

Affective
Attitude and value formation, sparking interest, emotion, special perspective, and insight

Behavioural
Group behaviour, participatory skills,

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The educator
Visitors often look to a guide for cues about Social mores, local dress, regional songs or dances, foods (how to prepare them), and etiquettes, customs and mannerism.

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The public relations representative

Brand ambassador Consciously/ sub-consciously Represent
Community Country Political philosophy

Should guides always present a favorable image of the region?

Friday, May 4, 2012 Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

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Tour Guiding Series

The host
Travel is a social occurrence Receives guests Wears many hats
Companion, mediator, advocate, concierge, entertainer, raconteur, and others
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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The host
A good host
Enjoy people Innate ability to create an environment where people feel comfortable Know how to bring out best in people, extend a friendly hand, facilitate connections between people in a natural way Sensitive to others needs

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The host
A good host
Is relaxed with and energized by people A passion and genuine interest in travelers, locals, and all those who partake of the experience.

Star and entertainer guides??

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The conduit
The connect between traveler, local culture and the entire travel experience Guides facilitate (allow and encourage) the events to unfold They are the medium rather than message As a conduit guide assumes all the other four roles.
Friday, May 4, 2012 Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

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Tour Guiding Series

The conduit
Guides must subordinate themselves to the traveler and the experience It is the innate understanding of when to be silent, when to step back, when to encourage, when to move on
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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary

Tour Guiding Series

The conduit
it is the conduit-guide who learns the most, forges the deepest bonds with people, and indeed, reaps the greatest reward from guiding, for he or she creates a multidimensional successful experience, that is greater than its sum of its parts.
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Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Nimit Chowdhary