Matakuliah
Tahun
: G0404/Tour Guiding
: 2006/2007
BEFORE YOU QUIT YOUR DAY
JOB
THINGS TO PONDER
WHY GROUP TRAVEL?
• CONVENIENT, HASSLE-FREE TRAVEL
Someone else takes care of all the
planning.
People expect to be buffered from all
worries.
• COMPANIONSHIP
• SAFETY
WHY GROUP TRAVEL? (continue)
• AFFORDABILITY
• KNOWLEDGEABLE LEADER
 A competent, knowledgeable tour director
will ensure there are many pleasant
vacation memories.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOURS
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CRUISING
RAIL TOURS
BUS TOURS
ADVENTURE/ECO TOURS
CITY TOURS
THEME TOURS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GUIDES
• LOCAL GUIDE:
(a)Site guide  works at specific location.
(b)Step-on guide
 often freelancers working on contract
 guides employed directly by a tour
company and paid an hourly rate
(c) Driver guide
(d) Meet-and-greet guide
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GUIDES
(continue)
• TOUR DIRECTOR
 A guide with all the additional headaches
of planning accommodations, meals, and
long-distance travel.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GUIDES
(continue)
• TOUR OPERATOR
 Designs and markets tours that they sell
either direct to the public or through travel
agencies.
CAN YOU REALLY DO THIS DREAM
JOB?
THE REWARDS
• Freedom
• Challenge and excitement
• Creative opportunity
• Sharing the joy of a destination
• Meeting people
• Tax write-offs
DAY TO DAY – THE REALITY
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Long hours
You are never off duty
Be prepared for complaints
You are not going to get rich
Home is where the laundry is
GETTING THE JOB
“A passion for travel is an
essential quality.
If you can honestly say you would still
be traveling even if you weren’t being
paid for it, then this may just be the
perfect profession for you”
ASSESSING YOURSELF
(1) Characteristics of success
(2) Sticking to your goals
• Put your goals down on paper
• Review and revise
• Learn from your mistakes
(3) Do your homework
• Network
• Associations and organizations
• Read and research
FORMAL EDUCATION
• REMEMBER:
Before you invest in what are often high
fees, assess how well the training will
advance your personal goals.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE
• Learning a language:
If you can’t speak the language of a
country you are visiting, a willingness to
attempt some basic phrases will usually
win approval.
• Body language:
Don’t forget that language is not made up
only of words. Every culture has idioms,
gestures and other nonverbal language.
YOUR RESUME
• Use plain, white paper
• Keep it short, to the point, and accurate
#1 TIPS:
Once you are invited for an interview, be
prepared before you go in, be natural during the
process, and remember that “fit” within the
company is just as important as skills and
experience.
A STARTING POINT
The best starting point of any job search is
in your own community.
Tour operators need reliable guides
everywhere because tours are created
everywhere.
HOW MUCH WILL I MAKE?
• Pay rates
• Contracts
LAST TIPS:
Be sure you check the local licensing and
registration requirements before you take
a tour out. Some countries fine heavily if
you are caught without the proper
certification.
Matakuliah
Tahun
: G0404/Tour Guiding
: 2006/2007
MEET THE PLAYERS
“Knowing what goes on behind the
scenes will put you in a better position
to solve the problems.”
1.THE TRAVEL SUPPLIERS
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Airlines
Consolidators and wholesalers
Tour operators
Hotel and car rental agencies
Insurance
Cruises
2. AGENCY SPECIALITIES
• If you are going to run your own tour
operation, you will need to find a travel
agency to work with.
3. TRAVEL REGULATORS
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME THE
PERFECT TOUR DIRECTOR?
• GENERAL DUTIES
Present a professional image at all times
●Learn everyone’s name
●Encourage everyone to feel they belong
●Mind your p’s and q’s
●Avoid comparisons with other companies
●Don’t show favoritism
●Do not take sides
●Always be immaculately groomed
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME THE
PERFECT TOUR DIRECTOR? (continue)
Encourage people to experience the uniqueness of a
destination
Be enviromentally aware
Hurry up latecomers
Keep written, daily reports
Have map, will travel
Providing commentary
•The area’s natural environment
•Sociology
•The area history and current statistics
•Transportation
•Taxes
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME THE
PERFECT TOUR DIRECTOR? (continue)
It’s all a matter of communication
Keep people informed about all activities
Confirm and reconfirm all reservation
Be prepared
YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY
Weeks of preparation and
planning are all about to pay off.
At the airport
●Confirm your group’s reservation
●Departure day
●Checking in
●Boarding
●During the flight
●On arrival at the destination terminal
Hotels and Luggage
Hotels
●On arrival
●Moving on, checking out
Luggage
●Precautions
●Keeping track while on tour
●A Lifesaver tracking tip
●Lost luggage
Dining
●Seating
●Considerations for group dining
●Menus
●take regular breaks
●The “best” place to eat may not be
●On arrival
Border crossing and other wild
animals
●Passports and travel documentation
●Restricted items
●Register valuables
●Duty free
●Keep all receipts
●carry only what is yours
Selling optional excursions
and
• Add-ons are frequently, but far
from always, arranged and paid
for at the time of the original
booking.
TIPS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
BRIEFING
(REMEMBER: A get-acquainted party is a
traditional, fun way to break the ice at the
beginning of the tour.)
(a) Highlights of the tour itinerary
(b) Daily procedures such as wake-up calls,
luggage handling, and sightseeing
(c) Local details such as currency exchange and
what side of the road traffic drives on
TIPS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
BRIEFING (continue)
(d) Reminder about punctuality
(e) Explanation of emergency procedures
ALSO:
Farewell gatherings allow people to
reminisce about their experiences on the
tour.
Matakuliah
Tahun
: G0404/Tour Guiding
: 2006/2007
OVER LAND AND SEA
Cruising
All aboard
Getting to know your floating hotel
The send-off party
Shore excursions
Making it unique
You are still in charge
Motor coaches – on the buses
Seat Rotation
Safety
Let the games begin
Your driver and you
Washroom and pit stops
Problems come in all sizes
•Lost or stolen property
Credit card
Passport
Driver’s license
Traveler’s checks
Problems come in all sizes
•Health issues
Look after your own health
Carry first-aid basics
Illness or injury
Death
Problems come in all sizes
(continue)
•Dismissing someone from the tour
•Bumping
•Missing Member
See you again soon –
following up
Short-term follow-up
Short-term follow-up happens at the end
of the trip or within a short time after your
clients return home.
small gift or personal thank you note
encourages repeat business and new
referrals.
See you again soon – following up
(continue)
Long-term follow-up
long-term follow-up reinforces customer
loyalty.
Newsletters are a relatively inexpensive
way of keeping in touch with your past
clients.