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How To Design A Tourist Route and A Guiding Script
How To Design A Tourist Route and A Guiding Script
guiding script
Table of contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3
Hello again, dear apprentices, we are happy to see you again. On this learning
material you are going to learn how to create a tour script, depending on the
destination, the type of tour you will conduct and the tourist services you want to
offer. The more details you can tell the tourists in advance about your tour and
services, you will have more control of the situation and you will be able to
coordinate your team for a better service.
In this English module, we are going to focus in how to communicate the information
you gathered about each cultural or natural destination. You are going to learn about
heritage interpretation, interpretation skills, how to design a cultural and natural tour
route and strategies of storytelling. The goal is to show relevant data but without
telling the visitor excessive information that tires him or her or blocks the adequate
processing of it. Therefore, there is a pedagogical element in the informative process
of the tour guide that must generate knowledge, which implies the inclusion of
spaces for reflection and reasoning on the message provided.
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Concept map
On the concept map that is shared below, the thematic interaction is well evidenced
and the content is present in this training material.
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1. Let’s listen
Fuente: SENA
Ana: This island is so fun! These monkeys are friendly and they like to play a lot.
Pedro: Animals are so intelligent! There are always nice stories about them to
explain to tourists. By the way, I remember there’s a myth about the ancestral snake
from the people of the amazon.
Ana: The huitoto indigenous tribe say the Amazon river was born because of the
ancestral snake, that carried the people from the jungle on its belly.
Pedro: Ana, you should tell the story to our group. I can see you know that story
very well.
Ana: Actually, I know the story, but I don’t know, sometimes I feel nervous and forget
parts of the story. Let me prepare it and I will tell the story later.
Pedro: Then, let’s practice a little bit until the story sounds good. In fact, there must
be some strategies for storytelling. And first, let’s see what is a cultural script, the
ground of telling good stories.
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What is a cultural script?
To interpret a tourist cultural script, two key elements must be taken into account:
Information and communication. The tour guide should collect and select information
of the chosen heritage place, and from it, must prepare a dissertation to talk about
during the visit.
The purpose of gathering information is not to show only data; nor is it to saturate the
visitor with excessive information that tires him or her of or impedes an adequate
processing of it. The tour guide must leave a space for thinking about the received
information.
In order to develop a well thought-out, thematic tour, the territory and tourism objects
have to be studied first to make it an excellent service that does not suggest
improvisation even if it has been successful before. By developing a good tour route,
we avoid getting lost since it is marked in the map and nature. The route developer
will have to go and explore everything while planning and developing the route.
Exploring the territory, it is advisable to mark potential objects in the plan and also
distances from one object to another.
The tour route is planned, purposeful routing of the group along prescribed itinerary
from object to object accompanied by the guide. Making a tour along the nearest
neighborhood and its famous objects the guide or the host can freely pick the route
where to guide his guests and improvise each time again. But in this case, the guide
or the host should consider that it will not be possible to tell the length of the route,
duration in advance, nor to choose the best order to show the objects. Therefore, it is
advisable to develop the tour route in advance. The practice of the tour developers
shows that making the itinerary some conditions should be considered, for example:
Objects included in the route should be seen in logical order in accordance to the
tour theme. The itinerary should be developed so that one and the same itinerary
section should not be covered two or more times. The number of objects to visit
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should be chosen according to the tour length, separating the main objects and
additional objects. The main objects during the tour that are seen have more
extended description or are analyzed deeper. During development of bigger, longer
tours some extra themes are made for the main objects.
If it is a tour by some means of transport, then the parking lots should be assessed-
where and what kind are available. Sometimes it is good to develop variations of one
itinerary if in some cases (for example, traffic jams, wet, flooded meadows, slippery
hillsides during the rain) it is not possible to carry them out.
Developing the tour route, one can stick by one itinerary development principles:
• Chronological principle.
• Topical principle.
• Thematically-chronological principle.
Indefinite pronouns
Nicole traveled to Madrid last summer. Read the following text to know some details
about her journey.
