Lesson 1 Government Guides

Tour guide: States, local and national governments employ guides to show their most important historic, cultural,
political and scenic facilities to visitors. At the national level, many prominent landmarks offer guided
 Synonyms: local guide and city guide (mostly used in Europe and other parts of the world) tours.
 Is the one who conducts a tour on one with a broad knowledge of a particular area whose primary
duty is to inform.  White House
 It is an individual who is licensed by the local government and accredited by the DOT to guide  The Capitol
tourists, both foreign and domestic, for a fee commission, or any other form of lawful
remuneration. (Tour guide code of 1987 promulgated by the DOT). Driver-Guides

Types of Guide Conduct tours driving motor coaches, vans, or cars.

Urban Guides Illegal in some countries: Austria and Cyprus

Those who take pleasure in telling the story of a city or region. Most of them are in Walking Tours. Do not prohibit: United States and Canada
There are several urban guides who are experts in their fields such as architects, historians, dancers,
storytellers, archivists, artisans and naturalists. Legal & with Standards: Israel

Travelers are frequently searching for things that are unique to a place and experiences that dig deeper Business or Industry Guides
into the heritage, personalities, neighborhoods and lifestyles of a region. This trend becomes beneficial
to tourism in promoting community pride and goodwill. Several corporations, large or small, hire guides to conduct tours of their facilities to educate visitors,
promote their business or industry and uplift the image of their company.
 Intramuros in Manila
 Millionaire’s Row in New York  Explain the company philosophy or mission.
 William Clark Mansion  Knowledgeable about the technicalities of the operations of the business.
 Mrs William Astor House  Trained in presentation skills or sales techniques.
- Affectionately known as the Petit Chateau, the William K. Vanderbilt House was a  Intend to educate the public and create good image about the business.
Chateauesque mansion at 66o Fifth Avenue closer to the start of Millionaires Row.
- In 1882, William Henry Vanderbilt, the eldest son of Cornelius Vanderbilt, bought an entire Adventure Guides
block between 51st and 52nd streets where he built the “triple Palaces”
- The Cornelius Vanderbilt ll Mansion on 57th Street and 5th Avenue now demolished The dynamic, emerging field of adventure travel demands a growing number of guides with varied and
 Connemara & Galway Bay, Ireland special skills. They develop serious devotion to a sport or activity. Most concern is about the safety
 Kenya, East Africa and liability.
 Kyoto, Japan
Tour Managers Lesson 2.1

Is one who administers and regulates a tour. Responsible for smooth operation of the group tour. They Classifications of Travelers
are knowledgeable and experienced enough to adequately function as both a tour manager and a guide.
Explorer - these are participant-observers who travel alone or in very small groups.
Interpreters/ Escort Interpreters
Elite Travelers - they can afford to spend much to have unusual travel experiences.
“Translator of foreign languages “and one “who communicates by sign languages”.
Off-beat tourists - they can travel alone or in very small number. They avoid crowds, other tourists,
2 General Characteristics of an Interpreter: and typical sight-seeing. They adapt well to local lifestyles and amenities and pose few problems to
local residents.
1. Based on-site and offers first hand experiences with that site or with subject matter and real
objects found at the site. Unusual tourists - they demand more amenities and also look for unusual, adventurous or primitive
2. Serves voluntarily the non-captive guests who are in a leisure frame of mind and also participates experiences.
an enjoyable experience.
Incipient mass tourists - they represent business and vacation travelers. They usually travel
Escort Interpreters: individually or in small groups and demand Western-style

