CITY AND SITE TOUR

The Advantages of Guiding…

 The demands of the job rarely require a person to be
uprooted from his or her home in the way that escorting
does.
 The stress is also far less.
 Attractive.
 Often make only minimum wage, tips may increase their
profits.
 Make a good salary.
 Step-on guides – freelancers hired by an arriving tour
company to come aboard its motorcoach – generally earn
about as much daily as the average tour manager.
 Also have the advantage of being able to work seasonally,
at times of their own choosing.
The Disadvantages of Guiding…
 The potential for boredom is very high – guide
must repeat the same information, often several
times a day.
 The questions they hear are predictable – must
feign surprise at what visitor may feel is a most
original question.
 Vehicle-driving sightseeing guides – must
concentrate on their narration and driving
simultaneously.
 In many cases technology is making guides
obsolete.
Fear-Dampening Strategies…
 Focus on one person
 Accept an audience’s desire to like you
 View nervousness as an ally
 Know that experience lessens fear
 Take strength in the fact that you know
more than your audience
What You Say…
 Be specific
 Be accurate
 Know your audience
 Keep it light
 Keep it positive
 Personalize your information
 The Dubai Mall has recorded a visitor turn-
out of more than 60,000 tickets sold for the
Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre in
the first five days, following its opening. It
also hosted over 37 million visitors in its
first year of operation and attracts more
than 750,000 visitors every week.
Walking Tours…
 An on-site guide:
 Moves from place to place during the course
of his or her presentation, as does the
audience.
 Profits from very dramatic “audiovisual aids” –
the actual sights that surround the group.
 Must learn to project his or her voice.
 Must avoid memorizing their “guidespeak”.
On coach speaking
 Position while using PA system
 Commonly sit behind the driver but what
will happen?
 Tactics to energize your drowsy group:
 Occasional photo taking & bathroom stop
 Give them time for shopping after lunch
 Take them off the bus to see the attraction
 A city guide must always be mindful that
passing attractions dictate delivery & pacing.
“Its over there” is not specific, “turn to
your left” is more accurate
 Other challenge for novice guide:
 Speed of motorcoach
 The route may include long stretches with
absolutely nothing of real interest. Generalized it!
 Can you constantly speaking ? Probably
not. Try to make it 80-90% of the time for
your commentary. If not, you’ll get trouble
 Should the city guide put information on
note cards? Never. To avoid it? Keep
practice
Types of Motorcoaches…
 These vehicles can be divided into 5 basic types:
 City buses – bare-boned commuting vehicles
that are rarely used for tours
 School buses – also seldom used for
anything but school outings
 Minibuses or vans – downsized vehicles that
accommodate small groups
 Sightseeing buses – large coaches with
broad window areas expressly designed for
local tours
 Over-the-road coaches – large, well-powered
vehicles that can transport groups and their
luggage over long distances.
j

Japan
 Manchester
 Glasgow
 Virginia, NY, Michigan in USA
 Line-of-sight Difficulties
 One great advantage of taking a motorcoach
tour: Because the vehicle is so big,
passengers sit higher than they would in a car.
The greater view…yahoo!!!!!!!!
 But certain necessary design elements do limit
what a tourist can see from a motorcoach.
 Air-conditioning
 Safety considerations – guard passenger at
enter/exit door, direct client away from
traffic.now, bus are equipped with wheelchair lifts
 Logistical matters
Keeping Your Commentary Fresh…
 Here are strategies that can help you maintain
enthusiasm and keep your presentation lively:
 Keep researching your subject. New insights
can give new energy to your commentary.
 Strive for constant improvement in your
performance.
 View what you’re sharing through the eyes of
your “audience”.
 Draw your energy from the audience’s
reactions.