Fuente: SENA
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Somewhere in Madrid
Last summer I traveled to Madrid. I had an international conference there.
Note: We use indefinite pronouns to refer to people, things or places without saying
exactly who or what they are.
Examples:
• When I arrived to the airport there was nobody waiting for me.
• Every day I had to walk around the hotel to find somewhere to eat.
Indefinite pronouns can be used to refer to things, places or people. Please, look at
the following chart:
Fuente: SENA
Examples:
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Now, let’s have a look at how to use the indefinite pronouns.
Examples:
We use anything, anybody, anywhere, etc., with negative verb. Read the box to find
out about their use.
Correct Incorrect
Fuente: SENA
Examples:
Nobody.
Nowhere.
We use nobody, nothing, nowhere, etc., in affirmative sentences. Read the box to
find out about their use.
Correct Incorrect
Did you hear any news? Did you hear any news?
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I met nobody / no one. I met anyone.
Fuente: SENA
Pedro: Now that you have learned the basics, it's time to put it into practice!
Fuente: SENA
A. Nobody.
B. Anybody.
C. Somebody.
A. onething.
B. something.
C. nothing.
A. anything.
B. nothing.
C. everything.
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4. How was your last weekend?
A. Everything.
B. Nothing.
C. Something.
No, why?
A. nowhere.
B. somewhere.
C. anywhere.
2. Let’s write
Fuente: SENA
Pedro: Guiding a tour is like performing a movie script. So, in a certain way, we’re
actors of our own movie.
Ana: The information we have to tell to our tourists must be well prepared. We have
to select the most relevant details of the destination we chose.
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Pedro: Days before we went to the library to select those important facts, and it
looks like we have to it during the rest of our career. We, as tour guides, are writers
and actors. First, we have to write a tour script, study the information, and give life to
the script when we talk.
Ana: It’s better not to say too much, sometimes tourists like to enjoy the solitude and
silence. So the stories we tell them must be short, deep and very descriptive.
The tour narration
Since tourists should be provided with tour information that is proved and evaluated,
the tour narration (text) must contain elements that are informative and extended
about the main tour topic and objects. A good tour narration enlightens the guide’s
work and makes tourists get more involved in the tour as they learn and enjoy along
the way.
Forming the tour narration
During any tour the guide can do without special previously summarized and written
text. But tourists often are interested in various facts and events therefore a good
guide will try to find out as much as possible about the tour objects, activities, and
places. It is impossible to remember everything and keep in mind. Therefore, it is
necessary to obtain information, gather it, and present it as logically as possible and
in an attractive way for listeners.
As it was already mentioned, well recorded tour (with the route drawn in the map or
plan, gathered main and additional themes, registration of the main objects and their
description, written narration text or its summary), is easy to use for several guides.
This material can be used if it is necessary to brighten up the tour, improve it,
develop new or combine one tour from several tours.
Professional tour organizers and accomplishers advise to integrate a tour plan at first
or its brief summary. When the plan or summary is integrated, it is easier to form the
tour text (narration). The methods are emphasized in the tour plan, and they show
how to carry out the tour in order to reach the targets that have been set.
Preparation of additional informative and illustrative material
During the tour skillful and experienced guides can get along without any additional
materials. However, the guide practice and the tourist behavior show that usage of
different additional visual aids freshens up the tour, activates attention, and helps to
grasp and comprehend easier what is shown and narrated.
Additional (auxiliary) materials are necessary to supplement the tourist conception
with information about particular activities, objects, and people. They are used to
give an idea, for example, of what this object was like some time ago, or show,
describe lost or destroyed elements of the objects or its components. Different visual
aids can give more perfect concept of history activities and people. Those also can
be materials about future intentions that are prescribed to create in some places, for
example, to demonstrate new buildings, bridges, territory improvement projects and
so on. In nature tours one can use auxiliary materials to show what plant or animal
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are in another season, for example, show blooming plants, demonstrate their berries
or fruit. The guide can show birds and animals that are not seen, play their voice.