Accompanies foreign visitors who are officially invited by the government. Well-educated linguist Mass Tourists - they are large groups of middle-class travelers who visit popular sites and also demand
who travels with visitors throughout the country. Its duty is to make sure that the visitors receive the Western-style amenities.
accommodation, transportation, meals and events as promised.
Charter tourists - they arrive in large groups, generating a large volume of business but often
 City or Town demanding impersonal and standardized services. The impact of on the local region is great.
 Visitor centers
 Museum Types of Traveler
 Historic houses
 Churches  Student Groups
 Business Travelers
Docents or Volunteer Guides  Incentive Travelers
 Family Travelers
Volunteering only his/her time. They also undergo trainings that feature curators, artists, and well-  Senior Citizens
known experts in a field.  Clubs or Affinity Groups
 Public Tour Groups
Tour Guide: Licensing and Certification For Renewal
Documentary Requirements  Proof of undergoing a continuing education training/seminar
 Occupational Permit - Minimum of 40 hours
 Proof of undergoing DOT Training/Seminar - Conducted by DOT or DOT-accredited training centers/ recognized associations, in which case,
program or topic must be approved by DOT
 Valid Health Certificate
 NBI Clearance
Tour Guide Levels
 For Senior Citizens, Health Certificate only
The level category shall serve as an indicator of the guide's expertise in the industry which can be
 Proof of passing training/seminar corresponding to the desired Tour Guide classification determined after due evaluation of his/her skill and professional credentials
- Training/seminar must be conducted by DOT or DOT accredited training center with
program/topic of seminar duly approved by DOT
Junior Guide
 Valid Health certificate with drug tests results
- Neuro or Psychlatric Exam prior to Basic Tour Guiding Seminar
 Entry level and shall be attained upon compliance with DOT's basic accreditation requirements.
 NBI Clearance for Regional and Specialist Guides; Barangay Clearance for Local Guides
- For Senior Citizens, Health Certificate only
Senior Guide
Basic Qualifications
The second level and shall be attained upon compliance with the following:
 Filipino resident or permanent resident foreign national
 6 years continuous guiding experience as DOT-accredited tour guide
 Minimum of 18 years old
 Commendation from travel and tour agencies/tourism related associations/enterprises excluding
 Physically and mentally fit tour guide associations
 Not have been convicted with finality of any crime by a court of justice or dismissed for a cause  At least 1 foreign language other than English
by any organization, whether public or private
Master Guide
Educational Background
The highest level and shall be awarded to a tour guide who passed the following criteria:
 Regional Guide - at least 2nd year college or two-year vocational course
 Specialist Guide - at least 2nd year college or two-year vocational course  10 years continuous guiding experience as DOT-accredited tour guide
 Local Guide - at least Elementary  Has achieved credibility and track record in tour guiding
 Has extensive knowledge in area of guiding and field of specialization
Language Proficiency
 Has consistently displayed excellence in field of expertise, earning distinction and making an
impact on clients
 Regional Guide - Proficient in English
 Has broad acceptance through either local/international commendation/recognition from tourism-
 Specialist Guide - Proficient in English related associations and respect from peers in the field of expertise
 Local Guide - Conversant in English
Tour Guides Classification Speaking Skills of Tour Guides

Regional Guide - guides within a specific region, province or city (e.g. Region III, Pampanga or 1. Body Language
Angeles City)
 Posture (shows self-esteem)
Local Guide - guides within a specific site, attraction or community (e.g. Mt. Pinatubo)  Body Movement and Gestures (strong communication tools)
 Eye Contact (most important speaking techniques)
Specialist Guide - possess special skills and technical knowledge for specific activities and/or interest
in any part of the Philippines (e.g. caving guides, mountain guides) 2. The Voice

Salary Rate per Day Philippines): 800/Day  Pitch (low or high quality of the voice)
 Resonance (resounding quality of the voice)
The 5 Roles of Tour Guides  Volume

 The Leader 3. Characteristics of Vocal Style/ Vocal Variety

 The Educator
 The Public relations representative  Intonation (melody of the speech)
 The Host  Articulation (process of producing clear and distinct sounds)
 The Conduit (connection)  Vocabulary
 Pronunciation
Qualities of an Ideal Tour Guide
10 Tips for Tour Script Writing and Becoming a Better Guide
 Enthusiasm
 An outgoing and approachable nature Tip #1: Focus on Story, Not Facts and Figures
 Self-Confidence
 A proactive nature When writing your script, it’s hard to avoid facts and figures. The problem is too many facts, and
 Sensitivity figures bore people.
 Flexibility
 Authenticity Tip #2: Make People Feel Good
 Pleasant, Professional Appearance
 Sense of Humor  Really good stories are the best way to engage, educate and entertain an audience.Famed author
 Knowledge Studs Terkel said “People are hungry for stories. It’s part of our very being.”
 Good communication skills  Stories have the power to inspire. If you want to connect with your listeners, appeal to their
 Organization emotions. Write for head and heart for more memorable stories.
 Decisiveness
 Good health
 Personal Integrity
 Charisma
Tip #3: Pick a Theme

