Travelers and Group Dynamics

Philippine Christian University
Sampaloc 1, Dasmariñas City, Cavite 4114

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
S.Y. 2020-2021
MODULE IN LOCAL GUIDING NCII (GRADE 12)

QUARTER 3 - WEEK 3 (FEBRUARY 15-19, 2021)
LESSON 3: THE TRAVELER
Overview
Since travelers are the lifetime of tourism, they deserve more attention and understanding form
guides and from the tourism industry in general. This chapter will explore the traveler on several
levels- demographic, sociological, psychological and cultural.
Objectives
At the end of the session, you are expected to:
1. Explain the classification of travelers;

2. Discuss the advantages of group travel;
3. Describe the different kinds of group travelers;
4. Explain the importance of human values to tour guides; and
5. Discuss the social responsibility of travelers.
Test Yourself
1. What do you think are the challenges faced by a tour guide during group tour? Why?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: This module is adapted and modified from the source materials listed in the references list. This is
an exclusive property of Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas SHS and is provided only to enrolled
students for their academic use. This module is provided for free by the school through softcopy and/or printed
media. Reproduction of this module without official permission is prohibited.
Study these terms
Explorers – These are participants-observers who travel alone or in very small groups.
Elite Travelers – They can afford to spend much to have

unusual travel experiences.
Unusual Tourist – they travel alone more amenities and also look for unusual, adventurous or primitive
experience.
Incipient Mass Tourist – they represent business and vacation travelers. They usually travel individually
or in small groups and demand western-style amenities.
Mass Tourist – they are large groups of middle-class travelers who visit popular sites and also demand
Western-style amenities.
Charter Tourist – they arrive in large groups, generating a large volume of business but often demanding
impersonal and standardized services.
Discussion
CLASSIFICATION OF TRAVELERS
Classifications can be categorized in several ways. To illustrate the behavior of travelers and their impact
on a region, anthropologist Valene Smith classified travelers into seven categories.
Explorers – These are participants-observers who travel