There are different types of additional materials – photos, maps, plans, drawings and
copies, copies of documents, audio and video recordings, also small items. When
using additional materials the guide should make sure they are directly linked to the
tour objects. One should remember they should be in appropriate size and design
(for example, photos so big that the tourists can see them easily). Also, one should
consider and check the number of these materials and whether they are impressive
enough.
Materials prepared like this are also called a “briefcase” of the tour guide. This title
has derived from the fact that the guide carries these materials in his case or small
bag.
How to use reflexive pronouns
An emergency can be avoided if we think about safety. Read the following article
“Keeping children safe at home”.
Fuente: SENA
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Put sharp objects out of children’s reach. They could cut themselves.
Never let children play with lighters or matches. They can burn themselves.
Store chemicals and cleaning products away from children, they can poison
themselves.
Cover plugs when they are not in use. Children could give themselves an
electrical shock.
Fuente: SENA
We can see in the examples the reflexive pronoun themselves. In these first
examples, reflexive pronouns are used to show that the person doing the action and
the person receiving the action are the same. As you can see, reflexive pronouns go
after the main verb in the sentence:
Fuente: SENA
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They are taking pictures of themselves. He is a big boy. He dresses himself.
Fuente: SENA
Pedro: Now that you have learned the basics, it's time to put it into practice!
Fuente: SENA
Complete the sentences by writing in the blank spaces the correct reflexive pronoun.
1. You can cut ________.
2. He hurt ________.
5. I did it by ________.
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3. Let’s read
Fuente: SENA
Ana: …and that is the story of how people in the Amazon River were born. Thank
you very much!
Pedro: We hope that you liked the story. Ana heard this story from indigenous
communities and she wanted to share it with you. Do you have any question?
Ana: Right now, in the distance, you can see the traditional house of one of the
many indigenous tribes that inhabit the jungle. Let’s get close to see their handcrafts.
Pedro: We will stay with the indigenous tribe for three hours, so you can have lunch,
buy some crafts and listen to a couple of more stories.
The tour guide’s narration
The tour guide’s job will not be successful unless his narration fulfills the tourists’
expectations by having all the elements that makes the visitation of objects more
enjoyable and informative. Methodological techniques such as cognitive ones,
descriptions, characterization, explanations and comments are used depending on
the circumstances because the guide’s task is to perform the narration before, during
and after the object visitation.
Information about the objects of visitation
Narration is always the supplement of the visible material. It cannot be of too great
length-the tour cannot be converted into a lecture. Narration functions in two ways:
1. The tour guide’s job will not be successful unless his narration fulfills the tourists’
expectations by having all the elements that makes the visitation of objects more
enjoyable and informative. Methodological techniques such as cognitive ones,
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descriptions, characterization, explanations and comments are used depending
on the circumstances because the guide’s task is to perform the narration before,
during and after the object visitation.
2. The tour guide not only tells, but also answers questions and remarks. Narration
should be made according to the standards of public speech. During the tour
“saturation” of speech takes place and there is transition from visitation of the
objects to their verbal evaluation and conclusions. If the group has little
preparation for the tours, considers narration to be something unnecessary then
one has to take account of this factor and reach the specific aim of the tour,
paying more attention to visitation.
As already mentioned, the text of the tour is prepared beforehand. It cannot be a free
improvisation on theme. But it also does not mean that narration of the tour guide
cannot be impromptu. It is acceptable to mention examples, quotations, current
events, responding on the content of specific group and interests. Narration is
formed based on standards of method of induction (from the specific example, the
object to the general), or on the standards of deduction method (from the general to
the specific). In practice when one makes the narration, the induction method is most
often used when on the base of some object of visitation the general conclusions are
made.
Content has to be:
• Thematic.
• Specific.
• Related.
• Logical.
• Convincing.
• Well-grounded.
• Scientific.
Narration usually is the monologue of guide, but it does not exclude the possibility to
create dialogue with the group. Dialogue helps to activate conception. Usually it
starts as the answer of the guide to the questions and remarks of the tourists.
