TOUR GUIDING SKILLS

CHAPTER 1 : GUIDING - AN ENTEPRETATIVE APPROACH

3 GUIDE: Facilitative & managing tour experience ENVIRONMENT: Where the tour takes place AUDIENCE: Your clients & customers stories setting objects processes Logistics Local International Individuals, couples, groups, honeymooners,etc THE TOUR EXPERIENCE

1.1 THE GUIDING ENVIRONMENT The Guide Facilitating and managing the tour experience Museums, historic sites, galleries, national parks, cities etc Volunteer, employee, freelance, contract basis etc

The Audience Clients or customers Visitors from towns, foreigners etc All ages & demographic b’ground Different unique interests, expectations, motivations and needs. Individuals, couples, groups etc

The Environment Where the tour takes place Historic house, national parks, museum, cityscape etc Logistic, organization policies, relationship with colleagues & other elements which can influence the tour experience.

// AN INTERPRETIVE APPROACH TO TOUR GUIDING Interpretation?? “one of a number of communication disciplines which seeks to generate an increased understanding and appreciation of our environment.”

8 Definition : Interpretation - one of a number of COMMUNICATION DICIPLINES which seeks to generate an increased understanding and appreciation of our environment. or A learning experience which seeks to enrich the meaningful RELATIONSHIP we hold with our world, and to foster and build a set of values which supports these relationships. 1.2 An interpretative approach to guiding

9 Principles of interpretation: A PROCESS of learning and gaining deeper understanding. Provokes THOUGHT and reveal meaning. Involves COMMUNICATION. Aims to stimulate an a APPRECIATION of our natural and cultural heritage. Aims to bring ITEMS and EVENTS to life.

11 Principles of Interpretative Approach ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The approach captures, engages and involves your audience by: Being relevant, interesting, and interactive, Stimulating people and provoking thought Evoking curiosity and a willingness to find out more Bringing the tour experience to life and enriching and enlivening a landscape rather than sterilizing it Incorporating effective communication principles

12 Why do we need an interpretative Approach ? ____________________________ 1.From a guiding –industry perspective : As one way to raise the standard of guiding and set in place a benchmark for best practice 2. From a visitor's perspective : to satisfy the increasing trend among visitors seeking educational experiences. 3. From a Guide perspective : to continually update their skills and knowledge. Face – to –Face Interpretation and Interpretative Media ____________________________________ Face-to-face interpretation : any activity where the interpreters interacts directly with an audience. Interpretative media : involves the use of medium between the interpreter and audience. Websites : Are interesting mix of face-to- face Interpretation and interpretive media. E g : ???? What are they ? Eg ??

15 1.3A tourism industry OVERVIEW People travel for Fun Leisure Business Cultural exchange VFR Education TOURISM SECTORS Tour Operators Attractions Transport Tour Wholesalers Accommodation Travel agencies Restaurants / cafesEntertainment Tourism : is the range of activities, services and infrastructure which caters for people involved in traveling for leisure and pleasure away from their normal place of residence. Tour operations : is a SECTOR within tourism industry, often complemented by services and products provided by other industry sectors. Convention & Conferences

16 What are the strength of Malaysia as a destination?. _________________________ What are the trends of people traveling in Malaysia ? _________________________ International and Domestic Tourism Discuss with your group members Discuss….

Type of Tours Site based tours : Museums and galleries Zoos and wildlife parks Indigenous sites Botanic garden Factories, mines & other work sites Waste- transfer stations, dam, power stations & sewerage plants Historic houses & significant buildings Special- interest tour: Sporting tours Photography tours Wildlife tours: bird watching, marine mammal watching etc regional tours of rural areas Water-based tour : Snorkeling & scuba diving Canyoning, canoeing & kayaking Cruise boating & yachting Marine mammal watching, bird watching & fishing tours. Tours can also include : Suburban & city-sights walking tours City family tours: meet & greet Cycling & mountain-bike tours Hiking & horse-riding tours Hiking & bushwalking trips

18 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE SITES Rock engravings Rock paintings Stone artifacts Shell middens Scarred trees Exercise : Find out the aboriginal sites in Malaysia!!! Extra information…. Did you know ?