A story without a theme is nothing more than a list of events. Finding a theme for your tour may seem Tip #9: Get Personal
awkward at first, but it’s essential for storytelling. A theme gives purpose to your stories. Themes such
as Love, betrayal, chaos and order, empowerment, good versus evil, tradition, progress, discovery, and Strive to connect with your audience in the same way by having a genuine interest in the relationship
rebirth (to name a few) all lead to more human experiences. you’re creating between narrator and listener. Great narrators share your stories like a great
conversation with a friend.
Tip #4: Make People Care
Tip #10: Think Like a Sound Designer
You may be in the sightseeing business, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make people care about your
destination and its stories. So what do your customers’ expect from your tours? The only way to know When writing your script for professional narration and sound design, think about what sounds will
is by talking with them. support your narrative?

Tip #5: Write Short Stories

If your stories go on too long, visitors will tune out. Start strong and keep your stories short. A good
rule of thumb is to write each story for 90 seconds or less. There are exceptions to the rule, but longer
stories mean keeping the quality of experience and emotional engagement high.

Tip #6: Work at Tour Script Writing

The process of writing a great script includes rewriting and editing (and editing). Start by getting your
ideas on the page. Since your first draft usually isn’t very good, rewriting gives you the opportunity to
make all the changes you need. Pull apart the stories you like by asking yourself if your audience will
appreciate them?

Tip #7: Make a Point

 Find your point. There needs to be a reason for storytelling. When you don’t make a point, your
stories are less engaging.
 What’s your Why?

Tip #8: Use Small Words

When writing a tour script, the KISS principle applies. Write clear and simple. Don’t use big words
like pontificate or conviviality. Use words that are easily understood by your audience. Remember,
your guests don’t have time to reference a dictionary or thesaurus. They want to escape, explore, have
fun and learn something new.
Lesson 2.2
History of Tour Guiding  Casson, the historian, said that guide paid a large fee as they are not just led the way but generated
safety to the travelers.
 Ancient Times
 Dark-Middle Ages Renaissance and the Grand Tour
 Renaissance Period
 Modern Ages  Renaissance, improved the image of tour guides.
 Upper class young men-traveled Britain; Educational and Cultural reasons
Guiding is one of the oldest professions of the world. There are plenty of specific references to guides  Route: England through France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland to Italy.
in the annals of history, from the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages, throughout the Renaissance and  Grand tourist expectations:
into the modern age. - Broadened mind
- Good command of foreign languages
The Ancient Empire - Self-reliance
- Highly developed taste
 Great Empire-3,000 BC-500 AD (generated travel) - Persians, Assyrians, Egyptians-slow and - Graceful manner
dangerous- by land and sea.
 Herodotus- first travel writer- his history contains many references to guides; it was also believed Type of Guide: Personal tutor, “bear leader”, “antiquarrii”, “cicerone”: articulate, multilingual, and
that guides and their work are both useful and essential. well-versed in my subjects.
 Ancient Rome-travelers increased sight-seeing proliferated
 Ilium, the country of homer had a thriving tourist business which featured many guides who Grand Tour Guides and Tutors: Clergy, students, teachers, writers and historians; this brings
pointed every significant place or feature mentioned in Iliad. Showed: competition as the parents depended to a large extent on the boy’s traveling tutor.
- Seashore- Greek ships pulled up
- The plain- battles Vicesimus Knox, education expert
- Trojan War site which they regarded as the “piece de resistance”
Ideal Tutor: Grave, respectable man of mature age who would watch over the morals and religion of
Greek Empire-tourism flourished;impetus to pleasure travel; festivals and shows- Olympic Games(776 his pupil.
BC)
In demand: Safety and Protection from robbers and rogues
 Number of guides increased
 Guides “periegetai” or leaders around or “exegetai” or explainer. 17th-19th century: hired “Vetturino” able to to fend off highway robbers to ensure the safeconduct of
 “proxemos” whose function was to help fellow citizens in traveling abroad. the tourists. “Vettura” ad river of the Italian four- wheel carriages.