The feature of narration is the one that there are no oral proofs, their role is
performed by objects of visitation. The guide has to make the narration the way that
the object would start “to speak itself” so the tourists would see the things that they
are being told about. It can be achieved by imaginative narration, skillful showing of
the object, using the additional visual aids.
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Semi-modal verb: have to, don’t have to
Have to is not a modal verb but it is usually used to express impersonal obligations.
In other words, the person has the obligation to do something that depends on a
external authority, for example the rules at work or at school.
Examples:
Fuente: SENA
Affirmative form
To make sentences in afirmative form, you should use the following structure:
Fuente: SENA
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Negative form
To make sentences in negative form, you should use the following structure:
don’t have to /
Subject Main verb Complement
doesn’t have to
I don’t have to do homework.
You don’t have to take this test before the interview.
He doesn’t have to read two books for history class.
She doesn’t have to work on the weekend.
It doesn’t have to be in every office.
We don’t have to wear a uniform.
They don’t have to travel in first class.
Fuente: SENA
Interrogative form
To make sentences in interrogative form, you should use the following structure:
Fuente: SENA
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Affirmative form
Fuente: SENA
Negative form
Fuente: SENA
Interrogative form
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Yes, they did. /
have
Did they travel in first class? No, they
to
didn’t.
Fuente: SENA
Pedro: Now that you have learned the basics, it's time to put it into practice!
Fuente: SENA
A. has to.
C. have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
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3. A secretary _______ know how to type.
A. has to.
C. have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
5. I _______ study Biology. The test is tomorrow and I don’t know anything.
A. has to.
C. have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
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D. doesn't have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
A. has to.
C. have to.
4. Let’s talk
Fuente: SENA
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Pedro: Did you see how people were amazed when you were telling the story? I told
you people of other countries love to hear myths and traditional folk tales.
Ana: Yes, everyone seemed very interested in the story. They had many questions
about it. It was a very good idea to have written the story before. I know some other
stories, but if I want to narrate them, it’s better to write the story first and prepare
myself.
Pedro: We can call this text a cultural script, because when you talk about those
stories we are representing the people and the traditions that are the heritage of our
country.
Ana: So, we, as tour guides, are also cultural ambassadors of the traditions and
stories of people who live here! It’s such a great responsibility and honor!
The elaboration of cultural scripts should include reflections which gives importance
to local expressions and provides educational growth, both to the tour guide and the
visitor. Also, these scripts should promote respect towards the cultural heritage and
values such as generosity, honesty, service and hospitality, thus adding greater
value to the cultural good. In order to achieve this purpose, the script must include
vivid experiences with the cultural environment and its communities, interpreting and
revealing the essence of the cultural good by providing adequate and realistic
information, about the good and its environment.
• Ecotourism.
• Bio-architecture.
• Organic agriculture.
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• Environmental sanitation.
• Reforestation.
• Monuments.
• Recognition obtained.
A good script should allow tourists and visitors to interact with the community, learn
and respect its culture; love nature and its land.
The projects proposed must have the following characteristics linked to the
interpretation proposals:
Relevant: The way messages are communicated must be linked to the experience,
personality and expectations of visitors. In order for this to be achieved, it is best to
attend groups with a similar cultural identity; adapting the script according to the
group's requirements.
Fun: Both the background and the form of communication should be pleasant and
accessible. The aim of the exhibition is not to teach, but to motivate the visitor. The
exhibition should not be geared solely to providing information, but to raising
expectations. Therefore, communication should not be solemn or cryptic, and the
use of colloquial language is recommended.
The script proposal needs to contain the beginning, development and closure. It
does not necessarily have to be a linear proposal, but it must be ordered.
The cultural script structures the information required by a guide of tourism in the
orientation process of a visit to a correlated site with a cultural heritage asset. It is a
document which incorporates a planning system with precise indications, which must
be followed step by step when executing a tourist industry project. Cultural scripts
make up a great variety so many as anthropological possibilities exist.