alone or in very small groups. They do not require
special tourist accommodations or attractions and
therefore offer little or no threat to the local residents.
Elite Travelers – They can afford to spend much to have
unusual travel experiences.
Off-beat Tourist – they travel alone or in very small number. They avoid crowds, other tourist, and typical
sight-seeing.
Unusual Tourist – they travel alone more amenities and also look for unusual, adventurous or primitive
experience.
Incipient Mass Tourist – they represent business and vacation travelers. They usually travel individually
or in small groups and demand western-style amenities.
Mass Tourist – they are large groups of middle-class travelers who visit popular sites and also demand
Western-style amenities.
Charter Tourist – they arrive in large groups, generating a large volume of business but often demanding
impersonal and standardized services.
THE GROUP TRAVELER
Millions of people prefer group travel to traveling along. Comfort, safety, education, economy, and
companionship are the primary reasons why people opt for group travel. Group travelers at present
include families, extended family reunion, corporate travelers, association executives, association
members, clubs and etc.
STUDENT GROUP
Students groups are popular in some regions especially in historic places or in places that lend themselves
in some way to the curriculum of the school. Students who travel in groups usually fall between the ages
of 11 and 17.
BUSINESS TRAVELERS
Business travelers include those who are visiting a region to conduct business such as sales, research,
meetings and conferences.
INCENTIVES TRAVELER
Incentive travelers are business people who are given trips by companies as a reward for their
accomplishments or to motivate them to achieve more than that is required.
FAMILY TRAVELERS
Family travel is increasing. Catering to families is becoming a trend within the tourism industry. Organizing
tour for families is an interesting challenge because interpretations must appeal to two or sometimes
three generations.
SENIOR CITIZEN
The characteristics of the older people reflect those of human nature as a whole. Some characteristics are
favorable; some are unfavorable.
Ex: demanding, slow, impatient, repetitive, punctual
CLUBS OR AFFINITY GROUPS
These groups usually have a common interest. They are generally enjoyable especially when the values or
interest of the group coincide with that of the guide.
PUBLIC TOUR GROUP
The only element participants in a public tour have in common is when they decide to visit the same place
at the same time.
THE CHALLENGES OF GROUP TRAVEL
A group is collection of unique individuals. One of the challenges of group travel on the industry and to
the guide in particular is to offer a more personalized level of service to group travelers.
The changes occurring in society and the changing character of the traveling public offer new challenges
to guides. Guides are called upon to meet these challenges:
 Because travelers come from different countries, they will be more diverse in their taste, behavior
and values.
 Because travelers are expose to the other cultures through televisions, movies, videos and travel,
guides must be able to provide a broader, more cosmopolitan perspective.
 Because travelers now have traveled more than previous generations, they may be more
discriminating and demanding about the level of service and care they receive.
 Because of increased demands on time, travelers may wish to see more in less time.
 Because those who have already traveled to popular regions will be more interested in unusual
places, guides in rural areas will be given more opportunities.
 Because the future will demand that guides specialize in a wide variety of areas such as nature,
architecture, foreign and sign languages
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS
Since travel is now attainable for a great number of people throughout the world, international travelers
are more prevalent in every country. Those who work international visitors should know the customs and
behavior of their guests in such areas as greeting, punctually, gift-giving, gestures, and general protocol.
Robert Kohls in his essay, “The Values Americans Live By” gave an insightful and instructive exploration
of the thirteen most basic values Americans observe.
1. Control over the environment – free will and that ability to overcome obstacle are important
concepts to Americans.
2. Change – to Americans, change is not only inevitable and vital, but it is synonymous with progress,
growth, development and improvement.
3. Time and its control – time is very important to most Americans. Planning and managing time
are more than measures of success.
4. Equality/egalitarianism – Americans regard it so important that they have given it a religious basis
that God views all human being alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or
economic status.
5. Individualism and privacy – Kohls points out that Americans place much emphasis on
individuality and like to think of themselves as unique to a greater extent that is actually true.
6. Self-reliance – American feel responsible and take credit only for that which they accomplish
themselves.
7. Competition and free enterprise – Americans believe that competitiveness is an innate human
drive that brings out the best in people.
8. Future orientation – Americans have long believed in, invested in, and planned for the future to
such an extent that many would argue that they devalue both the past and the present.
9. Action/work orientation - compared to many people throughout the world, Americans plan and
schedule extremely busy lives.
Activity # 1
Modified TRUE or FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is correct. If the statement is FALSE,
underline the word or words that make it wrong and write the correct answer on the blank.
___________ 1. Incentive travelers are business people who are given trips by companies as a reward for
their accomplishments or to motivate them to achieve more than that is required.
___________ 2. Off-beat tourist travel alone and also look for unusual or primitive experience.
___________ 3. Elite travelers afford to spend less for their best travel experience.
___________ 4. Incipient mass tourist represents business and vacation travelers.
___________ 5. Mass tourist are small groups of middle class travelers.
___________ 6. Charter tourists arrive in large groups.
___________ 7. Business travelers are business people who are given trips by companies as a reward for
their accomplishments
___________ 8. To Americans, change is not only inevitable and vital, but it is synonymous with progress,
growth, development and improvement.
___________ 9. Students who travel in groups usually fall between 15-19 years old.
___________ 10. The only element participants in a public tour have in common is when they decide to
visit the same place at the same time.
References
Cruz, Z. L. (2008). Principles and Ethics of Tour Guiding. REX Bookstore.

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Philippine Christian University

Sampaloc 1, Dasmariñas City, Cavite 4114

MODULE IN LOCAL GUIDING NCII (GRADE 12)

LESSON 3: THE TRAVELER

At the end of the session, you are expected to:

1. Explain the classification of travelers;

Elite Travelers – They can afford to spend much to have

Explorers – These are participants-observers who travel

THE GROUP TRAVELER

CLUBS OR AFFINITY GROUPS

PUBLIC TOUR GROUP

Cruz, Z. L. (2008). Principles and Ethics of Tour Guiding. REX Bookstore.

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