This document provides information on tour guiding techniques and methodology. It defines tourists and the basic factors for a successful tourist destination, including attractions, amenities, accessibility, and peace/order. Characteristics of tourism are outlined, such as the product not being used up. The nature of tour reception/guiding and duties/responsibilities of guides are described, including ensuring safety, honesty, and protecting the tourism reputation. Communication skills, guiding techniques, and the qualities of effective guides are also discussed. The methodology section covers researching skills and conducting mock and actual tours to develop tour guiding competencies.

1. Tour GuidingTour Guiding
TechniquesTechniques
Content and MethodologyContent and Methodology

2. TouristsTourists
 People who leave their homes to temporarilyPeople who leave their homes to temporarily
visit a placevisit a place
 They should be spending and not earningThey should be spending and not earning
money from the place they visitmoney from the place they visit
 Reasons can be pleasure, meetings orReasons can be pleasure, meetings or
seminarsseminars
 With the intention of learning something aboutWith the intention of learning something about
the place like its history, people, culturethe place like its history, people, culture

3. Basic factors for aBasic factors for a
successful touristsuccessful tourist
destinationdestination
 Attractions which can be site itself or anAttractions which can be site itself or an
eventevent
 Amenities or facilities likeAmenities or facilities like
accommodation, food, local,accommodation, food, local,
transportation, communication andtransportation, communication and
entertainment at the siteentertainment at the site
 AccessibilityAccessibility
 Peace and orderPeace and order

4. Characteristics ofCharacteristics of
TourismTourism
 Product is not brought to the consumer;Product is not brought to the consumer;
 The tourism product is not used up, it doesn’tThe tourism product is not used up, it doesn’t
exhaust the country’s natural resources;exhaust the country’s natural resources;
 People-oriented;People-oriented;
 Labor-intensive;Labor-intensive;
 Multi-dimensional;Multi-dimensional;
 Seasonal;Seasonal;
 Dynamic;Dynamic;
 Characterized by the changing ideas of itsCharacterized by the changing ideas of its
customers.customers.

5. Nature of TourNature of Tour
Reception & GuidingReception & Guiding
 First impression of tourists play a veryFirst impression of tourists play a very
important roleimportant role
 Receiving tourists is just like receivingReceiving tourists is just like receiving
guests in your homeguests in your home
 Show the best without boasting orShow the best without boasting or
overdoingoverdoing
 Guiding is not simply telling them “to yourGuiding is not simply telling them “to your
left, to your left”, there’s a lot more into it.left, to your left”, there’s a lot more into it.

6. Duties andDuties and
ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities
 Provide them information and explanationsProvide them information and explanations
about the place honestly without prejudice;about the place honestly without prejudice;
 Ensure a factual presentation, make sure toEnsure a factual presentation, make sure to
distinguish the truth stories, legends, traditions;distinguish the truth stories, legends, traditions;
 Act fairly and reasonably in all dealings withAct fairly and reasonably in all dealings with
colleagues and co-workers;colleagues and co-workers;
 Always act with tact and diplomacy in dealingAlways act with tact and diplomacy in dealing
with the guestswith the guests

7.  Always report for duty healthy and positiveAlways report for duty healthy and positive
 Never take advantage of the ignorance of theNever take advantage of the ignorance of the
touriststourists
 Never allow yourself to be used byNever allow yourself to be used by
unscrupulous organizations who want to takeunscrupulous organizations who want to take
advantage of the touristsadvantage of the tourists
 Use common sense and be honest by saying “Use common sense and be honest by saying “
I don’t know,…I will check,..”I don’t know,…I will check,..”

8.  Ensure guest’s safety, warn them on:Ensure guest’s safety, warn them on:
 Plants that might cause some allergiesPlants that might cause some allergies
 Food and drinks that might not suit theirFood and drinks that might not suit their
digestive systemdigestive system
 Elevation for those with vertigo and fear ofElevation for those with vertigo and fear of
heightheight
 Dogs that might biteDogs that might bite
 Presence of pickpockets in crowded areasPresence of pickpockets in crowded areas

9.  Protect the reputation of tourism byProtect the reputation of tourism by
making every assignment a treat, withmaking every assignment a treat, with
respect to the environment, wildlife,respect to the environment, wildlife,
sights & monuments, local customs &sights & monuments, local customs &
traditionstraditions
 Act responsibly as representative of theAct responsibly as representative of the
country and the peoplecountry and the people

10. Communication SkillsCommunication Skills
 Language proficiencyLanguage proficiency
 Avoid using highfalutin words, useAvoid using highfalutin words, use
simple, easy to understand wordssimple, easy to understand words
 Try to get rid of regional accentTry to get rid of regional accent
 Use synonyms to explain, to describeUse synonyms to explain, to describe
somethingsomething
 Use non-verbal communication in aUse non-verbal communication in a
difficult thing or situationdifficult thing or situation

11.  Speak audibly, not too soft and not tooSpeak audibly, not too soft and not too
loudloud
 Conduct your commentary in a relaxed,Conduct your commentary in a relaxed,
entertaining manner (they came here toentertaining manner (they came here to
enjoy, remember)enjoy, remember)

12. Guiding TechniquesGuiding Techniques
 Be prepared, study the destinationBe prepared, study the destination
 Plan your spiel or commentary, it should bePlan your spiel or commentary, it should be
structuredstructured
 Have an update on the local and global newsHave an update on the local and global news
and environmental issuesand environmental issues
 Intercede when necessary in the interactionIntercede when necessary in the interaction
with the guest and the localswith the guest and the locals
 Be aware on the basic human behavior andBe aware on the basic human behavior and
attitudesattitudes