In the next pages, you are going to see some of those cultural scripts available for
tour guides.
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Cultural script
Subcultural script
When a social group is very large, there is usually internal cultural diversity or
subcultures, with varied aspects, either by social stratum, ethnic expression, sexual
difference, religious beliefs and other types of common links.
Family script
It is a direct expression of cultural and subcultural scripts, which over time acquire
great social roots; these find their best form of expression through the family, without
ignoring that some families develop their own expression script. Generational relays
are expected to assume the same behaviors and roles, considering them to be the
most appropriate.
Scientific script
Museum script
It develops the proposed themes according to the structure of the elements of the
natural and cultural heritage to be interpreted. The museological script develops the
following elements:
1. Theme:
2. Thematic content:
3. Exhibition material:
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4. Supports:
It defines the didactic tools that facilitate the exhibition. Includes texts, graphics,
illustrations, maps, photographs, etc.
The elaboration of this type of script requires a previous visit to identify its constituent
elements, and the location of references that allow directing and orienting the visit.
The approved museological script of a particular site of interest provides a basis for
the museographic and interpretative script, which contains:
• Complete writing of the interpretative script, using a clear and simple language as
the basis for the preparation of each interpretative tool.
You have probably learned about adjectives before. These are words that describe
nouns. Adjectives give us more information about people, places, feelings, ideas,
things, etc.
Let’s take a look at a simple example of an adjective: Julia Child was a wonderful
chef.
As you can see, the adjective in this sentence tells us more about a noun. Julia was
not simply a chef. She was a wonderful chef.
There are many types of adjectives that end in -ed or -ing that serve the same
purpose as ordinary adjectives. Adjectives ending in -ed usually refer to how
someone feels whereas those ending in -ing refer to the objects, ideas, or events
that caused those feelings. Let’s take a look at a few examples:
Adjectives ending in –ed describe how people feel about something or someone:
Example:
My husband gets so bored when I watch cooking show marathon (describes how her
husband feels about cooking show marathons).
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-Ed words -Ing words that
that refer to Meaning refer to objects, Meaning
people ideas, etc.
Describes
something that
Feeling of being
causes laughter or
Amused. entertained or Amusing.
enjoyment, is
delighted.
funny or
enjoyable.
Describes
Feeling of being not something that is
Bored. Boring.
interested. not interesting at
all.
Describes
something that is
Feeling of not
Confused. Confusing. unclear or not
understanding.
easy to
understand.
Describes
Feeling of being sad
Depressed. Depressing. something that
and gloomy.
makes you sad.
Describes
Feeling of being angry
something that is
and upset about
Disgusted. Disgusting. offensive to the
something that you do
taste and causes
not approve of or like.
disgust.
Feeling of being
Describes
ashamed of something
something that
Embarrassed. and worried about Embarrassing.
makes you feel
what other people will
ashamed.
think of you.
Describes
Feeling of being something that
Encouraged. confident and Encouraging. inspires you or
motivated. makes you
confident.
Fuente: SENA
Examples:
• I am not interested in eating meat (describes how I feel about eating meat).
• She is disgusted by the thought of eating insects (describes how she feels about
the idea of eating insects).
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-Ing words that
-Ed words that
Meaning refer to objects, Meaning
refer to people
ideas, etc.
Feeling very
Describes
happy and
something that
enthusiastic
Exited. Exciting. makes you feel
because
strong
something is
happiness.
good.
Describes
Feeling of being something that
Exhausted. tired or drained Exhausting. makes you lose
out of energy. energy or makes
you feel fatigued.
Feeling of being
afraid, scared or Describes
Frightened. terrified about Frightening. something that
something that scares you.
happened.
Describes
Feeling of being
something that
curious and
Interested. Interesting. makes you feel
attentive about
attracted or
something.
engaged to.
Describes
Feeling of being
something that
Satisfied. content or Satisfying.
makes you feel
pleased.
complete.
Describes
Feeling of being
something that
disturbed or
Shocked. Shocking. makes you feel
impacted with
extremely
something.
surprised.