The Middle Ages (period between the fall of Rome and Renaissance) 1500 AD and 1508 AD Modern Age

 Decline of Trade and the Economy in general and decrease in the desire to travel 17th- 19th Centuries: Explorer rather than pleasure traveler
 Most prevalent type of journey: Religious pilgrimage, Holidays (Canterburry, Winchester,
Walsingham) for upper & middle classes. First travelers were ordinary often indigent explorers who traveled a lot to find a new way of life.
 Encounters with robbers along the way; Afraid to travel alone.
 Guide roles: Pathfinders, Proetectors, Safety escorts and even bridges to ensure safe passage.
3 well known European writers New World 19th century:
 Charles Dickens
 Francis Trollope
 Alexis de Tocqueville
 They traveled widely and write comprehensive accounts of their travels.
The Tour Guides in Europe
 Thomas Cook Travel Agency: give company trainings
 England: one of the first countries to regulate and train guides.
 Training courses (1936-1939) London Country Council and Regent St. Polytechnic
 European guides: most advance training, highest guiding standards in the world.
 Israel: world’s best trained, most highly respected, best paid guides.
 AFTER WWII: redevelopment occurred
 Travelers visited Europe.
 London Country Council reestablished training program at Regent St. Polytechnic (1949)
 Tourist Authority (1951) an official status for “Approved guides” with badge and certificate.
Tour Guiding as a Respected Profession
History shows the value most visitors place upon travel and effective guiding. Yet, in spite of adequate
understanding of the need for standardization and training, and the great efforts being made to achieve
these goals, there is still much to be done to make guiding a respected profession.
Lesson 3.1
Itinerary Planning
 An itinerary is a plan of a journey showing the route and the places that the visitor will visit. Thus,
it is a schedule or timetable produced in association with a package tour. It is basically designed to
identify the route, day-by-day journey format, origin, destination, and all the reroute halting
points, period of halts along with accommodation, mode of travel, activities and other services
offered during a visitor’s tour.
 Tourists’ itinerary Tourists’ itinerary is given to a particular tourist for his reference as part of the
package tour.
Steps in Developing/Planning a Tour Itinerary
Step 1 – Research other tours in the market place
Careful planning is required when developing an itinerary for your tour. A helpful exercise is to take a
tour which will be similar to the tour you wish to develop and obtain copies of other tour brochures for
comparison. This will help you develop ideas for your tour, give you an idea of what is already in the
market, give you detailed information on terms and conditions and provide possible ideas for brochure
design and its content.
Step 2 – Name your tour:
Step 3 – Map out the duration, frequency and departure point of your tour
When will your tour depart? ................ am/pm
When will your tour return? ................ am/pm
How often will your tour operate? ................ per/wk
Where will the central departure point be? ................
Will you offer accommodation pick up? Yes No
Step 4 – List the major locations and highlights of your tour
Where will your tour travel to?
What are the main highlights that visitors are going to experience?
Step 5 – Research your tour content and commentary
List the main topics you wish to include in your commentary, such as flora, fauna, history, culture, as
well as the main points to consider with each of these topics and the resources you will use to find the
information.
Step 6 – List any third party activities, attractions, entrance fees and inclusions
List any activities offered by other companies or entrance fees and determine if they will be included
in your tour price or offered as extras. For example cruises, bike rides, entry into national parks, caves
etc...
Step 7 – Obtain permission to access private and public properties
 Whether you are passing through, stopping for meals or visiting attractions, it is imperative that
you obtain permission in writing from the property owner prior to accessing any private property.
If travelling through property managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation, you
will need to apply for a Commercial Operator’s License.
 If your itinerary includes entering Aboriginal Land, restricted area you will be required to apply
for Entry Permits for which you will need to gain access approval.
Step 8 - Perfecting your tour timing
It is crucially important to map out your tour itinerary accurately to ensure that you arrive on time for
activity and meal stops and return to your original destination at a reasonable time.
Step 9 – Test driving your tour itinerary
It is very important to do several ‘try runs’ of your tour itinerary to ensure you get the timing right. It is
also a good idea to invite people who have some knowledge of the industry and are prepared to give
you constructive comments, to do a tour.
Conducting Tours
1. Pre-tour Planning
 They must develop an itinerary and price structure based on the number of participants, group