13.  Do not research to back up your factsDo not research to back up your facts
 Be ready for pertinent and impertinentBe ready for pertinent and impertinent
questionsquestions
 In cases of having more than one guide, findIn cases of having more than one guide, find
some time to sit down, discuss to synchronizesome time to sit down, discuss to synchronize
information & learn from each otherinformation & learn from each other
 Never tell your personal life at first meetingNever tell your personal life at first meeting

14.  Never sell anything at first meetingNever sell anything at first meeting
unless they askunless they ask
 Be punctual at all times. Be there at leastBe punctual at all times. Be there at least
one hour before the tour startsone hour before the tour starts
 Learn map readingLearn map reading
 Learn how to say NO to indecentLearn how to say NO to indecent
proposalsproposals

15.  Always make a head count before,Always make a head count before,
during and after the tour, especially onduring and after the tour, especially on
stopsstops
 Be practical when making judgment,Be practical when making judgment,
think if the benefit of the majoritythink if the benefit of the majority
 Be a good decision makerBe a good decision maker
 Learn basic first aidLearn basic first aid

16. Qualities of anQualities of an
effective Tour Guideeffective Tour Guide
 Love of countryLove of country
 People-lovingPeople-loving
 Open-mindednessOpen-mindedness
 TactfulnessTactfulness
 PunctualityPunctuality
 Proper decorumProper decorum
 HonestyHonesty
 resourcefulnessresourcefulness

17.  Self- confidenceSelf- confidence
 Sense of humorSense of humor
 EnthusiasmEnthusiasm
 Fairness in treatmentFairness in treatment
 Good healthGood health
 Good communicatorGood communicator
 PatiencePatience
 ReasonableReasonable
 AssertivenessAssertiveness
 Humble and politeHumble and polite

18. Steps on how to makeSteps on how to make
a commentarya commentary
 Begin with a smile, greeting andBegin with a smile, greeting and
introductionintroduction
 Brief the guests about the tour for theBrief the guests about the tour for the
dayday
 Review the inclusions and exclusions ofReview the inclusions and exclusions of
the tourthe tour
 Give the distance and traveling time ofGive the distance and traveling time of
the destinationthe destination

19.  What to expect from the tourWhat to expect from the tour
 Give necessary precautionsGive necessary precautions
 Do not miss to point important landmarksDo not miss to point important landmarks
along the wayalong the way
 Announce comfort stopsAnnounce comfort stops
 Always do the head countAlways do the head count

20. Tips for an effectiveTips for an effective
tour commentarytour commentary
 Start with a greeting or introductionStart with a greeting or introduction
 Information should be delivered in aInformation should be delivered in a
manner that would interest the guestsmanner that would interest the guests
 Sense of humor should be part of theSense of humor should be part of the
delivery of informationdelivery of information
 Remember, commentaries help peopleRemember, commentaries help people
understand and appreciate what theyunderstand and appreciate what they
actually seeactually see

21.  Face the group, not a fewFace the group, not a few
 Speak slowly and clearlySpeak slowly and clearly
 Voice should be audibleVoice should be audible
 Practice eye contactPractice eye contact
 Prepare yourself for questions to bePrepare yourself for questions to be
askedasked
 Take control of your breathing andTake control of your breathing and
emphasize important wordsemphasize important words

22.  Use synonyms, example in explainingUse synonyms, example in explaining
somethingsomething
 When mentioning a name, repeat it or spell itWhen mentioning a name, repeat it or spell it
 Maintain silence, if the need arisesMaintain silence, if the need arises
 Listen carefully to questions and otherListen carefully to questions and other
concernsconcerns
 Never argue with the guestsNever argue with the guests
 End your tour always by thanking the guestsEnd your tour always by thanking the guests

23. MethodologyMethodology
 Discuss the Tour guide PersonalityDiscuss the Tour guide Personality
 Kinds of tour guidesKinds of tour guides
 Types of tour guidesTypes of tour guides
 Scope and responsibilitiesScope and responsibilities
 Rewards of the professionRewards of the profession

24.  Research SkillsResearch Skills
 Domestic tourismDomestic tourism
 Natural and man-made attractionsNatural and man-made attractions
 Historical sitesHistorical sites
 Events, fiestasEvents, fiestas
 National, local and regional boundariesNational, local and regional boundaries
 Geography and topographyGeography and topography

25.  Communication SkillsCommunication Skills
 ReadingReading
 Thinking and writingThinking and writing
 Delivery of commentaryDelivery of commentary
 Verbal and non- verbalVerbal and non- verbal

26.  Mock tourMock tour
 Inside the classroomInside the classroom
 Individual commentary-makingIndividual commentary-making
 Delivery of commentaryDelivery of commentary

27.  Actual tour to a destinationActual tour to a destination
 Observation from a licensed, professionalObservation from a licensed, professional
tour guide how to conduct a tourtour guide how to conduct a tour
 Critiquing based on tour guiding principlesCritiquing based on tour guiding principles
and techniquesand techniques

28.  Tour to a destination with a prepared,Tour to a destination with a prepared,
memorized spiel or commentary on a chosenmemorized spiel or commentary on a chosen
tourist attraction ( on the bus)tourist attraction ( on the bus)
 Invite resource speaker, tour guide forInvite resource speaker, tour guide for
additional hands-on lecture/presentationadditional hands-on lecture/presentation
 Mock and actual tour is required to completeMock and actual tour is required to complete
the competencies of a tour guidethe competencies of a tour guide

29. THE ENDTHE END