Remember that fantastic tour you went on? What made it so memorable? In most cases it would have come down to the skills, knowledge and qualities of the guides. This book aims to provide guides with the skills and resources to create experiences like this each time they lead a tour. In creating these positive experiences, guides need to manage a vast array of intrinsic elements and relationships that occur within every tour. The interpretive approach to tour guiding is an effective way to focus on these efforts. It is an approach that is gaining increased recognition as an integral component of the way forward for learning and development programmes for guides. This book provides accessible content and uses a variety of concepts, techniques, activities and case studies. Learning tools found in each chapter include: activities to help you develop and extend your understanding of the content and material covered; special focus studies that provide real information on guiding for a range of situations; and a wide range of references, sources of further information and websites for further study.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Guiding and interpretive approach: the guiding environment; a tourism industry overview; types of tours. Chapter 2 The guide: tourist guides, a skilled group of professionals; where do guides work?; the roles of a guide. Chpater 3 Your audience: getting to know your audience; building a relationship with your audience; principles of conducting a tour. Chapter 4 Effective communication - the communication process; factors affecting effective communication; listening; working with questions. Chapter 5 Presenting tour activities: effective presentation techniques; working with microphones; managing the nervous twitch; adding strength and colour to your voice. Chapter 6 Planning and developing tour activities: tour structures; planning and designing a tour; conducting a tour; evaluating the tour; occupational health and safety; risk management and liabilities. Chapter 7 Your tour commentary: what is a commentary; structure of your commentary; building your commentary; enriching your commentary. Chapter 8 Working with tour groups: remembering peoples names and engaging in conversation; ensuring satisfaction; managing difficult situations; assertive behaviour; what to do when things go awry. Chapter 9 Extended tours: what are extended tours?; being a tour manager; working with coaches and buses; stages of an extended tour; what could possibly go wrong? Chapter 10 Working with stories: what are stories; why do we work with stories; structure of a story; telling a story; story forms; character interpretation; working with stories.