interest and availability. In addition, the tour planner must contact, negotiate, and make bookings
with hotels, restaurants and attractions included in the tour. Policies with regard to the booking of
guides vary depending upon the region, the company and the nature of tour.
 As early as possible, guides should obtain as much information about the group as is available.
Such information includes where they live, their approximate ages and their affinity. At the time
of booking, guides should know the payments and expenses covered for the tour and request both
company’s itinerary for the guide and literature about the tour that the travelers receive.
 One of the most overlooked aspects of a guide’s work is the briefing period required before a tour.
 Upon receiving an itinerary, guides should read it, visualize the actual operation of the tour, and
check inconsistencies in the literature as well as the timing in travel, dining and sightseeing.
2. Paperwork
 Before the tour, the guide receives paperwork from the tour operator.
 For short tour, 2 days- 1 week before the start of the tour.
 For long tour, 1-2 weeks prior to the tour.
 Paperwork lists:
- Passenger lists
- Detailed itinerary
- Confirmation letters from restaurants, hotels and attractions on the tour
- Checks/ Vouchers for payments
- Accounting sheets for expenses
- Telephone/ Cell phone numbers for vendors and tour operator rep.
- Rooming lists
- Luggage tags
- Forms for documenting emergencies or problems
- Evaluation forms
3. On The Day Of Tour
Arriving at the Tour Site - guides should arrive at the tour site at least 20 mins. Before the start of the
tour.
Meeting the Group - first impressions are lasting.
Check-in and Checking-out in Hotels - guides who conduct tours for more than a day are usually Lesson 3.2
responsible for checking groups in and out of hotels.
Major Trends in the Twenty-First Century
Visiting attractions and Restaurants - group can enter together in a building, park or any sites.
The following are the general trends that will most likely affect the guiding profession:
Changing Itineraries - it may be altered because of unavoidable events.
1. An aging population. This one of the most certain and most dramatic current trends. The average
Evening Activities - time to socialize and enjoyment without the guide. aging person is educated, has a lot of money and leisure time.
2. Labor Shortage. The decline in the skilled labor force is one of the most critical issues of the next
Modes of Transportation decade. The implication for the travel industry, as in many industries, is that there will be a much
smaller pool of workers from which to choose.
Walking Tours - enable people to use all their senses and give them opportunities for close contact. 3. Changes in Work Style. More and more people choose the less restrictive work schedules. Such
trends as early retirement, flex-time and part-time are becoming common.
Motor Coach Tours - it is the most economical and the most efficient since 45 people can be 4. Growth in the Use of Technological Tools. High technology has an impact on practically every
accommodated. industry and individual.
5. Increase in Multicultural Societies. Since individuals of different cultures interact, learn more
Van and Automobile Tours - family tours and small group tours with less than 10 participants are about each other and even adopt each other’s customs, guides and other travel industry.
becoming very popular nowadays. 6. A desire for Authentic Experiences. Today’s travelers prefer a deeper, more personal way of
understanding another region or culture.
Limousine Tours - it provides efficiency and convenience especially in urban areas.
Trends within the Travel Industry
Types of Tours
 Growth of Travel in general
Familiarization Tours - promotional programs intended to inform clients of the available services and  Growth of interest in rural and previously undiscovered areas.
facilities in the area by offering first hand experience of the area on a group tour.  Growth in travel among those previously unable
 Travelers staying longer in fewer destinations
Incentive Tours - these have become a lucrative market in the travel business. Since the aim of  Travelers taking more but shorter trips
incentive travel is to reward the participants, the emphasis is no longer on sightseeing but on parties,  Growing demand for professionalism among practitioners in the Travel industry.
special events, and unstructured activities.
Trends within the Guiding Profession
Meeting and Convention Tours - these are classified into two categories: pre and post meeting tours
and brief tours. These tours are provided as options for the delegates and their guests.  Growth in the exposure and popularity of guiding
 Growth of guide guilds and associations
Step-on Tours - tours in which a guide conducts only a small portion of a larger tour. They give  Greater emphasis on education
commentary only during their stay in a particular place usually expected to be general overviews of a  Increased interest in certification
place.  More Connection
 Growing tendency toward specialization
Public Tours - tours that are open to the public. It often attract individuals who do not know each
other or have particular affinity with each other.