Describes
Feeling of being
something that
Tired. fatigued or Tiring.
makes you feel
sleepy.
out of energy.
Fuente: SENA
Examples:
• The marathon of cooking shows was so long that it was boring for my husband
(describes the cooking shows).
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• Insects are disgusting to many people. That’s why some people don’t consider
them to be food (describes the insects).
Here is a chart of adjectives that commonly use both the -ed and -ing form.
These particular kinds of adjectives are also called participles. The -ed words are
called past participles and the -ing words are called present participle. Here is a bit
more explanation of how participles work as adjectives.
Verb: To excite
Fuente: SENA
As you can see in the examples, the present participle (-ing adjective) is often the
person or thing that causes the feeling expressed by the past participle (-ed
adjective).
Pedro: Now that you have learned the basics, it's time to put it into practice!
Fuente: SENA
Read the following sentences and complete each sentence with the right adjective
from the box. Make sure you use the right form, -ed or -ing, according to the context.
Fuente: SENA
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1. Her life is ____________. She began to work washing dishes in a restaurant, and
now is the most famous chef in this country.
2. I am not ____________ with my job. My boss does not allow me to create. The
only thing I can do is to bake cupcakes.
3. Cooking classes are ____________ to me. I just don’t like cooking at all.
4. That fried chicken was so ____________. I did not like it because I was waiting
for some crispy texture, but it was chewy.
6. Daniela gets ____________ when her mom asks her to peel and grate the
vegetables for the salad.
7. The first time I cooked for my family was a total failure. They all were
____________ with my meat, for it was cured.
10. It was ____________ to see my little son using a sharp knife to carve the fillet for
the first time. He was just doing it perfect, I hope he become a better chef than I
am.
5. Group management
Fuente: SENA
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Ana: Storytelling is an art we have to keep on working during our career. It’s good if
we practice with our friends, and the idea is to always bring new stories that involve
the cultural or natural destinations with our tourists.
Pedro: There are also other kinds of narrations. Let’s see some of those types, that
include the information selection, the way we address to our public, how can we
comment or quote other authors to give strength to our speech.
Types of narration
Short information
The basic information about the object is only being offered-name of the object, main
characteristic entities: Age, volume and others. This technique is used when telling
about additional objects or also about visually interesting objects, however
inconsequential for the tour which the tourists are in the habit to ask questions about.
Characterization
It is extensive, exact narration in details about the object of the tour. The features of
the object, characteristic parameters or the historical events related to them, are
listed consecutively. When preparing the narration one has to choose accurate
principle of narration construction in order to avoid chaos.
Types of narration
Comment
Quotation
Literary work, fragments of historical documents are included in the narration. The
aim is to highlight, emphasize degree of veracity, make brighter the narration.
Quotations are widely included in tours that introduce the life and activity of famous
people and writers. Quotations have to be short, accurately included in the context of
all narration. Quotations are to be written out on little cards (10 x 15 cm), when
quoting, occasionally one can look in the card.
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Reconstruction
It is the technique that is used to recreate ancient events by creating the effect of
being present at the event, by returning to the past. This technique requires high
degree of proficiency of the tour guide.
Logical transition
Is introduction of the next object or activity, when concluding the narration about the
previous object of the tour. One can simply announce the next object of the tour
(formally logical approach), or also create content related connection between the
both objects.
Logical transitions inform the group about the process of next events and make the
tour as one whole, compositionally well planned service.
Any route should be marked in the map or plan. Marked route will be useful for the
tour adverts and popularization and for informing the tourists, and also in case
several drivers and guides will use this route. If it is a bus tour, then as a base should
be chosen a map that pictures network of roads and road surfacing quite well.
Topographical maps and plans should be used as a base for hiking that pictures
local roads or where foot-paths can be marked.
• Hiking itineraries.
One can develop routes that can be used all year long but also it is possible to
develop routes used in particular seasons, for example, boating in rivers, lakes,
cycling routes, skiing.
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Control del documento
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